many thanks Makuluman, that's exactly what I needed ... will be taking my crampons with me now, and the route certainly sounds do-able with caution. Really looking forward to it now! We went to the Eastern Pyrenees twice last year as training for Kilimanjaro, in the end we all enjoyed the Pyrenees far more!
Has anyone been up this route this summer 2011. Is the fixed rope still in place? Did you use crampons because of snow conditionsß We will be doing the route early september 2011 so a up to date report would be very helpful.
All being well in the hotel I should be around that area next week, but will be going via the Breche and then turning left and following a track just under the casque, l'epaule and cyrindro to lac glacé/helado (constantly between 2700 & 2900m meaning no height loss to Goriz. Will let you know conditions afterwards.
Hi @ all and thanks for that bunch of useful information!
Following the Pyrenees Haute Route I'm also planing to do the traverse from Brecha de Tucaroya via Col Cilindro, Monte Perdido to Ref. Goritz early in September.
If I understood it correctly the climb to Col Cilindro is possible without bringing a rope for the first step where you even mights find a fixed rope at the right option (seen from the lake looking up to Col Cilindro).
Is this also true or do-able without a rope for the second step just below the Col?
Also, I'm a little concerned about the decent from Col Cilindro to the Lago Helado that is looking also quite steep (especially without snow). Has anybody who done this section an comment about it?
As far as for my experience, I'm not a climber but did a lot of hiking stuff including some of the highest sections of the Pyrenees Haute Route as discribed in Joosten. I climbed grade II with a heavy pack (20kg) before but did never 25m steps.
For everyone who is interested. I did the crossing in perfect conditions, means sun and almost no winds. The weight of my pack was ~18kg.
I did chose the right route to climb through the step. There was no rope, but fix points for a rope. I met a french guy who told me that someone must have stolen it, because it was still there in July. Anyway, climbing the step is possible in good conditions.
There were one or two points where I felt some unfortable. I guess with a lighter pack it wont be any problem even if you would climb the step down. But this is only true for good weather conditions.
