From december 2002:
A TRIP TO PIRINEOS
This is a mountaineering trip for people who like nature, outdoor activities and beautiful landscapes, besides it'll have ancient art. It could take you seven days from the departure from Palencia to the day that you come back. It is convenient to be in good fitness because if you aren't, you won't enjoy it completely. You should do exercise, at least a week before the trip so as not to get too much tired.
The people that I recommend you to go with, will be a partner or a group of friends who don't mind making physical effort and like outdoors activities and nature, if you are nor able to find them, don't worry, go alone, you can be sure that there you will meet new people with the same tastes as yours.
It is worth travelling by private car because it is the only way to stop and go on exactly when you decide and it is the most comfortable way to see many things. If you don't have, you can do it in public transport, you won't see so many places but it doesn't matter. Not all will be nature and hiking, you will complete the trip with cultural visits to the monuments.
Day 1-
I really recommend you to set off early in the morning because of the long travel. It will take you about 5 hours. It will be a good idea to stop in Jaca and visit mainly two things: Romanesque Cathedral of XI century and the Citadle (XVI). If you like figure skating on ice it is the appropriate place to do it because there is a good ice rink in Jaca. If it was be winter, you would have the opportunity to practise ski near here.
After you see Jaca you may continue to Torla. It is the nearest village from Ordesa Valley. When you arrived here you will guess you are in a really mountain village of Pirineos. Here, you may spend the night; chose: camping or hotel?.
Day 2-
The night before, you should have fit your travelling clock no later than 6 o'clock. In this day you will go hiking to visit the beautiful and amazing Ordesa Canyon which forms part of the National Park "ORDESA Y MONTE PERDIDO". Nobody who goes to Pirineos must miss this magnificent area. Here you will take contact with the high mountain and you will feel in one of the most beautiful landscapes in Spain even in the world. The hike will take you about six or seven hours go and come back, you will rise about 700 metres from Ordesa parking to the famous waterfall "Cola de Caballo" but it will definitely be worth. You will be walking into a canyon, between two high walls by a nice beechwood, you will find clear streams, big birds like "Quebrantahuesos", edelweiss (the snow flower), and an unforgettable scenery. Here, if you like climbing high mountains you will have the opportunity to rise Monte Perdido (3.355 m.), the third highest mountain in Pirineos. If you don't have giddiness I really recommend you to come back by other way: "Senda de los cazadores", it is a narrow but safe path from which you will have a different and splendid point of view of the canyon.
Day 3 -
Today might be of resting to see near villages, I am sure you will like a long waterfall in Broto that you will reach in a short path. There is a pretty village called Fanlo where you might buy pottery and carved wood. Near Fanlo you can walk into Añisclo Canyon that is similar to Ordesa, therefore it is worth. If you are in good fitness you can do other rising hike, from a bridge near Torla to the France border.
Days 4, 5-
You must drive first to Ainsa and stop here to visit this typical village on the top. It is famous for its medieval square, castle of the XI century and Asuncion church (XVI). From the tower you can see a large panoramic. In Ainsa you can find agencies which could carry you to enjoy an amazing experience: rafting and canyon descent through rough rivers.
If you decide no to stay here any longer, you'll have to continue to Benasque. Here you can find many organized adventures or simply to know what you like by yourself. It is an area where you can spend some days. You can walk through forest valleys lakes and mountains. You could want to be in a refuge, you will be able (I recommend you to phone them before); maybe you would like to camp, there are many campings; perhaps you prefer a comfortable bed, then you, comfort-loving, will find hotels and maybe some boarding houses.
The thing is that it is an area in which you will enjoy at all because of the landscapes, nature, beautiful lakes... Yeah!, in some hours hiking you will reach some of the most magnificent alpine lakes that you have never seen. Do you miss water in your dry region?. Here you will see the liquid element everywhere. I hope you don't see it falling from the sky. Speaking about water... It is important you are watchful of the weather forecast before you begin a trip because of the storms. Anyway you must never forget your raincoat. In the mountain nobody knows.
Would you like to climb the most important and highest mountain in all Pirineos?, you are lucky. The Aneto (3.404 m.) can be reached stretching your arm, but stretching your arm to hold tight the last stone when you are close to the top, after you have come up to 1.300 metres. The reward will be well deserved when you get the top; there, your glance could be limited only for the clouds. If you have got the time, you could drive up to Cerler to know a good ski resort.
Days 6, 7 -Early morning you will drive back some kilometres to Castejón (famous for its hand gliding championship), have a look at this scenery. In this crossroad you must turn left, have a look at your map and go to Taull.
On the road you will arrive at Cataluña region. Tahull has two of the most important romanesque churches in Cataluña: "SANTA MARIA" and "SAN CLEMENTE" they are famous for their beautiful typical high towers. If you don't feel giddiness (I think you don't because you like climbing mountains.) I would go up the spiral staircase into the tower.
Eventually you will visit the Natural Park "AIGÜES TORTES". You could begin from Tahull but personally I would begin from Sort, it will take you more time to reach it but it´s the most comfortable point to know the park from. There is a road that arrive just at "Lago San Mauricio" main point of the park which characterises for its beautiful paths, lakes, waterfall and mountains. The whole park suggests me to be in a tale scenery. You can leave the car in the park, pick up your backpack and go hiking to one of the nice wood refuges.
The time you spend there depends on the time you have got. Everything finishes, even the good times. Now you must come back to Palencia but it does not matter, you can be sure that you will come back., you'll see.
By Alejandro Pérez García
From december 2002:
