The Pic du Midi d'Ossau (French pronunciation:[pikdymididɔso]; Occitan: Pic de Mieidia d'Aussau; 2,884 m) is a mountain rising above the Ossau Valley in the FrenchPyrenees. Despite possessing neither a glacier nor, in the context of the range, a particularly high summit, its distinctive shape makes it a symbol of the French side of the Pyrenees. This familiar shape also makes it easily recognisable from afar, and it is particularly distinctive from the Boulevard des Pyrénées in Pau, some 55 km to the north.[1][2]
As normally seen from the north, the mountain presents itself as having two distinct peaks, although from the south two other summits are also visible. It stands separate from any surrounding peaks, being largely surrounded by the valleys of the Gave de Bious, to the west, and the Gave du Brousset, to the east. These two mountain streams come together in the hamlet of Gabas at the foot of the mountain's northern slopes, to form the Gave d'Ossau.[2]
Pic du Midi d´Ossau, circa 1886
The Pic du Midi d'Ossau was reputedly first climbed in 1552 by an expedition led by François de Foix-Candale, later to become the Bishop of Aire. Although the success of this first climb is disputed, it is known that the mountain had been successfully climbed by 1787 when a military surveyor noted that a triangulation cairn had been built on the summit. The first fully recorded climb was by Guillaume Delfau accompanied by Mathieu (an Eaux-Bonnes shepherd) on October 2, 1797.[1][3]
The mountain offers many routes of ascent; the voie normale is a serious scramble and rock climb with a grading of PD, II+, 550 m. It approaches the summit via the Refuge de Pombie, a Club Alpin Francais owned mountain hut situated at 2,031 m (6,663 ft), and requires most of a day to execute.[3]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Pic du Midi d'Ossau.
^ abReynolds, Kev (2004). The Pyrenees: The High Pyrenees from the Cirque De Lescun to the Carlit Massif. Cicerone Press. pp. 136–138. ISBN1-85284-420-5.
^ abFrench Atlantic Coast. Michelin Apa Publications Ltd. October 2007. p. 338. ISBN978-1-906261-17-7.
^ ab"Los Pirineos / Les Pyrénées-RANGE > Pyrénées: Béarn > Pic du Midi d'Ossau > Normal". SummitPost.org. Retrieved 2008-08-11.
External linksEdit
Mountain details from SummitPost.org
October 19, 2023
midi, ossau, confused, with, midi, bigorre, french, pronunciation, midi, dɔso, occitan, mieidia, aussau, mountain, rising, above, ossau, valley, french, pyrenees, despite, possessing, neither, glacier, context, range, particularly, high, summit, distinctive, s. Not to be confused with Pic du Midi de Bigorre The Pic du Midi d Ossau French pronunciation pik dy midi dɔso Occitan Pic de Mieidia d Aussau 2 884 m is a mountain rising above the Ossau Valley in the French Pyrenees Despite possessing neither a glacier nor in the context of the range a particularly high summit its distinctive shape makes it a symbol of the French side of the Pyrenees This familiar shape also makes it easily recognisable from afar and it is particularly distinctive from the Boulevard des Pyrenees in Pau some 55 km to the north 1 2 Pic du Midi d OssauPic du Midi d OssauHighest pointElevation2 884 m 9 462 ft Prominence1 091 m 3 ft 7 0 in Coordinates42 50 35 N 0 26 17 W 42 84306 N 0 43806 W 42 84306 0 43806GeographyPic du Midi d OssauPyreneesLocationPyrenees Atlantiques FranceParent rangePyreneesAppearance EditAs normally seen from the north the mountain presents itself as having two distinct peaks although from the south two other summits are also visible It stands separate from any surrounding peaks being largely surrounded by the valleys of the Gave de Bious to the west and the Gave du Brousset to the east These two mountain streams come together in the hamlet of Gabas at the foot of the mountain s northern slopes to form the Gave d Ossau 2 nbsp Pic du Midi d Ossau circa 1886The Pic du Midi d Ossau was reputedly first climbed in 1552 by an expedition led by Francois de Foix Candale later to become the Bishop of Aire Although the success of this first climb is disputed it is known that the mountain had been successfully climbed by 1787 when a military surveyor noted that a triangulation cairn had been built on the summit The first fully recorded climb was by Guillaume Delfau accompanied by Mathieu an Eaux Bonnes shepherd on October 2 1797 1 3 The mountain offers many routes of ascent the voie normale is a serious scramble and rock climb with a grading of PD II 550 m It approaches the summit via the Refuge de Pombie a Club Alpin Francais owned mountain hut situated at 2 031 m 6 663 ft and requires most of a day to execute 3 Politically the mountain lies within the commune of Laruns in the departement of Pyrenees Atlantiques and the Aquitaine region of France It lies within the fully protected area of the Pyrenees National Park References Edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Pic du Midi d Ossau a b Reynolds Kev 2004 The Pyrenees The High Pyrenees from the Cirque De Lescun to the Carlit Massif Cicerone Press pp 136 138 ISBN 1 85284 420 5 a b French Atlantic Coast Michelin Apa Publications Ltd October 2007 p 338 ISBN 978 1 906261 17 7 a b Los Pirineos Les Pyrenees RANGE gt Pyrenees Bearn gt Pic du Midi d Ossau gt Normal SummitPost org Retrieved 2008 08 11 External links EditMountain details from SummitPost org Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Pic du Midi d 27Ossau amp oldid 1178970499, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
