67) Païlla Oeste

The Païlla Oeste glacier, together with the Païlla Este glacier (66), formed a single glacier during the Little Ice Age, with a horizontal head of 1,150 m and an area of 25.5 ha, making it the fifth largest glacier in the massif and one of the 30 largest in the Pyrenees.
At an altitude of approximately 2,600 m, it has maintained its glacier status until 2023, when it will become a Helero, although it is not possible to specify the moment when it ceased to exhibit glacial dynamics in favour of static ice.
Three factors have contributed to its better conservation compared to neighbouring glaciers: its strict north-facing orientation; protection from solar radiation by the north-western ridge of Petit Astazu and the buttress of Gran Astazu (east of the Swan Corridor); and overaccumulation due to abundant snowfall.
In 2023, in addition to losing its glacier status, it suffered a split in its lower section. The two current fragments, covering a total area of 2 ha, make it the largest of the ice fields in the Gavarnie Massif.

Este aparato glaciar pertenece al siguiente macizo:

I) Gavarnie Massif

Aragón
12 glaciers

Galería de imágenes

In 2017, view of the Païlla Oeste Glacier (67) at the base of the Swan Corridor (18), with the Païlla Este Helero (66) to its left. Separated by the Hourquette de Païlla (17) is the Helero de Astazú (65). Peaks of Gran (1) and Petit Astazú (2). In the background, the location of the extinct Marboré Oeste Glacier (68), as well as the Residual Occidental de Marboré (64), which belongs to the Monte Perdido Massif. (Jordi Camins).

Detail of the Païlla Oeste Glacier at the end of summer 2004, still covered in snow. (Jordi Camins).

The Païlla Oeste Glacier and its frontal moraine in 2012. (Jordi Camins).

The Païlla Oeste Glacier in 2017, with signs of its imminent fragmentation. (Jordi Camins).

In 2022, the rocky substrate is emerging at the bottom of the Païlla Oeste Glacier. (Jordi Camins).

The fragmentation will be complete in 2023, at which point it will be classified as a helero, showing fractures and subsidence as a result of its deterioration. (Roberto López).

The Païlla Oeste icefield in 2024, which has retained its snow cover, making it easy to distinguish its two fragments. (Jordi Camins).