Elegant and demanding alternative to access the Colomina refuge on a traverse.
DESCRIPTION
From the Sallente dam, follow the same route as route 1.5 to the Salado lake (2370 m). We skirt the lake on the right and go up the ravine that drains the water into the lake. We continue in a north-west direction crossing the small Saladino pond and the Reguera pond, and we continue to ascend until approximately the 2500 level where we turn to the north-east and face the Nairolo pass (2630 m). From the same pass we follow the wide ridge in a south-west direction until we reach the vicinity of Pic Fosser (2740 m). We will do the last meters on foot along the now sharper ridge. We will do the descent from the peak in two parts. First, we will descend about 150 m down the southwest slope of the peak, avoiding the rightmost parts, and we will go back up about 100 m to the Arenes pass (2615 m). The descent towards the northeast is spectacular bordering the southern foothills of Pic Fosser. After about 300 m of difference in level, the slope softens and we will have to climb slightly to be able to cross the rush of the Tort lake (2295 m). We put on our skins again and cross the lake to the southwest. Almost without losing altitude, we continue in an east and northeast direction until we reach the shelter. From the lake, the route coincides with the heavily traveled Carros de Foc.
SAFETY AND PRACTICAL ADVICE
It is a quite demanding traverse but without major technical difficulties. The descent from Pic Espada and the descent from the same Pic Fosser are the areas where Complex terrain must be crossed and precautions must be taken. If conditions are not favorable, we can avoid the Pic Fosser sector and descend directly to the Tort pond from the same Nariolo pass.
