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Pica d'Estats
Photo: Bocian & Tusia · CC BY 2.0
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Pica d'Estats

The highest peak in Catalonia, 3 143 m

The border between Ariège and Catalonia runs over the summit, which is the highest point of both Catalonia and Ariège. An iron cross stands on the top. Most people do Montcalm the same day.

Ascent

Height
3,143 m
Massif
Montcalm
Country
Ariège, France/Catalonia
Grade
F · Hard
Days
2 days
Season
July–September
Starting point
L'Artigue (1 185 m), above Auzat in the Vicdessos valley
Mountain hut
Refuge du Pinet (2 225 m)
Elevation gain
approx. 920 hm from the hut
Time
approx. 2,5 h up from the hut
First ascent
1864 – Henry Russell and Jean-Jacques Denjean

The summit is the highest point of both Catalonia and Ariège, and the Catalan flag and the iron cross on top are popular photo subjects.

How to get up – the normal route step by step

  1. Day 1: from L'Artigue steeply up to Refuge du Pinet, approx. 3 hours.
  2. Day 2: past Étang d'Estats up towards the ridge.
  3. Either straight up through the rocks on the north side (I) or over Coll de Riufred to the summit.
  4. Cross over to Montcalm in about an hour and descend via Étang de Montcalm back to Pinet – a classic 8–9-hour day.
SafetyNo glacier, but plenty of snow until July. Thunderstorms are common in the afternoons – get off the ridge in good time.

Other routes up

From Catalonia you start from Vall Ferrera via Port de Sotllo and Coll de Riufred.

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42.6672° N, 1.3972° E

Nearby

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