From the Ariege Evasion campsite to join Tarascon sur Ariège . At the exit direction Foix by the N20, at the roundabout of the prehistory park by the D618 go to Surba in the direction of the Port pass. 1km after the roundabout continue left towards Rabat-les-Trois-Seigneurs by the D223. Leave the city center of Rabat the 3 lords on the right. The road goes down to a fork Take the Freyte to right. You cross the hamlet of La Freyte and follow the road to the parking lot. Road terminus. Beautiful parking lot by the water.
Level: Middle (blue pond) to difficult (three lords)
Departure altitude: 1022 m
Elevation: 1400 m
Duration: 7:30 am
High point: 2195 m
Max distance: 14km
Stay right and go up to the booth hut. At the exit of the magnificent forest view on the north face of the peak of the 3 lords. Summer place to cross Remember to hold your dog on a leash. You leave the hut on your right and cross the Torrent on an old gangway. Clearing alt 1180m
The path leaves on the left. The slope is going to increase! The percentage will make you work with the calves! The elevation in the forest is strong. Hêtraie is tight, the trees are hung on the slope.
The laces are tightened. Then the exit from the forest arrives, the long pond announces your arrival at the highest point of your hike. You overlook the tirou and banks ponds.
The long -awaited blue pond is 10 minutes from the promontory. Alt 1800m
The blue pond
The border of the pond lends itself to rest. After a few minutes, your gaze could go to the collar dominating the pond. Fold south the Col de la Couillate.
Your eyes will look at the map and see the peak of the 3 lords which displays 2199m. Or 400m of elevation ... The peak is 1h30 from the lake. If the weather is good that your shape is there, let's go!
At the Col de la Couillate it is on the right any crest on the round trip to the summit cross.
Magnificent view of the Lord of the Couserans: Mont Valier full west. To the south the red spikes of Bassies and the roof of Catalonia the pique of 3144m estates.
Once back to the blue pond the path descends to the right to the north, north east.
After the passage pulled under the rock of the eagle the descent dives to your vehicle. Pretty firmer maintained by the ONF.
You arrive on a track. Take it on the left, she comes to come up against a concrete passage on the river. Rest assured a gateway hides 10m upstream to the left to make you change shore. You will find the departure forest track. The green lawn where your vehicle is parked is 5 minutes.
Variant has this hike from the Col de la Couillate: the Pic du Pioulou Alt 2166m
Less frequented than the peak of the 3 lords, 1:10 from the blue pond. Less marked, but easy path. Return too.
It is an ancient glacier of historical importance since the inhabitants of the valley, in the last century still, descended on the back of man blocks of ice to sell them in the valley. See 1914 postcard.
At the beginning of the twentieth century, during the summer period, some valiant men go up at night, at the glow of the stars and summary lighting, the northern slopes of the peak of the 3 nearby lords. For the wealthiest they are accompanied by a horse or a donkey which they will attach to the summer cabin to continue, only, until the snowfields located around 2000 meters above sea level in a very cold valley where the sun does not strike. It still happens today that eternal snow last last summer in these cold northern faces. The stiffness, the exposure N, the freshness of the boom circus make it a beneficial fridge on heat waves. The toponymy of the name La Freyte comes from there.
Those are ice carriers, a little extraordinary job today disappeared. Arrived on the scene, with an ax they cut a block of ice of 25 kilos around which they envelop in a jute bag garnished in sawdust to isolate the material. The bag resting on the back, the bearers go back down as quickly as possible because despite the precautions, the precious load inevitably melts during transport.
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Do not hesitate to question us at the reception of the Ariège Evasion campsite , our team passionate about the mountain will be able to advise you the route adapted to your level and your desires.
