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Hello,

I'm planning 4 day loop hike/walk in the Pyrenees (14JUL to 16JUL) in the area of Benasque, Spain

I'm looking for some advice on the following routes:

Route #1- Includes Pico de Posets (preferred):
Day 1 - Benasque to Refugio Ángel Orús
Day 2 - Refugio Ángel Orús to Refugio de Biadós via Pico de Posets:
Day 3 - Refugio de Biadós to Refugio de Estós via GR11 with a hike to Pico de los Gemelos
Day 4 - Refugio de Estós to Benasque (very short day)

I'm a little concerned about the ridge on Posets and the "Canal Fonda" (if there is snow) on Day#2.

Route #2: Excludes Pico de Posets
Day 1 - Benasque to Refugio Ángel Orús
Day 2 - Refugio Ángel Orús to Refugio de Biadós via La Forqueta
Day 3 - Refugio de Biadós to Pico de los Gemelos to Refugio de Estós via GR11 with a hike to Pico de los Gemelos
Day 4 - Refugio de Estós to Benasque (very short day)

What equipment (e.g. crampons, ice axe) and experience (e.g. self arrest, glacier crossings) are needed for these 2 routes?

Here's some background on our hiking group,
-We are a family of 4 people with 2 children (ages 18 and 15) from Canada.
-We are fit and experienced hikers/walkers.
-We have zero climbing experience
-We have done day hikes in the Adirondacks NY, Austria, and Switzerland.
-We have done a multi-day hike on Vancouver Island, British Columbia
-We have done 25km day hikes (or 10 or 11 hours) in the Adirondacks NY

Any advice would be appreciated.

Hi James,

I don't know that area but I've been in the near Maladetas or Aneto. I supose that you won't need too much gear, it will be warm during days but the weather can change quickly up there in the mountains mostly from the afternoon to night. So don't forget hard shells for all, hiking boots, sun protection, caps, maps and compass or gps. Take also some money and try to charge the huts' accommodations before going to them. Especially be ready for warm days, they are the hotest days of the year from mid July to mid August in Spain. I've only been hike road A-139 to Refugio de Estós and it was an easy hike.

I'll try to find information about those two stages (Angel Orús-Biadós and Biados-Pico de los Gemelos-Estós) that I think will be the more technical though I'd say they don't have any difficulty...

James I've asked parents who know the area but they have doubts on the difficulty of those ridges. Anyway, you could ask the huts' guardians before attempting