Hi

I'm taking my partner for a 5 day tour in the Aiguestortes national park in the second week of September.  I know the area fairly well.  We will start and end in Espot, use the jeep taxis to get to and from the park, and will be stopping at refuges - Amitges, Colomers, Ventosa and Estani Long.  My partner has a very bad back - she can't carry anything and we will need to stick to reasonable paths. 

The route back takes us over the Coll de Contraix which is a less frequently walked area.  Has anyone walked over this col and can advise whether there are a lot of boulders to cross or any scrambling, and whether there are OK paths either side of the pass?

Any comments much appreciated.  Rob

Should it be of interest, I got some info from a Spanish website - www.pirineos3000.com

It says that the Coll de Contraix is a bit of a 'rompe piernas', ie a 'leg breaker', meaning that there is stretch of boulders, mainly on the north west side of the pass; testing in the wet and when there's snow.

Rob

Just come across this old thread of yours. I know you didn't do it but the Col de Contraix will kill or cure bad backs. It was my least favourite day of my crossing.  It was not technically difficult but just prolonged awkward boulders most of the way up  and for a section of the way down. Only recommended for your best enemies but unavoidable  if you are doing the refuge circuit. Useful website  !