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1.START-END NORTH:Oloron-Sainte-Marie, bridge over La Gaspe-Aspe 2.profile turns left to Escot and Col Marie-Blanc 3.TOP:Col Marie-Blanc, 1035m 4.Col du Porteigt(shp) 5.START-END SOUTH:Laspallettes,turnoff from D934 6.START-END SOUTH:outside of Arudy

Approaches

From West. After the few sleepy streets of Escot, following the Tour de France emblems, the route enters a few open meadows reaching up to close by rocky mountain lips. Then the road enters the forest and stays there, so there is nothing to distract the head from the data signs, coming reliably every full km, detailing the current elevation and the average slope for the upcoming km. The last three are especially impressive, and these are what the pass is famous for. All of them have average slopes a few degrees above 10.

The meadow at the top is still 100m or so below treeline. There is a very limited view of the long green valley just ascended. A trail on south side leads up go a grassy pass with nearby peak with a good view direction Col d'Aubisque and the cirque behind it.

From East. (also described upards) This side is not nearly as steep, but more scenic in my opinion. About 150m below the summit, the road traveres a large meadow area full of grazing animals of various species, surrounded by mountains. This area has actually more appeal to me than the summit. After that just a short climb then leads to a last traverse in the forest to the summit.

Dayride with this point as highest summit

COMPLETELY PAVED

( < Col de Somport | Col de St Pierre Martin > )

Col de Marie Blanc x2: Bedous <> Sarrance <> Escot <> Col Marie Blanc <> turnaround point at 880m: 30.7m with 3580ft of climbing in 3:35hrs (garmin etrex30 r5:22.09.13).
Notes: Several hours more were spent during a hike from the pass up to the next pass and summit on the south side.