The overlooked Spanish Pyrenees

Gorgeous area. These mountains see alot of sun in the winter so roads melt off after storms. Snowpack can vary like US Sierra. I've hiked from Aigüestortes to Ordesa in early June much on firm snow. Nobody around, huts not yet opened. Lift skied alot at Bacquira (large Alps like resort) and just over the French side at Super Bagners and Peryagudes. Trail hiking French side is busy in summer.

In the spring of 1982 I did a 4 day trip in the Pyrenees with Quim Carbonell of Barcelona.   Roughly it went - Ordesa NP, Brecha de Rolando, Cirque de Gavarnie, Pico Perdido, down the via ferreta of Ordesa NP.  I don't believe we ran into any other backcountry skiers.  Terrain was excellent.  While the peaks are lower than the Alps, and the glaciers small, there is a lot of mid level terrain providing excellent touring. Snow was plentiful - a typical spring mix of mush and powder. We had axes and crampons but used them only on Pico Perdido. We carried and once used a tent, but stayed in huts otherwise. Potential for long trips seemed endless.