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We went up the Col Du Tourmalet from the east, but the road down from the Col into Luz St Saveur was blocked at Bageres where there was tremendous amount of damage and debris still around.  Huge lorries were trucking what appeared to be whole forests of fallen trees, and yet more lorries were moving metal and concrete debris.  Other roads in the area between Luz St Saveur and Argeles Gazost were also closed for periods of the day. 

Other routes into/out of Lourdes and Cauterets are affected on a day to day basis as the contractors move debris from that particular area.

There are updated daily bulletins here:

Quote: Originally posted by jandjstott on 16/9/2013

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I think we were very lucky when we were at Pyrenees Natura as we left on the 17th June just the day before they had the awful weather which has obviously caused such tremendous damage.

Friends who were still on the site said that the sound of boulders rolling down the river outside the site kept them awake that night. Luckily they managed to get out before the road was too damaged. We had noticed in the week we were there that the melt water was increasing every day and the river was getting faster each day.

ValA - the Col Du Tourmalet was closed all the time we were there from Bagneres as it was still blocked by snow even in mid June.

Three photos attached with one showing the meltwater below Lac d'Estaing and one of a route barree sign just above Lac d'Estaing and one where we stopped on our way down from Bagneres of an avalanche of snow.

John

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Quote: Originally posted by robert821 on 17/9/2013

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Forgot to say, your second photo of the route Baree... The sign was there when I arrived in may and still there in July. Nobody heeded it and drove past it. It takes you to a small area to park your car. I wouldn't take anything but a 4x4 but in saying that the farmers were using little Renault kangoos and they coped with the track quite well.
The walk into the valley and up to the next lake is spectacular. Be on guard for the odd snake as there is a rocky climb at one point and snakes do love to hide amongst the warm rocks. I saw 2 during my stay...

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