Picos back to St Malo over Pyrenees

[JR1K]

We are travelling down to The Picos De Europa starting Saturday, working our way down with a stop over in Saintes and another in San Sebastian. We plan to stay 4 or 5 days in Potes. I need to get back to St Malo for 11th May. We are travelling two up on a GS. The boss loves looking at mountains especially snow, but I don't want to ride on it.

I was thinking of travelling over the Pyrenees on our way back. Does anyone know of a good route that will give us good views of the mountains? I was intending to head toward Toulouse and to use the motorway back across France just to make up time.

I would appreciate knowing if anyone has crossed any mountain passes in the Pyrenees in the last week or so, and is there much snow about. Which passes are open? Alpine Roads.com is great for updates on which passes are open but only appears to cover the French Alps and beyond into Switzerland etc.

If anyone knows of any web sites that will indicate if the passes over the Pyrenees to the West of Andorra are open, I would be very grateful.

I will also need to find some accommodation near Saint Gaudens if anyone knows of any.

Cheers

JR

 

[Coolpan]

Sorted

The route from a small p[lace called Sort, towards Vielha is superb, its starts out as the C13 and turns into the C28, the scenery is fantastic roads should be pretty clear of snow as there is a ski resort at the top of one of the passes.
From Vielha take the N230 towards the French border, dont cross the border towards Bagneres-de-luchon as the four times I've tried to cross the border there, the road is ripped up and there are concrete bollards blocking the road, we had to go off road a little way to get through
hope this helps.
Have a safe trip

 

[santrix]

What he said above, we did exactly that route north through Sort, Lavorsii over the mountains... This was about 2 weeks ago, the road was open but there is snow at the very top, roads were clear though and it snowed on us a little. The roads seem to be well treated, i wouldnt worry.

Depending on your budget there is an ace hotel in Lavossii called the Riberies which i stayed at last summer for the HUMM. Also if you need a great place to stay in the Picos, english owned, lovely secluded location, biker very friendly, great food etc, i have just the place.... http://www.lapisa.co.uk/

Have a good trip..

The C13/28 north to Sort and the mountains

Top of the mountains

LaPisa car park lol

 

[Riders Rest]

We have had a few people staying here this week who have ridden up through Spain and the passes to Tarbs and they report the passes are open though there is of course still snow around.

 

[Farmboy]

tried the Espinama to Sotres high Mountain Trail 2 weeks ago,

Got stuck in the snow and spent a couple of hours digging my way through and then back again

It was all offroad though and the roads themselves lower down were fine and completely devoid of all snow - so stick to the roads and you will be fine.

There are some great campsites around there though thats for sure !