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Cent Cols Club summer break in Val-Louron (Hautes-Pyrénées) from 11 to 15 August 2009

Presentation

Every year in mid-August, the Club des Cent Cols invites its members to an international gathering at the top of a mountain pass. On Saturday 15 August 2009, we'll be meeting at the summit of the Col d'Azet (FR-65-1580) in the Pyrenees.

This gathering will be accompanied by a holiday (from the evening of 11/08 to midday on 15/08). Our accommodation will be at Le Lustou in the Val Louron resort. Each day, a road circuit and a mountain bike circuit will be offered to participants.

Collars

Please note: This list differs slightly from the list in the magazine; this list is the official version.

Road routes

On Friday 14 August you can choose between two tours. (Click on the tour name for details)

Wednesday 12 August " Val-Louron north-east " Start : Val Louron	Thursday 13 August " Luchon " Start : Luchon	Friday 14th August " Arreau " Start : Arreau	Friday 14th August " Val-Louron north-west " Start : Val Louron
FR-31-1569 Col de Peyresourde FR-31-1755 Port of Balès (Note 1) FR-65-0631 Col de Mazouau FR-65-1580 Val Louron-Azet pass FR-65-1585 Couret de Latuhe (Note 2)	FR-31-1293 Burbe gate FR-31-1382 Col d'Artigaux FR-31-1345 Artigascou Pass FR-31-1405a Col de Lagues (Note 3) FR-31-1349 Col de Menté FR-31-1246 Col de la Clin FR-31-0599 Col de Buret FR-31-0715a Col du Bech FR-31-0797 Col des Ares	FR-65-1489 Col d'Aspin FR-65-0810 Palomières pass FR-65-0687 Col de la Pède FR-65-0557 Cot det Hoo FR-65-0584 Pla de Couret FR-65-0652 Escots FR-65-0619 Couret d'Asque FR-65-0589 Cot de Sirès FR-65-0732 Cutting collar FR-65-0659 Col de Luquet	FR-65-1417 Col de Beyrède (Note 4) FR-65-1564 Hourquette d'Ancizan FR-65-1538 Hourquette d'Arreau FR-65-1580 Val Louron-Azet pass

Optional from Port de Balès: FR-31-1855b Port de Pierrefite

R1 over 300 metres
3 km of un-surfaced cycle track between the Col d'Artigascou and the Col de Lagues
3 km of un-surfaced track for cyclists (Route Forestière de Coumelade) between the Col de Beyrède and the Col d'Aspin road

Mountain bike routes

You can download the geolocation files GPX, Google Earth and Carto Explore these circuits.

On Wednesday 12 August, you can choose between two tours.
On 13 August, the circuit includes an important variant, and can be considered as two circuits.
The Saint Lary tour is not scheduled for any particular date.
(Click on the tour name for details)

Wednesday 12 August " Sarrancolin " Start : Sarrancolin	Wednesday 12 August " Wicks " Start : Hèches	Thursday 13 August " Luchon " Start : Luchon	Friday 14th August " Garin " Start : Garin (Note 8)	Free choice "Saint Lary Start : Saint Lary
FR-65-1217 Col d'Estivère FR-65-1278 Col de Mènes FR-65-1207 Col d'Artiguette FR-65-1459 Loyos Pass FR-65-1512 Col de Parreu FR-65-1454 Col de Bas FR-65-1655 Col de la Lit FR-65-1685a Cap Nestès pass FR-65-1735a Col de l'Aouet FR-65-1824 Hourquette d'Humène FR-65-1635 Gembre pass FR-65-1685b Sonères pass	FR-65-0659 Col de Luquet FR-65-0732 Cutting collar FR-65-1028 Couradabat pass FR-65-1000 Couret de Berdou FR-65-1168 Col des Estrets FR-65-1237 Col de Oueil Lusent (Note 5) FR-65-1145 Arès pass FR-65-0986 Col de Couret FR-65-1042 Col de Moumède (Note 6)	FR-31-1293 Col du Portillon de Burbe (Note 7) ES-L-1337 Coret dera Artigueta FR-31-1749 Col de Barèges FR-31-2048a Passada d'era Trona FR-31-2114 Passage d'Arrès FR-31-2105 Passage d'Arrou FR-31-2048 No Vilamos ES-L-2013 Cot de Poilanèr FR-31-2069 Pas de la Montjoi	FR-31-1683 Port of Court FR-31-1755 Port of Balès FR-65-1656 Col de Pradaus FR-65-1710 Couret de St Martin FR-65-1645a Passage de la Courbe FR-31-1855b Port of Pierrefite FR-65-2035 Lion Pass FR-31-2001 Col de Louron FR-31-2015 Sahiestre pass FR-31-1992 Port of Pinate	FR-65-2215a Col de Portet (Note 9) FR-65-2274 Col de Terre Nère

Optional from the Col de Oueil Lusent: FR-65-1395 Col de Castillon (S3-S4) return journey.
Optional after the Col de Moumède, before returning to Hèches : FR-65-1114 Pas du Mouné and back.
Optional from the Burbe Gate:ES-L-1355 Coret dera Clòta and ES-L-1404 Coret de Samorèra.
Parking difficulties.
Option: FR-65-2425 Jetas pass

The report

A stay in Aure

So here we are, back in the Pyrenees, between the Aure and Louron valleys, on the borders of Comminges, Bigorre and Spain...
There were a few fewer of us than in 2008, around 150, but the atmosphere remained in keeping with the spirit of the Cent Cols: friendship, mutual aid and good humour.

Of course, everyone had already climbed the neighbouring cols, but Alain Gillodes, the regional delegate, had managed to find some more or less secret cols, set to music by René Poty and 'images' by Mario Labelle. I've heard that some of the more or less 2,000-metre passes were not easy to find. You had to take the handlebars by the horns! Normal in the pastoral areas we crossed. We even sat down in the dung-strewn grass to watch the official ceremony at the Col d'Azet meeting, during which Claude Bénistrand gave his last speech as President. It was still a little early to say thank you to the team who will be handing over the reins at the next AGM, but we all thought about it!

Even though this year's souvenir gift was a first aid kit, it's safe to assume that the club is not in any danger!
In addition to a large number of French visitors, the event was also attended by Italians, Swiss, English and two Australians who had travelled from Amsterdam. Hats off to them! As for the Swiss, I heard that two of them had extended their stay in the region.

For 2010, we're heading north-east to the Vosges...

Georges Golse