Mount Aneto ski touring, Pyrenees

The peak of Mount Aneto (3404m) is the highest point of the Pyrenees. This mountain is located at the Spanish side of the chain, in the Posets-Maladeta Natural Park. Join me for a fantastic ski touring day in the area!

This is without a doubt the best way to do Mount Aneto. The descent is just magnificent, and in fact it has no technical difficulties. Of course we need to find the best snow to fully enjoy it. But the spring snow of May is much easier than the winter snow.

This is a trip for the month of May, when the route beyond the Venasque Hospital is open and there is free circulation.

Besides being known for ranking first in altitude in the Pyrenees, Aneto is one of the most beautiful viewpoints of the chain. The breathtaking views from the summit will stay forever in your memory. And don’t forget to take some pictures as well!

The itinerary on the way up is rather easy almost until the end. Then, there is a harder last short stretch, where we will have to cross the famous Mahomet bridge. It is a vertiginous rocky, snowy or icy ridge, depending on the conditions. It will be necessary to use the rope.

Although there are not many glacial passages, we will have to use crampons to traverse the superior Portillon.

We will leave very early in the morning (4AM), which is why you need to arrive to the Castejon de Sos village the prior evening. After carrying our skis for a rather short stretch, we will put them on along with the seal skins and knives. A 2,5-hour ascent will follow up until Portillon. Then, 2 additional hours until the base of the ridge. We will put the crampons on to traverse the Mahomet pass before reaching the summit.

For the fun descent we will follow the Trou de Toro route, where the waters of Garonne penetrate to emerge in Val d’Aran, instead of following their natural course at the surface towards the Mediterranean sea.

Finally, we will carry our skis for the last hour until we reach the car and end the journey.

For this trip you need to have ski touring experience. Besides, you have to be a confident skier in black pistes. It will be a physically demanding (and highly rewarding!) day. Children from 14 years old can join.

Thinking about ski touring in Mount Aneto? Then don’t hesitate to book this trip! And if you have no ski touring experience, have a look at this initiation day.