Pic de Noufonts, Pic de l'Infern, Pic du Geant

July 19, 2025

Pic de Noufonts, Pic de l'Infern, Pic du Geant

Pic de Noufonts - 2864M

204M Prominence

42.42396, 2.16808

July 19, 2025

Pic de l'Infern - 2869M

165M Prominence

42.42397, 2.21394

July 19, 2025

Pic du Geant (Pic Bastiments) - 2881M

259M Prominence

42.42693, 2.23079

July 19, 2025

HRP Day 29 stats

2334M Ascent, 1866M descent

37.35 KM

Last night I camped out at 1800M next to a small stone hut in the Valle d'Eyne. As soon as I woke up the sky was dark, not because it was early but because there was an active thunderstorm raging all around me. I neglected it and got started hiking further up the Valle d'Eyne, but I decided to wait out the worst of the storm in a very small stone hut called Cabane d'Orry, it was uncomfortable and pitch black inside but it was better than being up on the high ridge in rain with a thunder risk. After making my way to the end of the valley, I hiked up a few switchbacks to the Col d'Eyne. From the col, the next 4 hours would be spent high up on a ridgeline above 2600M, going from peak to peak. There were loads of smaller peaks along the ridge, which don't interest me at all as none of them offer any technical climbing. I started by going up sub p100 Pic d'Eyne. I then dropped down a bit and ascended Pic des Noufonts. From there the ridge stayed high across some more named bumps, in the form of Pic Noucreus, Fossa del Geant, Pic Inferior de la Vaca, and finally Pic Superior de la Vaca. At this point the standard HRP route headed down and followed the GR11, but I took an alternative route to bag some more peaks. I made my way towards Pic de l'Infern, the most aesthetically pleasing peak of the day. The route was still just basic hiking, aside from one small section where I had to stay slightly on my toes as I skirted around a slabby area. I enjoyed lunch on the summit. The storm had completely passed at this point and views had opened up fantastically. I had great views of my route from earlier this morning, and good views of Pic du Geant, even if its summit was often in the clouds. After lunch I kept moving along the Spanish and French border that I had been following since the Col d'Eyne. I went over pic Freser, another sub p100 bump on the ridge, and then descended to Col Freser at 2690M. From the col I started climbing up Pic du Geant, which would be the high point for the day. By the time I made my up the bouldery West ridge, clouds had moved in, so I didn't stop to enjoy the summit, and instead kept moving to make my way back to my HRP route. I descended the very chill and quite popular South East side of the mountain, and crossed and passed many hikers. Once I arrived at Col de la Marrana, I was back on my route. I made my way to Refugi d'UlldeTer, then though the Vallter 2000 ski resort. I then continued East on wide grassy plains and made my way to Refuge Porteil de Roja, where I had dinner and took a break. I thought it was about to pour rain, but after waiting a bit I decided to just keep moving. Once I continued on, I accidentally passed right by a summit I meant to climb, Roca de Colom. It was just a slight deviation from the GR11 that I was following, but I missed it and didn't even realize due to the thick fog. It wasn't of much interest anyway, so I let it slide. I made my way North East for another few hours on the mellow trail. It was still a bit of a white out, but I made it to the unmanned but well built Refuge de Pla Guillem for the night.