Marcadau Valley

Magnificent hike, quite easy, no difficulty and a splendid path

On the last day before the change of location, we went through the beautiful high valley of the Gave de Marcadau to the Refuge Wallon. Start and finish was at the Plateau du Puntas at the bus station. The best way to get here is by taking the shuttle bus from Cauterets. From here we went to the already well-known Pont d'Espagne. At the café, however, it did not go directly to the valley station of the chairlift, but to the right around the café, then through a gate and after 555 m to the left over the Gave de Macardau and then past the valley station of the chairlift up the Gave de Macardau. The trail is mostly flat with some minor inclines. At kilometer 1.39 we leave the road on a beautiful unpaved path along the stream. At this time the weather was still overcast and it was drizzling lightly. The further the hike progressed, the more the cloud cover broke up and the warmer it got. The valley continued to climb up to kilometer 4.04. Here was time for a drink break. After that we left the Gave de Macardau for the time being and the steepest part of the day followed. At kilometer 4.7 we continued, mostly flat again with a few smaller climbs and descents. At kilometer 5.61 we reached the Gave de Macardau again, which we crossed over a bridge here. From here it went nicely through the high valley of the Gave de Macardau until at kilometer 6.16 the further ascent to the Refuge Wallon was due. It goes up consistently but with a pleasant incline. There is also a restaurant at the refuge. But shortly before at kilometer 8.41 I had discovered a nice spot by the stream where I had my lunch break. Here, too, there was an opportunity to take a footbath in the creek. From the refuge we went back on the way there. But at kilometer 13.5 I turned right and followed the road to Lac du Paradis. Here I was able to photograph chamois. After the Lac de Paradis I continued on the road and at kilometer 14.4 I got back on the way there. I followed this to the valley station of the chairlift. where I did not go to the other side of the stream, but followed the path to the Pont d'Espagne that I knew from the hike on July 31, 2023. From there we went back to the bus parking lot on the way there.