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Bouesou (Col de)

The Pyreneen foothillis south of Oloron-Saint-Marie contain many tiny roads over low, but steep passes. This one is not the lowest by a long shot. But it may be the least known, only because the name does not appear on any of the signs in the area. But it does appear on the map.All the names of the surrounding passes are found on the many direction signs in the area.

1.START-END SOUTH: turnoff onto D237 from N134, across from Bedous
2.TOP: Col de Bedous, 1020m
3.Pont de l"Arpet: route joins Col de Llabays in downhill direction
4.jct with D341 and D241 with other low passes in both directions
5.START-END NORTH: JCT N134-D918


Approaches

From East. the village Bedous, at the starting point of the profile sits in a short, widened part of the valley, carved by the little stream La Gave d'Aspe. In western US parlance, you would call it a park, and as most parks do, it affords some great views onto some of the surrounding mountains.

Continuing up the steep valley ... After a short traverse through the quaint houses of Osse-en-Aspe, the narrow path quickly finds a tight valley and follows it to the top. The road emerges from the forest for a short moment between consecutive swithbacks to open a view onto the peaks behind the village Aidus. Looking ahead ... it seems improbable, that a road is contained within these constricted slopes. A steep climb on good pavement leads to a top without far views,


From West. (described downwards). It's a good thing that there is basically no traffic on this road, because the turns are tight, the trees dense, the road steep and narrow. At about the half way point, the decision must be made weather to descend all the way back to the valley of the Gave d'Aspe, or climb back into cooler temperatures towards the Col Pierre Saint-Martin. The profile does the first.



Dayride with this point as highest summit:

COMPLETELY PAVED

( | Puerto de Somport > )

Col de Bouesou : Bedous with detour > up D441 > Col de Bouesou > down D341 > jct with N134 <> out and back shopping and sightseeing tour to  Oloron Saint-Marie with detours >> N134 south back to starting point in Bedous: 44.1miles with 3350ft of climbing in 4:39hrs (garmin etrex30 r5:22.09.08).


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