A mere 200m climbing today all first thing then down down down. We are dreading it. The climb was easy and the view back to the refugio (we don't know the difference between the various spellings either).
Our room mates walked back down to their car. "I love the mountains she said" as the tears rolled down his face (a bit of poetic exaggeration here possibly), "but I want to keep loving them. So we're leaving." I saw the 3000m thing and I wouldn't have gone there, so maybe the best thing to do.
The view back to the refugio showed its splendid isolation. It was brand new and being extended. But they hadn't figured on people actually taking showers and the bathrooms were less than ideal. On paper they were great, in reality... I would give them a year before they fall / mold to pieces.
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| View down to Refugio de Cap de Llauset |
Once over the col, the aptly named Collada d'es Ibons (2524m if you are interested). We are surrounded by lakes. Looks like five or six below us and there were over Ibons behind and above us. So the 'Pass of the Tarns' was added to our collection (if you pardon the pun).
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| Collado d'es Ibons |
The way down was over this recently planted boulder field. The rocks had no quiet become fully grown and there were annoying bits of green still showing. But give it another few millennia and it should get there. These half grown boulders were worse than their full grown cousins. You were never quite sure where to step - rock or grass. And they weren't as self assured - some would move when you stood on them. It made going painful on both the feet and the mind. But the lakes drew us ever downwards. The promise, but rarely the actuality, of a swim.
Spain just isn't that hot. At least at 2,000m or so. Next time we're going to the beach.
Spain just isn't that hot. At least at 2,000m or so. Next time we're going to the beach.
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| Back up to the Col |
The Ibons were stunning in the sun. The stark contrast between the sun lit water and the barren rocks. While it looked idyllic, the temperature was not, shall we say, conducive for swimming. And the merest idea of actually stripping off and getting in didn't even flicker across our minds.
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| Ibon view |
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| Selfie |
We spent a lot of time looking for the best views that would show us high in the rocks hanging perilously, in a death defying way, from a rock face. Unaided by rope or harness. Unfortunately, the older members of the group got no where near the target shot. The younger members got some of the way - but even then.
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| Up |
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| Up |
We had fun. And amused or bemused the odd passer by. We weren't close to being finished but it was all down hill. Not necessarily first class down hill but down (as noted previously - some downs are quite uppish in their downess).
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| Watch out for bears |
At the bottom we entered a nice open forest - real trees beach and oak. Not that I am any kind of tree expert. To me there are only three types of tress. And these trees were of the medium and big type. The path again continues to be well marked. They must have gone to considerable effort to move this stone next to the path. The hostel which we thought we had booked had never heard of us. But luckily had space enough and were glad to house, feed and water us.
Having a beer outside we met Mark, Mark was an Englishman who was walking in the opposite direction. We had a nice chat and exchanged mutual warnings of the dangers to come. We of course had the upper hand as we had seen the last of Pineta.
Mr. Wo had donated the remainder of his provisions to Ellie and Martin so they had Korean bars to eat. What was in them or what they would taste like would be a mystery until the first bite. Our Korean language is poor (E & M can only swear a bit in Korean) but our reading skills none existent.
The bars had come a long way. Korea to Spain then they has been carried two weeks in the mountains. They tasted fantastic when hungry - apparently
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| From Korea |
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