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1000 results for “ferrata”
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Ferrata de Refogons en Campo (HUESCA) Corto pero intenso recorrido con algunos tramos que justifican la dificultad (K4, ruta difícil que requiere experiencia y buena forma física) Por lo demás muy bonita y recomendable con preciosas vistas sobre el río Ésera.
#pirineo #escalada #climbing #campo #huesca #ferrata -
Hey! #introduction on a new server with my favorite tech peeps! My name is Sasha and I am a #developer
a #backenddev reformed to be a #fullstackdeveloper, with experience in #dotnet, #csharp, #javascript, #python, interested in #functional programming
a #slowlearner that ironically has a broad interest in all dev things, but not enough time and energy to get to them all
I believe that #teamequalsproduct and also that #empathy and #kindness are underrated.
More here: https://blog.ferrata.dev/hey-there/
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Via ferrata up to the Hohe Wand: Exit from the narrow chimney of the steep Wildenauersteig (D).
#ViaFerrata #Klettersteig #HoheWand #Berge #Wildenauersteig #Mountains #Nature #Climbing
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Via ferrata up to the Hohe Wand: Exit from the narrow chimney of the steep Wildenauersteig (D).
#ViaFerrata #Klettersteig #HoheWand #Berge #Wildenauersteig #Mountains #Nature #Climbing
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Via ferrata up to the Hohe Wand: Exit from the narrow chimney of the steep Wildenauersteig (D).
#ViaFerrata #Klettersteig #HoheWand #Berge #Wildenauersteig #Mountains #Nature #Climbing
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Via ferrata up to the Hohe Wand: Exit from the narrow chimney of the steep Wildenauersteig (D).
#ViaFerrata #Klettersteig #HoheWand #Berge #Wildenauersteig #Mountains #Nature #Climbing
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Via ferrata up to the Hohe Wand: Exit from the narrow chimney of the steep Wildenauersteig (D).
#ViaFerrata #Klettersteig #HoheWand #Berge #Wildenauersteig #Mountains #Nature #Climbing
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Via Ferrata <> Ferrovia 😄
Lite kul ändå att de gör det på klippan där tåget går i en tunnel.
Tunnelmynningar med kreneleringar som en borg är väldigt romanticistiskt
Det här området kallas ”Böhmiska Schweiz”, norr om gränsen i Tyskland finns ”Sachsiska Schweiz” med de kända sandstensformationerna vid Basteibrücke.
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On 13 September 2025, the Ferrata Bertona was inaugurated on Monte Bertona, on the Pescara side of the Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga National Park. This is the least-known of the three faces of the Gran Sasso massif, lower in altitude than the Teramo and L’Aquila sides, but no less striking, with limestone walls, rocky towers, and sweeping views towards the Adriatic.
The starting point is […]
https://outdoorabruzzo.com/via-ferrata-bertona/ -
On 13 September 2025, the Ferrata Bertona was inaugurated on Monte Bertona, on the Pescara side of the Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga National Park. This is the least-known of the three faces of the Gran Sasso massif, lower in altitude than the Teramo and L’Aquila sides, but no less striking, with limestone walls, rocky towers, and sweeping views towards the Adriatic.
The starting point is […]
https://outdoorabruzzo.com/via-ferrata-bertona/ -
On 13 September 2025, the Ferrata Bertona was inaugurated on Monte Bertona, on the Pescara side of the Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga National Park. This is the least-known of the three faces of the Gran Sasso massif, lower in altitude than the Teramo and L’Aquila sides, but no less striking, with limestone walls, rocky towers, and sweeping views towards the Adriatic.
The starting point is […]
https://outdoorabruzzo.com/via-ferrata-bertona/ -
On 13 September 2025, the Ferrata Bertona was inaugurated on Monte Bertona, on the Pescara side of the Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga National Park. This is the least-known of the three faces of the Gran Sasso massif, lower in altitude than the Teramo and L’Aquila sides, but no less striking, with limestone walls, rocky towers, and sweeping views towards the Adriatic.
The starting point is […]
https://outdoorabruzzo.com/via-ferrata-bertona/ -
On 13 September 2025, the Ferrata Bertona was inaugurated on Monte Bertona, on the Pescara side of the Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga National Park. This is the least-known of the three faces of the Gran Sasso massif, lower in altitude than the Teramo and L’Aquila sides, but no less striking, with limestone walls, rocky towers, and sweeping views towards the Adriatic.
The starting point is […]
https://outdoorabruzzo.com/via-ferrata-bertona/ -
Went on a via ferrata today with a good friend and his 10 year old son. For the little one, it was his first, so we chose a cat. B one. There were maybe 2 or 3 difficult parts for him, mainly because of his height (or lack thereof). He did well! I guess this will not be his last.
The via ferrata was following a big waterfall from bottom to top. The sound of the waterfall was accompanying us all the time. Fittig for a Wednesday.
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Haid-Steig: via ferrata on the Rax, Austria (420 m, level C/D).
#ViaFerrata #HaidSteig #Klettersteig #Rax #Österreich #Austria #Mountains #Bergwandern #Sonnenwende #Klettern
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Today’s hike included a via ferrata higher up. Spring is here now. 😊 🌱⛰️
#alps #bavaria #germany #mountains #hiking #viaferrata #nature #alpine #spring
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Today’s hike included a via ferrata higher up. Spring is here now. 😊 🌱⛰️
#alps #bavaria #germany #mountains #hiking #viaferrata #nature #alpine #spring
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Today’s hike included a via ferrata higher up. Spring is here now. 😊 🌱⛰️
#alps #bavaria #germany #mountains #hiking #viaferrata #nature #alpine #spring
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Today’s hike included a via ferrata higher up. Spring is here now. 😊 🌱⛰️
#alps #bavaria #germany #mountains #hiking #viaferrata #nature #alpine #spring
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Today’s hike included a via ferrata higher up. Spring is here now. 😊 🌱⛰️
#alps #bavaria #germany #mountains #hiking #viaferrata #nature #alpine #spring
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Dolomity, Włochy, wrzesień 2019
Czwartek rano to przede wszystkim trzy rzeczy. Tradycyjna jajecznica na śniadanie, wyjazd z kempingu i szybkie zakupy. Potem droga do Fiames, skąd zamierzaliśmy ruszyć na najkrótszą via ferratę tego wyjazdu – Ettore Bovero – poprowadzoną szlakiem 408. Zapowiadany deszcz, może nawet burze, zniechęciły nas do dłuższych wyjść. Dlatego celem na czwartek była Col Rosa, malowniczy szczyt z widokiem na koryto rzeki Boite.
Via ferrata Ettore Bovero
Via ferrata Ettore Bovero nie była trudniejsza niż pokonana w środę Ferrata di Punta Sant Anna1, jednak w tym przypadku zmęczenie dwoma poprzednimi dniami dawało się we znaki. Podejście do samej ferraty było strome i już tam można było złapać zadyszkę, a przecież wspinaczka była dopiero przed nami.
Początek ferraty stanowił problem, bo nie do końca było wiadomo, czego się złapać. Na szczęście po pokonaniu tej trudności, wszystko wydawało się już całkiem wykonalne. I choć faktycznie niektóre odcinki Bovero były wymagające technicznie lub siłowo – dało się przez nią przejść bez większego kłopotu.
Z naszego punktu widzenia, zaletą było to, że ferrata do najdłuższych nie należała. Zdobycie Col Rosa, o wysokości 2166 m n.p.m. było próbą wytrzymałości tylko w kontekście wspinania się już trzeci dzień z rzędu, nie ze względów technicznych czy wytrzymałościowych.
Widok ze szczytu był epicki. Choć bałem się wyciągać telefon na podejściu, bo ręce miałem zmęczone, uważam że nie straciłem najlepszych kadrów. Te pojawiły się dopiero na samej górze, gdy można było rzucić okiem na całą dolinę w której znajdowała się Cortina.
Boite, w niecałej swej okazałościWidok z BoveroCałe życie pod góręDrabina do nieba?Cortina, z innej niż poprzednio perspektywySpostrzeżenie w temacie bezpieczeństwa na via ferratach
Tego dnia zwróciłem uwagę na kolejne zagrożenie na ferratach. Otóż bardzo drażnił mnie fakt, że kilku Austriaków szło za nami, narzucając sobie całkiem szybkie tempo. Uznałem, że będę szedł na końcu – za swoją ekipą – i czułem się niepewnie, gdy ktoś za mną wpinał się na ten sam odcinek liny, na którym ja byłem wpięty. I choć przez większość trasy nie robiło to praktycznie żadnej różnicy w samej wspinaczce, to jednak pojawiło się kilka odcinków z dość luźno napiętą liną.
Gdy pod koniec jednego z takich odcinków próbowałem wejść na półkę skalną, pojawił się istotny problem – ktoś za mną wpiął się na ten luźny fragment liny, do którego byłem przypięty i przycisnął tym samym obydwa moje karabinki do ściany. Musiałem się nagimnastykować, żeby je stamtąd ruszyć, co uważam za niebezpieczną sytuację. Stąd moja rada: jeśli będziecie kiedyś na via ferracie, poczekajcie aż osoba przed wami przepnie się na następny odcinek trasy.
Austriaków puściliśmy przodem, ale znowu spotkaliśmy ich nieco dalej. Mimo tej całej, niewygodnej dla mnie sytuacji, okazali się być całkiem w porządku. Zrobili nam na szczycie kilka fotek, a poza tym mieli drona, którym nagrywali podejście. Mam nadzieję, że na dniach przyślą filmik ze wspinaczki. Fajnie byłoby zobaczyć naszą ekipę na szlaku, chociażby gdzieś z boku kadru.
Dużo poniżej szczytu Col RosaSchody do piekłaPrzypis z 2024: film z tamtego wypadu faktycznie pojawił się w sieci i można go znaleźć w serwisie YouTube.2
Szlakiem 447 w dół – i do spania
No dobra, Col Rosa zdobyta, fotki zrobione, deszcz nadal nie padał. Zejście szło sprawnie, choć było stromo. Wybranie ferraty na wejście i szlaku 447 na zejście było strzałem w dziesiątkę. Zatem, gdybyście zastanawiali się kiedyś, jak zaplanować tę trasę – już wiecie.
Po zejściu zrobiliśmy kolejne zakupy i trafiliśmy do wynajętego przez booking noclegu. Mercure Hotel okazał się być bardzo przytulnym miejscem. Pokój również – przynajmniej do momentu, w którym zderzył się z naszymi realiami: pełno rzeczy na podłodze, pełno rzeczy na parapecie, a do tego na balkonie dwa palniki, na których gotowaliśmy obiad. Nie, żeby restauracja hotelowa wyglądała źle – po prostu głupotą byłoby płacić za jedzenie, skoro chwilę wcześniej byliśmy w sklepie.
Aha, zapomniałbym. Czajnik elektryczny był w pokoju tym udogodnieniem, na które najszybciej zwróciliśmy uwagę.
Mercure Hotel w blasku słońca i chwałyTrasa na Col Rosę, nakreślona przez autorów alavigne.net3Niniejszy wpis jest przeredagowaną częścią wpisu „Między szczytami, via ferratami” opublikowanego w 2019 roku na moim blogu Borutzki. Stąd brak przypisów i bardziej personalny wydźwięk. Ostatnia część tekstu – już niebawem.
- Via ferrata Giuseppe Olivieri na szczyt Punta Anna – relacja z wypadu ↩︎
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgKBVf7RhHU ↩︎
- https://alavigne.net/Outdoors/FeatureReports/ViaFerrata/?p=vfcolrosa#_ ↩︎
https://zawieruszony.blog/2024/10/26/via-ferrata-ettore-bovero-na-szczyt-col-rosa-relacja-z-wypadu/
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Morning round in the fernau via ferrata - the rest of the day will be relaxing. Since I had been so unlucky with the weather yesterday, I will take the cable car up, to at least enjoy the panorama today that way
#stubai #viaferrata #klettersteig #alps -
Reading Time: 2 minutes
For years I did activities with people, usually not as an organiser for one very simple reason. Micro-managers. These are the people that have an opinion, and a schedule, that want to take control of a simple activity. These people take a spontaneous activity and make it a nightmare.
For me the entire joy of going to do a hike, or a Via ferrata, or other things is to decide on a meeting place, and time, and do it. The logistics of getting there and back take time, but once there it’s simple. Follow the signs, do the thing, head home.
Whether it takes three hours or six doesn’t matter, as long as we have enough water.
Many years ago I did a VF with someone that was really scared, and it took two hours for something that could have taken half an hour to fourty minutes. It never bothered me. I was in the moment.
It bothered others. They were not happy that it had taken so long so they headed for home when we finally finished.
For the first time in years I’m organising something. I thought it would be simple and relaxed but it has stopped being that. Now it has become complicated. Route A costs too much but Route B takes too long so we have to prepare plan C.
The model I’m using worked multiple times in the past, with no issues.
For every activity that I have done the logistics are simple. We meet at this point at that time and will do activity A. It’s only when diving that the plan sometimes has to be more elaborate, due to the associated dangers.
## And Finally
What I really pay attention to is the weather. That’s a place where I might say “did you see the forecast”. I will take rain gear in case of rain or hail, and quick drying clothes if I feel they are needed. I usually go with the flow, as a participant.
Now that this blog post is out of the way I can do some more research.
https://www.main-vision.com/richard/blog/the-spontaneous-activity/
#groupActivities #groups #microManagers #relaxed #spontaneous #strict
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https://www.laviezine.com/1423578/silvestr-pulnocni-lezeni-ferrata-della-regina-sardinie-9/ Silvestr – Půlnoční Lezení – Ferrata della Regina | Sardinie #9 #climbing #ferrata #ferrataregina #italie #Italy #klettersteig #MediterraneanDestinations #MediterraneanTour #MediterraneanTravel #MediterraneanTrip #MediterraneanVacation #newyear #newyear2025 #PlacesToTravel #sardinia #SardiniaItalyTour #Sardinië #silvestr #silvestr2025 #travel #Traveling #Vanlife
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🇫🇷 "La rencontre avec l'ourse" https://www.radiofrance.fr/franceculture/podcasts/les-pieds-sur-terre/la-rencontre-avec-l-ourse-1775116
"À l'été 2024, Vivien a 42 ans et décide de partir un matin, courir dans la montagne, seul, comme il en a l'habitude. Alors qu'il progresse au-dessus d'une via ferrata, il tombe nez-à-nez avec une ourse qui fera tout pour protéger ses petits."
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A Ride Towards Fort L’Ecluse
Reading Time: 2 minutes
It's very easy to fall into a routine. Our routines can revolve around cycling, hiking, work, scuba diving and more. It can also revolve around local walks and more.
This weekend I saw the chance to go for an overnight bivouac and I am not tempted. I saw the chance to cycle through vineyards and drink wine, and I am not tempted. I saw the opportunity to hike around Interlarken and I am not tempted.
I also saw the chance to have a relaxed ride to Hermance, have a sandwich at the café, and then swim, or ride back. I used to go to Hermance very often as a diver, so the lure of this bike ride is not strong.
The bike ride to Vuache, however, is tempting. It tempts me for three reasons.
A familiar Site
The ride will take me within visual distance of the Via Ferrata de Fort l'écluse, that I have climbed many times. I have driven here by car and by scooter. I considered the bike, but for that I want to have a safe route that avoids busy roads if possible. It's also an opportunity to see the Fort, from the other side of the river.
A Good Distance
The ride should be about 75 km or so. I have the opportunity to ride another century this week, but with a group with a slower pace, so it should be more comfortable.
A Relaxed Ride
More than once I have said that I like to ride with groups that ride at a comfortable pace because it gives me the chance to ride further, without reaching a state of exhaustion. It is also the opportunity to see more of the landscape.
No Train and No Car
In theory, I have the option of not using trains, or cars, by going for bike rides on Saturday. This means that I save on commuting time and cost. I wake up, get ready, get on the bike and start the ride. If I do the same as last Saturday I will arrive with time to spare.
Home By Mid-Afternoon
There are plenty of activities where I get up early, for a hike, but don't start until nine or ten o'clock. With cycling I start by seven thirty, to be at the starting point by eight thirty.
With the bike ride I might ride for three or four hours, but if I lived in Geneva, or took the train home, then I'd be home for a normal lunch, almost. This gives me time to do some clothes washing and other weekend activities.
And Finally
Although last week was ambitious, with the 130 kilometre ride I did not suffer too much. I could feel that my left knee needed a rest the next day. More than anything else, I wish I had had an electrolyte tab with me. I was cycling for over seven and a half hours and by the end I was getting dehydrated. I plan to have a tab or two with me on Saturday, for the return leg of the bike ride.
It should be interesting.
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On group Activities that Challenge Me Physically
Reading Time: 3 minutesTwo days in a row I participated in activities that pushed me physically. On sunday it was a 60km ride with 900m of climbing and a 25km/h wind and the next day it was a 9.4km walk which is pushing my endurance further than usual. I found myself thinking that I should participate in hikes because hikes are easy. I’m used to walking. Walking and hiking were my specialities.
Regular Challenges
By cycling on Sunday, despite the wind, and running on Monday despite the fatigue I pushed myself, and I remained true to my word. I saw on Whatsapp that the group that organises sedentary activities were complaining about no-shows in activities that involve sitting, drinking and talking.
I was one of the “ghosts”. I had to choose between going to an event for extroverts who like to drink in bars and miss the bike ride, or remain fresh ahead of what would be a tremendously demanding bike ride. I will always choose sports over pub crawls for a simple reason.
Extrovert Centric
Group activities that favour extroverts, like pub crawls, are fun if you want to drink, and if you’re the extrovert getting the attention, but a complete waste of time as an introvert. As an introvert I have been out every night for months, or even seasons, and come home as lonely as if I had not been out at night.
One of the reasons I pivoted from hiking groups to cycling groups last year, and running this year, is that I found that hiking groups leave me feeling lonelier, and more solitary than if I had walked alone.
The Daily Walk
No matter how exhausted I am from cycling, and running, recently, I still make the effort to go for a walk. My rest walk is from 6-10km, whether it’s raining, snowing or windy. It never snows so I rarely walk when it is snowing.
The Desire to Vegetate
On Sunday I was so knackered I felt a strong desire to get home. It’s rare that I get back from a ride and don’t sit at a computer. Monday I felt knackered too. Today I plan to rest and tomorrow I will go for another group ride.
## The Desire Not to Drive
When I was hiking, enjoying via ferrata and scuba diving I would think nothing of driving two to three hours. Two summers without a car, and several weeks without my scooter taught me to appreciate things locally. I love the local walks, and if it wasn’t for my fear of dogs, and aggressively driven cars, then I would still be enjoying the local walks.
The fact that I have two cycling groups within six minutes of home by bike, and a running group, within half an hour’s walk from home, enables me to socialise without ever being part of car based traffic. If I’m willing to cycle an hour to join a group then I have many more groups.
The Opportunity to Hike
If I was willing to drive an hour and a half, or catch the train, then I’d have groups to hike with every single weekend, all year long. I finally found groups that are active year round, other than diving. If I could find the desire to drive for two to four hours I could join a group on Sunday in Haute Savoie.
Of ‘Ghosts’ and Rainy Weather
It rained on Saturday, which meant that the ride that was meant to take place on that day was cancelled. Another group organised a ride on Sunday so that’s why I signed up for it. If the ride had taken place on Saturday I would not have cycled on Sunday, and if I had not cycled on Sunday then I would have gone for the pub crawl event. It’s because of the weather, and seeing what effect dehydration has on a bike ride that I chose to stay home instead of being social.
It’s the weather that turned me into a ghost. Not laziness.
And Finally
Every time I say that I walk three kilometres for social drinks, and that I walk the same distance home people are surprised. They prefer to take the bus. When I’m too lazy to go out it’s because I already walked ten kilometres and I don’t feel like walking six more. They take their cars, and their buses.
A few days ago I sat with someone as she waited for her bus, and saw how regularly buses could take me right next to where I live. The excuse that buses are too irregular turned out to be untrue. I learned about that option by accident.
On Sunday, when I felt tired I made the choice to continue. I could have been lazy and headed home with the group that had a shorter ride. I didn’t. I feel that I’m suffering more now, partily because it’s winter, but also because I chose to ride with the “lazier” group, as I think of it, rather than riding with the people fitter than me. I think that affected my fitness. Of course winter plays a role. These riding conditions are not as easy.
And Finally, tomorrow I will be pushed again on the morning ride.
#activities #cycling #groups #running #walking -
The wild reaches of Aragón
About half the size of Portugal, we knew very little of Spain’s Aragón region. That was about to change as our road from Extremadura led us through its northern reaches bound for the co-principality of Andorra.
Coordinates
- Alhama de Aragón
- Nuévalos
- Zaragoza
- Castejón de Monegros
- Sariñena
- Alquézar
- Rodellar
- Barbastro
- Torla-Ordesa
- Viacamp
- Estopiñán del Castillo
Into Aragón
From Aranjuez we began our journey northeast towards Zaragoza, noting changes in the landscape once we had escaped the spaghetti junctions, slow traffic and industrialized zones in Madrid’s orbit. We saw red earth in the hills near Medinaceli (📷1) and green fields further along the A-2 near Arcos de Jalón (📷2), both in the Castile and León region. Crossing into Aragón we came to the spa town of Alhama de Aragón, a name derived from Arabic, although its thermal springs were known in Roman times (📷3). A bridge crossing on Embalse de la Tranquera | Tranquillity Reservoir, which certainly lives up to its name, as we approached pitch in Nuévalos (📷4).
Monasterio de Piedra near Nuévalos is a former monastery (now part ruin and part hotel) and Romantic landscaped park containing trees, waterfalls and caves along the Piedra River; this is Cascada la Caprichosa (📷1). The combination of Cascade Cola de Caballo (📷2) with Gruta Iris behind its curtain (📷3), reached via a staircase cut into the cliff, was easily the highlight. Some of the scenery was decidedly more tranquil, but no less dramatic (📷4). Visiting the ruin of Santa Maria de Piedra is included in the entry ticket; it was occupied by Cistercian monks from 1218 CE for 617 years, until confiscated by the Spanish Government in 1835 and coming into private ownership. Within the ruin there’s a museum about wine making and exhibit on the introduction of chocolate to Europe. Note that the site only reopened a year ago after severe flood damage in late 2024; it’s mass tourism-oriented, so an early start helps avoid the crowds.
Zaragoza
After leaving Nuévalos we enjoyed seeing semi-arid agricultural landscapes (📷1) before joining motorways bound for the metropolitan sprawl of Zaragoza. Basílica de Nuestra Señora del Pilar is the city’s defining landmark, a huge baroque basilica with domes overlooking the Ebro, seen here behind 15th C. bridge of Puente de Piedra (📷2); the Romans had also bridged the Ebro here when the town was known as Caesaraugusta. The 11th C. Islamic Aljafería Palace is part of the Mudéjar Architecture of Aragón UNESCO listing (📷3); it was unfortunately closed for siesta when we arrived—having been caught out a few times by this already! La Seo Cathedral | Cathedral of the Saviour is also part of the UNESCO listing, being built atop the Roman forum and serving as a mosque—evident in its exterior Mudéjar wall (📷4)—before expansion as a Christian cathedral; the interior (€) mixes Romanesque, Gothic, Mudéjar, Renaissance and Baroque styles.
Los Monegros
The Ruta Jubierre | Jubierre track is an unpaved route that leads into the Barrancos de Jubierre, a badlands area within Aragón’s semi-arid Los Monegros region (it’s not technically a desert). We began from the southern end near the village of Castejón de Monegros, heading northward to exit onto the A-131 towards Sariñena. To visit Tozal Solitario, an isolated rock formation, we wisely left the van on the main track and walked to the formation (📷1). Tozal de Colásico is larger and can be seen without leaving the main track (📷2); you can also drive right up to it. Tozales de Los Pedregales is a collection of four eroded clay formations and ravines reached via a short but well-marked hike (📷3); this is formation no. 4. Tozal de la Cobeta is apparently the most photographed formation (📷4); we drove off the main track right up to this one, avoiding a hot 6km return hike. It took us ~3h to make the drive at ~30km/h max and to take short hikes to the formations. It had been dry so the dirt was very compacted and we had no concerns about clearance in our 2WD camper; we used the width of the road to avoid ruts and corrugations, as traffic was light. There was no avoiding the dust though!
Parque Natural Sierra y Cañones de Guara
The pretty but touristy village of Alquézar lies within Parque Natural Sierra y Cañones de Guara | Natural Park of the Sierra and Canyons of Guara; it’s crowned by Colegiata de Santa María la Mayor and Castillo Torre (📷1). The 6 € pp 3km Pasarelas de Alquézar descend from the ticket gate at the town hall into the adjacent Río Vero canyon, where we noted native Ramonda myconi | the Pyrenean violet in flower (📷2). We gained access to the clear-running river at Cueva Picamartillo (📷3) before taking the first of several gangways suspended over the riverbed (📷4).
Continuing in the pasarelas, the hand of man is evident in the canyon, with industrial remnants including a weir and canal that was part of a small hydroelectric plant completed in 1913 (📷1); it reused an old mill and today’s visitor trail began as service paths. The dramatic limestone canyon itself however is of natural karst geology and the metal gangways purpose-built for tourism (📷2). Aphyllanthes monspeliensis | the blue aphyllanthes is endemic to the western Mediterranean (📷3). A look back towards town from Mirador del Vero as a thunderstorm approaches; you can see more of the gangways on the riverside cliffs (📷4). This was a 6.3km/ 2h 20min loop walk from the campsite.
Our next hike in Parque Natural Sierra y Cañones de Guara was the S-3 Circular, anticlockwise, from the trailhead at Rodellar. We descended into Barranco del Mascún | the Mascún River gorge, noting rock climbers scaling sheer cliffs on both sides of the valley and gradually improving our view of the first of several rock windows we’d see on the trail (📷1). On reaching the riverbed we joined the Camino de Otín. There’s a nice view back to the window from near Surgencia de Mascún | the spring where Río Mascún stops being underground (📷2); shortly after the spring the intimidating Espolón de la Virgen via ferrata begins. Native Helianthemum apenninum | white rock-rose seemed to like living in the valley floor (📷3). We had views to Torre de Santiago for some time before reaching the formation (📷4).
Ascending the S-3 trail beside Torre de Santiago (📷1). We found the lengthy and uneven climb from the riverbed to Mirador del Mascún (📷2) rather tough, but greatly enjoyed ever-changing perspectives on the Torre. Native Polygala calcarea | the chalk milkwort favoured living at elevation (📷3). At the abandoned village of Otín we turned towards Dolmen de la Losa Mora, ~5,000 years old (📷4). The trail was less dramatic but pleasant, until we began the descent back to the Río Mascún via the Andrebot ravine—here the path was formed of loose limestone and slow-going (use poles to reduce tumble risk). From the spring we backtracked up to Rodellar. The loop over 15km took us 5.5h. At camp we checked in with “I need a place to sleep, a beer & a hot shower—in any order!”
Parque Natural Ordesa y Monte Perdido
Pradera de Ordesa (parking near Torla-Ordesa) to the Cola de Caballo waterfall is a popular out-and-back trail in Parque Natural Ordesa y Monte Perdido | Ordesa and Monte Perdido National Park. The Senda a la Cola de Caballo trail runs beside the Río Arazas, although the first section is under forest cover with limited views (📷1). After ~100min on trail things get more open and we found ourselves admiring spring greens next to clear mountain waters and impressive walls of rock in both downstream (📷2) and upstream (📷3) directions. The trail offers a number of waterfall waypoints, but they’re not all easy to see well due to vegetation overgrowth or flooded miradors; this is part of Gradas de Soaso, a sequence of steps (📷4).
After ~2h on trail the landscape changed again, to a bleaker grassy expanse as we got nearer to the head of the valley (📷1). Water streamed off the cliffs, forming rivulets that found their way to the river, although not before leaving the ground boggy in many places (📷2). Our first new flower of the day was a native in the daisy family, Tussilago farfara | the colt’s foot (📷3). At 9km/ 3h on trail we reached the signature Cascada Cola de Caballo | horse trail waterfall, which felt somewhat anticlimactic (📷4).
Our second new flower was native Narcissus pseudonarcissus | the wild daffodil, which seemed to favour growing within the protective cocoon offered by another (perfectly named) spiny native, Echinospartum horridum (📷1). Vultures circled overhead; we think we heard marmots whistling and the herd of native Rupicapra pyrenaica | Pyrenean chamois we’d seen on the way in had drawn closer to the river as we turned back (📷2). Cascada del Estrecho was our favourite waterfall; we detoured from the main path to its mirador on the return leg (📷3). Instead of rejoining the main path we crossed the river, which afforded new views en route to the parking area (📷4). 19km/ 5.5h return.
A scenic drive out of the mountains from pitch in Broto to the town of Barbastro, where chores awaited. Here’s the view from Mirador de Jánovas, between the villages of Fiscal and Boltaña (📷1). Embalse de Mediano contained stands of flooded trees (📷2) and the threat of rain made for moody reflections (📷3). Embalse de El Grado I, the neighbouring reservoir, was looking very emerald from the van door as we stopped for lunch.
Montfalcó
Despite some reports, the 15km from the N-230 to public parking at Montfalcó (near Viacamp) weren’t at all challenging in a 2WD, with mostly good surface—but narrow in places. Mirador de Montfalcó overlooks Pantà de Canelles | Embalse de Canelles, but also offered a first glimpse of the Noguera Ribagorzana river that divides Aragón’s Montsec de L’Estall to the west (left bank) from Catalonia’s Montsec d’Ares on the eastern shore (📷1). These karst escarpments are part of the outer mountains of the Central Pyrenees, formed from Cretaceous and Jurassic materials.
We’d come to hike the Camino Natural de Montfalcó al Congost de Mont-rebei | Natural Path from Montfalcó to the Congost de Mont-rebei. Here’s a view from the first pasarela | catwalk up a 30m escarpment, with 139 steps over 90m in length (📷2). The second pasarela is longer at 120m, with 215 steps ascending a 44m high escarpment (📷3). This is where you question how comfortable you are in the knowledge it was likely engineered by the lowest bidder… Sarcocapnos enneaphylla, native to southwestern Europe and northern Africa, is however quite at home on limestone escarpments (📷4).
From the second pasarela we could anticipate the upcoming descent to the suspension bridge spanning the 35m gap between Aragón and Catalonia (📷1). From said bridge at Congost del Seguer, looking into the gorge of Mont-rebei, we could readily appreciate the depth of canyon the river had cut here (📷2); the cliffs reach over 500m high. Camino Natural de Montfalcó al Congost de Mont-rebei ascends a short way on the Catalonian side to intersect the Camí de Mont-rebei, itself a segment of the long-distance GR-1 (Sendero Histórico). As we climbed to join it we got a good look back at the second pasarela we’d used on the opposite bank (📷3). We also looked down of course (the path is uneven here) and avoided trampling this big darkling beetle (📷4); Blaps lusitanica can release a foul-smelling secretion from glands at its rear when threatened.
Our original goal had been a mirador in the Mont-rebei Gorge, from which we could look back the way we had come (📷1) and also in the onward direction (📷2). Having met a Spanish couple who told us they were continuing in order to pick up a kayak and return by water, we decided to do the same. We thus continued beyond the mirador on Camí de Mont-rebei, a spectacular cliffside trail through the gorge known for its narrow path carved into rock walls above the river (📷3). After ~10km/ 3h 40min of hiking we arrived at a beach where, luckily, there was a spare double kayak available (we’d tried phoning, but had signal issues). Our 8km/ 1h 40min paddle back through the gorge (📷4) to a pier below Albergue de Montfalcó was followed by a 2km 4×4 transfer up the steep hill, where we paid for the rental—and our knees expressed their gratitude!
Muralla de Finestres
Roques de la Vila is a geological formation also popularly known as Muralla (China) de Finestres | the (Chinese) Wall Of Finestres. We followed online and local advice to park at Puente de Penavera, a bridge northeast of Estopiñán del Castillo, given the state of the dirt road. The 6.4km drive from our pitch in town took ~30 minutes. Although we sighted the formation ~4.5km into the hike, we first came to the former settlement of Finestres (📷1). It was depopulated in 1960 due to the filling of the Canelles reservoir; only one house, Casa Coix, is seasonally inhabited. A short and easy signposted walk links the village centre to Ermita de San Marcos | the Hermitage of Saint Mark; this is the best spot for panoramic views of the ~840m long formation (📷2). Folding of strata ~100 million years ago and subsequent erosion have created two primary parallel lines of vertical limestone that resemble a wall (📷3). Some of the formation is now partially submerged in the reservoir (📷4).
Between the two lines of strata sits the 11–12th C. Romanesque Esglèsia de Sant Vicenç | Ermita San Vicente | Church of Saint Vincent, seen here from the more challenging path to reach it (📷1); poles are useful. On this part of the hike you cross over one of the walls and reach water level, where we noted this particular slab, nicely illustrating the process of continuing erosion (📷2). The hermitage is partially formed from limestone and the sanctuary is largely intact (📷3); the remnants of Castillo de Finestras, a medieval Moorish castle upon which the hermitage was built, are also evident. From this vantage point there’s an impressive view down the middle of the formation (📷4). The 15km/ 4.5h return hike was mostly exposed.
After this hike it was farewell Aragón; it certainly made an impression and is an area we’d happily return to.
#2026 #aragón #camperVan #catalonia #europe #hiking #nationalPark #nature #nomad #roadTrip #romans #spain #travel #unesco #vanLife -
Having a Cold with Garmin and Apple
Reading Time: < 1 minuteYesterday I woke up feeling tired and both Garmin and Apple said that I neded to rest. What I thought were allergies turned out to be a one day cold, I hope. According to the Apple Watch my HRV crashed down and in the evening I definitely had a cold/flu dream.
My dream, paradoxically, was sorting through a list of photos via checksum or some other technology. What I spent my waking hours doing made it into my dreams.
You can tell how under the weather I was, firstly by being too tired to go for the group ride, and not caring, and by the fact that I thought the First Saturday was yesterday when yesterday was the last saturday of the month. It shows that I wasn't in my plate, to use a French expression.
My sleeping heart rate sometimes drops to 38 or lower. Yesterday it was at 56 BPM. According to Suunto it was 61BPM and according to Garmin it was just 45 BPM. Which one should I trust? I'd say Garmin.
If we ignore the details and look at the trends then Suunto, Apple and Garmin saw that I was fighting something and told me that I should rest. I was sick enough to confuse next Saturday with yesterday. Luckily I didn't get to Geneva. That would have been a mistake.
If I felt good, then today I could have enjoyed a via ferrata. As I did not I stayed home. I want to rest today ahead of tomorrow's run. If I wake and devices tell me to rest I suspect I will.
And Finally
And finally, today I am toying with the idea of a real rest day. I will still walk, but a short half hour circuit.
#Apple #cold #form #Garmin #hrv #rest