The name comes from gascon eths picholes (pronounced es pitcholes), meaning « smalls rills » ("spijeole" is an erroneous derivation).

It lies in the High Luchonnais near the spa town of Bagnères-de-Luchon,[1] on the border of the hautes-Pyrénées and Haute-Garonne departments.

The first ascent by normal route was made by Henry Russell and guide from Luchon Firmin Barrau on June 30, 1880.

[citation needed] On September 6, 1906, luchonese pyreneist Marcel fell victim of a fatal fall at la brèche "gap" des Spijeoles.

[citation needed] The Spijeoles ascension from the barns of Astau and the refuge d'Espingo (normal route) is quite long though without any real difficulty (aside from in foggy conditions).