pic aneto

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redsonja 24 Dec 2012
hi guys. im needing some advice about pic aneto. we are planning on pic aneto then gran paradiso next summer. or vice versa. for aneto, is it possible to camp near renclusa refuge? i have seen pictures of aneto and most people dont seem to use a rope and have poles instead of ice axes. are there no crevasses? is the glacier not very steep? i would be very grateful for any help and advice and also info on how to get from barcelona to la buserta by public transport. thanks for any help
 Iain Thow 24 Dec 2012
In reply to heidi123: The summit pyramid on Aneto isn't steep but gets to be bare ice late in the season. I didn't use an axe in July but had to bypass a few bits by scrambling up bits of rock. the glacier is much smaller than the maps show, and you can avoid it by coming up from the Vallibierna to the south (bus service up the valley from Benasque early in the morning). Still have to cross some snow/ice on the last bit though. If on any of the campsites boil all water, ditto if camping at hut level. Possible to camp just above the Renclusa, quite busy. Buses from Barcelona change at Lleida (Lerida) & Barbastro. People in Barcelona (even the bus station staff) don't generally know where Benasque is. Camping in the National Park generally is only allowed 8pm to 8am (but the hut is dire!). Ace hill, as are the Maladetta, Vallibierna & Pico Alba. Have fun.

Iain
 Dave 88 24 Dec 2012
In reply to heidi123:

You can camp by renclusa but it's at about 2500m so gets a bit chilly. We camped at about 1800m and it was baltic!

Personally,we roped up for the glacier because there are crevasses about. It's quite a well trodden route and quite dry, so it's probably not necessary if you keep your eyes open.

As for an axe, we didn't know what to expect so we took a walking axe each. The glacier is not steep but you wouldn't mind a bit of support. A walking pole would be best I think. There was people doing it just in crampons, in fact there were people doing it in just trainers (gnarly spaniards) but I wouldn't recommend it.

Have fun!
 IPPurewater 24 Dec 2012
In reply to heidi123: We camped at Ibon de la Renclusa. There is reasonably easy access to the Portillon Superior from there, where you cross the ridge before getting onto the Aneto Glacier.

I have a topo and description of the via normal. If you'd like a scan of it drop me an email.

 IPPurewater 24 Dec 2012
In reply to heidi123: PS it is in Spanish.
 sbc_10 24 Dec 2012
redsonja 25 Dec 2012
In reply to sbc_10: hi there. i love these pics. thank you very much- gives me a good idea what its going to be like. thanks again
RockShock 26 Dec 2012
In reply to heidi123:

Hi, just to add to the above informative posts: the final rocky section just before the summit is called Paso de Mahoma (Mohammed's Pass/Bridge) and is really easy scrambling, but exposed as you could see.

It's not to be overexagerrated, but neither should be treated lightly. The overall grade is nothing, perhaps I or II (max), but there is a big number of people going across in both directions so there's usually a line forming with even 30 min of waiting. Once on the 'bridge', you do need to watch out for other people throwing you off and make sure you don't throw them off Also it gets tricky in windy conditions (last year folks died as they tried to pass the ridge with skis on the backpacks and it blew them off...)

This section is quite 'legendary' in Spain and well known, so be prepared for a big infux of ppl there. I'd say in good conditions rope only complicates things and you risk even more that someone will stand on it and throw you off balance etc... But of course use of your own judgement is needed.

Have fun
RS
 JJL 26 Dec 2012
In reply to heidi123:

I think it's a lot more interesting, pretty and private to climb from the other side. There is a driveable track up to reasonable parking then follow the path up through woods and then slightly gullied pastures to a lovely lake with several good pitches picked out and stone-ringed. You can see the summit from there. There is a steeper snow section to join the ridge before the final airy traverse. You will need crampons for this early in the morning and an axe (walking axe is fine). You can get back down to the car on the same day. Actually if you are really fit and don't mind an early start you could do valley to valley in a day, but the campsite is beautifully positioned and it's a shame to miss it.
redsonja 26 Dec 2012
In reply to JJL: hi JJL. where does this route start from? is it possible to get there by public transport?
 TobyA 26 Dec 2012
In reply to RockShock:

> This section is quite 'legendary' in Spain and well known,

We got told about it in a local shop by some helpful staff, although we went up expecting something like Grib Goch. We climbed snow up to the start of the ridge and I took my crampons off and said to my girlfriend as she was unstrapping her crampons: "I'll just scramble a long a bit and see what it looks like whilst you pack those". I walked a long the first few metres of the ridge and was very confused to find myself next to these big crosses and other bits and bobs. Then I realised this was the summit! The few metres of scrambling was the 'legendary' ridge! So the OP shouldn't get overly concerned about it.

We camped above the big hut in a lovely quiet little spot we found. We alpine-started it and walked down against many many people going up. After getting back to the tent and packing up, the storm clouds had come in and we walked down the rest of the way in pouring, very cold rain, arriving back at the bus stop soaked and chilled. Being high on the mountain in that afternoon storm would not have been fun, so I reckon an early start is important to having a safe day out, the climbing/walking itself is all rather straightforward.
 JJL 26 Dec 2012
In reply to heidi123:

The road that leads to the Ref Renclusa roadhead (A139) has a turnoff about 10km before the roadhead (almost due W of the massif); around 5 km from Benasque. It's a place called Plan de Senarta and there is also a campsite there (1375m). From there follow the road, generally SEto Puente de Coronas (1950m, about 8km). There a refuge Pecadores a little further on there.

Follow a trail up the R bank (W side) of the stream NE then N to a small lake at 2220m with some ruined shepherds' huts (just over 1km). It's a good path, with zigzags. Then leve the lake E then N to aother, larger lake at 2635m (1km). Now NW to another lake at 2275m, through a narrowing canyon and finally E to the last lake at 2750m. Both these have good camping spots and a spectacular view. You can see the obvious col to the NE up snow/ice (3198m) - this is where it rejoins the normal route (and the crowds).

In terms of public transport, whatever transport gets you to Renclusa will pass the turnoff at Senarta. If there ae just 2 of you I'd expect you'd be able to hitch the road to Puenta de Coronas. I think there are buses at least as far as Benasque. Then hitch, or, at worst, take 2 an extra day of approach.

The map is Maladeta-Aneto (1:25,000; Pirineo Aragones; Editorial; Alpina)

Have a blast

J

john
RockShock 27 Dec 2012
In reply to JJL:
>
> In terms of public transport, whatever transport gets you to Renclusa will pass the turnoff at Senarta. If there ae just 2 of you I'd expect you'd be able to hitch the road to Puenta de Coronas. I think there are buses at least as far as Benasque. Then hitch, or, at worst, take 2 an extra day of approach.

I don't have access to the map, but I think that buses that go to Vallibierna get you pretty close to the camping spot by refugio de Pescadores: http://www.turismobenasque.com/imagenes/HorariosBesurta.pdf
To be confirmed though, as we didn't take that one, and I don't have a map handy....

 Carolyn 27 Dec 2012
In reply to heidi123:

We camped near Renclusa with no problems. Glacier itself was tame enough when we did it (mid July - it was swarming with French families on 14 July, but I think we did another route from Renclusa that day), but the final steep snow gulley required a little care, and there was certainly the potential to go a long way if you slipped. I think we may just have used a single axe (certainly not two axes - I suspect we'd put crampons on too, we certainly carried them). And we met a runner who'd done it in trainers with flexible crampons on. So, some winter kit needed, but nothing particularly technical.

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