Perched at an altitude of 2,877 meters, the Pic du Midi is best known for its astronomical observatory and the purity of its air, which earned it the first in France to be awarded the “International Dark Sky Reserve” label.
Departing from La Mongie, a fifteen-minute cable car ride is enough to span the large, untouched spaces and propel you to the summit.
The horizon opens out over the entire Pyrenees chain, 300 kilometers of mountain range from Catalonia to the Basque Country.
After a detour via the planetarium and the metal walkway to venture above the void, the serious things begin.
What level of skiing is required for the descent of the Pic du Midi?
At the beginning.
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You have to be a very good skier and not be afraid to take on the slope, the most demanding sections can reach 45°.
Without being a champion, you must above all be used to going off-piste, not only when the conditions are good like light powder, but also in more difficult snow which can be heavy or trodden, that is to say -say traced or worked by the wind.
When is the
best time to descend the Pic du Midi?
It is difficult to recommend a particular period as the descent of the Pic du Midi depends on the snow conditions and the temperature.
In general, the Woodpecker is “good” between mid-January and mid-April.
If by chance, the descent of the Pic proves impossible to do at the last moment, the Taoulet sector offers multiple free ride alternatives that are just as interesting.
Our advice: take a guide
A breathtaking panorama.
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Unless you know the area well, it is strongly advised not to venture into this high mountain territory alone.
“The Pic du Midi sector does not depend on a station, therefore, it is not secure.
This free ride area is in the middle of nature with the risks that this entails, avalanches, rock bars, etc.,”
explains Victor Saucède, one of the founding members of the Bureau des Guides du Pic du Midi.
Not to mention the vagaries of the weather.
Using the services of a guide guarantees the pleasure of the descent while minimizing the risks, even if, in the mountains, zero risk does not exist.
You will be equipped with an avalanche transceiver (avalanche victim detector), a shovel, a probe and a pair of crampons lent by the guide.
Before starting the climb by cable car, it will test your level on a marked track.
No question of bringing a skier who doesn't have the level.
“Depending on the condition of the snow, the guide chooses the right route but also the time to make the descent.
As the slope faces south, the snow can change radically from one hour to the next
,” warns Victor Saucède.
The Pic du Midi Guides Office offers several options.
When you join, you form your group, ideally four people maximum, a guide accompanies you.
€440 per day or €300 per half day.
You can also sign up for a group outing (6 people maximum).
€100 per person.
bureaupicdumidi.fr
Our selection of four itineraries
Skiers must have good technique on these steep slopes.
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Several routes are possible depending on the level of the skiers.
THE CLASSIC
the most accessible with 1000 meters of altitude difference.
Once out of the building, you find yourself at the foot of the large antenna facing the Pyrenees on the south side with the Néouvielle massif in the foreground and the Cirque de Gavarnie in the background.
After putting on your skis, you get to the heart of the matter.
The first 100 meters of descent are not easy because they are exposed to the wind.
The snow can be hard and require you to put on crampons to take a few steps before making small turns.
Then, you reach the Hôtellerie des Laquets above Lake Oncet, the most interesting part.
It is here that you can make your mark in the powder before continuing on long crossings which will take you back to Barèges.
THE COUME DU PIC
another classic but wilder and less frequented, is located on the La Mongie slope and can offer up to 1600 meters of altitude difference with a descent to Artigues-Campan, in case of heavy snow.
A shuttle takes skiers back to La Mongie.
THE BLACK ROCK
Is reserved for very good skiers with extreme skiing experience.
A straight descent which passes under the cable car before joining the two routes of La Classique or La Coume.
The conditions must be optimal, with snow not too hard and a low risk of avalanche because the route is very exposed.
THE CORRIDOR OF THE BOTANICAL GARDEN
A route parallel to Roche Noire, just as extreme with slopes of 45°.
Pic Free Ride package, day pass plus access to the Pic du Midi, €50.
https://www.n-py.com/fr/pic-du-midi/reservation-billetterie
Organize your getaway to the Pic du Midi
At the beginning.
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Or sleep ?
For an unforgettable experience, spend a night at the summit of the Pic du Midi in one of the rooms occupied by the scientists.
The comfort is a little Spartan but the view of the Pyrenees and the stars is breathtaking.
You will be looked after by scientists who will share their daily lives with you and you will have dinner at the panoramic restaurant.
Single room package from €469/person – double room from €519.
picdumidi.com
The Hôtel La Voie Lactée offers around twenty rooms overlooking the slopes.
Practical, it is a stone's throw from the departure point of the Pic du Midi cable car.
Little extra, a Nordic bath and a sauna to relax your muscles after the descent.
From €97 for a double room.
hotel-lavoielactee.fr
How to get to Pic du Midi?
By train:
TGV to Tarbes then bus connection.
By plane
: Tarbes/Lourdes Pyrénées airport (49 km) then bus.
By car:
access via the A64, then direction Bagnères de Bigorre and the D918 to La Mongie.
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