Due tu the weather conditions
Adventure
Freeride
According to British journalist Patrick Thorne, the world's leading expert on ski destinations. In his book-guide entitled "Powder: the greatest ski runs on the planet", he lists the Pic du Midi free-ride area as one of the 50 most beautiful sites in the world. An exceptional accolade, especially when you consider that the journalist travelled to 80 countries to visit the 6,000 ski resorts listed.
The two sections of the Pic du Midi cable car open onto a completely unsupervised, unmarked and undeveloped high mountain area. A good knowledge of high mountain terrain is essential, as is the use of suitable equipment.
The main descents from the Pic du Midi
From La Mongie to Artigues-Campan, take the "Coume du Pic" route, with its 1,700m vertical drop and 10km descent.
From Barèges to the Tourmalet chairlift, Pic du Midi ski passes include the return to La Mongie via this lift.
From the Taoulet intermediate station at 2341 m, the "La Jaune", "La Verte" and "La Violette" routes continue the Pic du Midi itineraries.
Freerider Shuttle
If you're skiing down to Artigues from the Pic du Midi or the Taoulet, the Freeriders' Shuttle will take you free of charge from the Relais d'Arizes in Artigues to the cable car station at La Mongie.
Contact professionals for support:
To make the most of these descents, the Pic du Midi recommends that you have a professional guide accompany you on this exceptional area. Guides and instructors are available to accompany you down the Pic du Midi. Here are just a few of them:
Icefall
Usually reserved for experts, the fascinating sport of ice climbing is now safely accessible from the Pic.
Ice climbing is as frightening as it is fascinating. The Pic du Midi wanted to make this legendary form of mountaineering accessible to the general public, in complete safety. For its second winter season, the Pic du Midi Ice Climb is taking place at the summit of the North Face at an altitude of almost 3000 metres.
And for those who just want to cheer on the climbers, the sky pontoon will provide a very unusual platform for the occasion!
Price upon request
The icy climb :
Starting from the observatory terrace at the top of the north face, the Pic du Midi icefall offers 4 different lines of climbing. 25 metres long and 45 metres wide, this introduction to icefall climbing is a unique experience for beginners, provided they want to experience some thrills, and is accompanied by a mountain guide.
For the less adventurous:
The Pontoon dans le Ciel offers you a great show. Transformed for the occasion into a most unusual tribune, you can admire the climbers' exploits at close quarters... And if you're feeling the chill, the Bistro du Pic is the place to go to warm up with a hot drink.
For an even more frosty programme:
Start the day with an ice climb and continue it on skis with a descent of the Pic!
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Want to give it a try?
Details and contact on 07 49 82 77 50 (Monday to Friday, 9 am to 5pm)
The Pic du Midi Guide Bureau takes care of bookings for this activity and its cable car access. Several options are available for small groups of up to 4 people. As a guide, the price is €370 for 3 people, including cable car tickets.
For larger groups and works councils, the office organises weekends combining ice climbing with other winter activities.
Hiking friends
⚠ Access to the Pic du Midi and its facilities is prohibited between the Col de Sencours and the Pic du Midi due to altitude works, until end of 2025.
Regulations applied by municipal decree.
2 listed and marked routes are passable in the summer season up to the Col de Sencours 2378m.
Valley of Barèges : From La Cabane de Toue (1940m) above Barèges to Sencours Col : https://rando.valleesdegavarnie.com.
Valley of La Mongie: From Artigues by taking the famous path called “des Muletiers” that the porters of the Pic du Midi took to supply the Pic until the construction of the roads and cable cars.
More information available at: https://ignrando.fr/fr/randonnee-bagneres-de-bigorrehttps://ignrando.fr/fr/randonnee-bagneres-de-bigorre
This is a high mountain area, consult the routes on the appropriate topographical maps, as well as the weather forecasts.
ℹ The track starting from Col du Tourmalet is closed to all traffic (vehicles and pedestrians) because it is exposed to falling rocks.
Mountain Bike
⚠ Access to the Pic du Midi and its facilities is forbidden to hikers, mountain bikers or unauthorised machines, between the Col de Sencours and the Pic du Midi due to altitude work, during the summer of 2024.
Regulations enforced by municipal by-law.
Various routes are listed from the Col du Tourmalet and in the valley :
https://www.tourmaletpicdumidi.fr/la-destination/top-5/le-temple-du-velo/
Cable car ride
Two cable car rides are reserved each day for mountain bikers, from 1 July to 30 September: 15 bikes departing from the first cabin in the morning and another 15 on the last ride in the afternoon. No booking is necessary, just make sure you arrive a little before the time you are interested in.
To make the most of your stay, the Pic du Midi recommends a few precautions:
This is a high mountain area, so don't stray too far from the path ...
Protective equipment and a thorough knowledge of the mountain environment are required,
Various downhill itineraries (up to 11 km) are possible via footpaths, which should be consulted on the appropriate maps,
Under-age who are not accompanied by a legal representative are not allowed to descend.
Please note that this open-air area is not supervised, equipped or signposted.
Mountain biking prevention: "Not all paths are DH tracks".
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