Balaïtous
The westernmost 3,000-metre peak, 3 144 m
A wild granite massif on the border between Béarn and Aragon, with the Las Néous glacier on the French side. From the Spanish side you start from Sallent de Gállego and the La Sarra dam.
Ascent
- Height
- 3,144 m
- Massif
- Balaïtous
- Country
- Béarn, France/Aragon
- Grade
- F+ · Hard
- Days
- 2 days
- Season
- July–September
- Starting point
- La Sarra dam above Sallent de Gállego (Aragon)
- Mountain hut
- Refugio de Respomuso
- Elevation gain
- approx. 1 000 hm from the hut
- Time
- approx. 3 h up
- First ascent
- 1825 – the surveyors Peytier and Hossard while mapping the border
Balaïtous is the westernmost peak over 3 000 metres. It is often called the wildest in the Pyrenees: a long approach, granite and few people.
How to get up – the normal route step by step
- Day 1: from La Sarra along the valley and the lake up to Refugio de Respomuso, 2–3 hours.
- Day 2: past the lakes up towards the south side. The Gran Diagonal is a long, slanting ledge across the south face, with easy climbing (I).
- From the ledge you climb through boulders to the summit.
- Descend the same way.
SafetyA helmet is needed – rockfall from parties above. The route via Brecha Latour is harder (PD, II).
Other routes up
From France you start from Refuge de Larribet and cross the Las Néous glacier.
42.8386° N, 0.2900° W
Nearby
Formigal10 km · Valle de Tena (Sallent de Gállego), Huesca, Aragon
Artouste10 km · Vallée d'Ossau (Laruns), Pyrénées-Atlantiques- Balneario de Panticosa10 km · A high-alpine spa on the Spanish side
Pont d'Espagne & Lac de Gaube12 km · A waterfall and mountain lake above Cauterets
Pic du Midi d'Ossau12 km · The symbol of the Pyrenees, 2 884 m- Espace nordique du Pont d'Espagne (Cauterets)12 km · Vallée de Cauterets, Hautes-Pyrénées
Gourette14 km · Vallée d'Ossau (Eaux-Bonnes), Pyrénées-Atlantiques- Col du Soulor14 km · The Aubisque's twin col