I'm planning a week in Andorra early March 2019. Can anyone please let me know where I can obtain ski touring maps for Andorra and neighbouring Pyrenees? Also, any info on best areas/routes, huts, local guides etc would be very welcome. Thanks.
PeterEdgerton
Dear Helen,
The maps for Andorra are quite variable but the Ed Alpina at 1:40000 is OK. However, there is a very detailed 1:25000 version of the country which is available through the tourist info offices but it is quite large and a bit unwieldy for daily use. You can also use the Open Mapping on Viewranger to supplement your paper versions. The neighbouring areas of Spain and France have IGN maps and the French overprint touring routes. There are also maps from the ICC (Catalan mapping institue) which are at 1:25000, with coverage of quite large areas close to the border with Andorra.
There are only 4 wardened huts in Andorra and only two of those operate in the winter - the L'Illa refuge is open all year, is new and very comfortable. It is operated by the Grau Roig ski area staff but is weell away from it. The other wardened hut is only open at weekends from Thursday to Sunday - this is the Sorteny and they will proviude half board on request. Both of the wardens are lovely and very helpful. They also do good food! There are nmany other huts but they are basic and unwardened.
Andorra lends itslef to either day routes or longer journeys incorporating the huts, many of which other than those mentioned are extremely basic - you would need a camping mat, stove, food etc as the bunks are often steel frames with a metal or board base. Very few have the facility to get heating from a stove or fire and you could not depend on a wood supply being available.
There are some very good routes from the Sorteny hut and the L'Illa could be incorporated into a traverse perhaps. Some good information on routes can be found on WikiLoc and also in the Faura guide book 'Pirineos en esquis' published by Desnivel - in fact, the Desnivel bookshop will probably have more guide information. There are local mountain guides but I dont have any contact details for them although thered are some based in Encamp which is a good location - details from the andorra tourist office. Try this link also : http://visitandorra.com/en/skiing/snow-adventure/ the website has a section on ski touring routes which is in English.
PeterEdgerton
Dear Helen,
The maps for Andorra are quite variable but the Ed Alpina at 1:40000 is OK. However, there is a very detailed 1:25000 version of the country which is available through the tourist info offices but it is quite large and a bit unwieldy for daily use. You can also use the Open Mapping on Viewranger to supplement your paper versions. The neighbouring areas of Spain and France have IGN maps and the French overprint touring routes. There are also maps from the ICC (Catalan mapping institue) which are at 1:25000, with coverage of quite large areas close to the border with Andorra.
There are only 4 wardened huts in Andorra and only two of those operate in the winter - the L'Illa refuge is open all year, is new and very comfortable. It is operated by the Grau Roig ski area staff but is weell away from it. The other wardened hut is only open at weekends from Thursday to Sunday - this is the Sorteny and they will proviude half board on request. Both of the wardens are lovely and very helpful. They also do good food! There are nmany other huts but they are basic and unwardened.
Andorra lends itslef to either day routes or longer journeys incorporating the huts, many of which other than those mentioned are extremely basic - you would need a camping mat, stove, food etc as the bunks are often steel frames with a metal or board base. Very few have the facility to get heating from a stove or fire and you could not depend on a wood supply being available.
There are some very good routes from the Sorteny hut and the L'Illa could be incorporated into a traverse perhaps. Some good information on routes can be found on WikiLoc and also in the Faura guide book 'Pirineos en esquis' published by Desnivel - in fact, the Desnivel bookshop will probably have more guide information. There are local mountain guides but I dont have any contact details for them although thered are some based in Encamp which is a good location - details from the andorra tourist office. Try this link also : http://visitandorra.com/en/skiing/snow-adventure/ the website has a section on ski touring routes which is in English.
Good luck - get back to me oif you need more details at rowanho@dircon.co.uk
Peter