My last outing this month was a visit to Ucieda in central Cantabria, probably the most popular area for hiking in the province. After walking up through the woods this is the view towards Braña la Zarza and Turdías.
On the horizon is Alto Campoo, and the clearing just to the right of centre is the place I set off from.
The Sierra de Peña Sagra and to the right the Picos covered in cloud; just as well- I'd been thinking about heading that way before having to settle for a more gentle walk.
Another view of Peña Sagra, this time on the way back.
And a photo of Monty, who came with me for the first time on a proper walk.
A personal take on walks in the hills and mountains of (mostly) northern Spain. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mi perspectiva sobre excursiones en torno a Cantabria
martes, 28 de septiembre de 2010
sábado, 11 de septiembre de 2010
Curavacas
Curavacas is the highest mountain in the province of Palencia at 2520 metres (8267 feet). This is how it looks from the village where I started walking - only 4000 feet to ascend...
Basically you just have to walk up the slope - this is what you see as you get higher
the scree seems to go on for ages
but eventually you get to the final ascent, to the left of the rock in the centre of the photo
after three hours I got to the summit. Behind me to the left is Peña Prieta, with the Urrieles on the right
Ándara
Peña Sagra
Cueto Concilla, Peña Labra and Valdecebollas
the lake below
The Espigüete, which I climbed last year
and after feasting on the views from the summit, the descent in the company of two other climbers
this gives an idea of the scree
the final part of the descent
Basically you just have to walk up the slope - this is what you see as you get higher
the scree seems to go on for ages
but eventually you get to the final ascent, to the left of the rock in the centre of the photo
after three hours I got to the summit. Behind me to the left is Peña Prieta, with the Urrieles on the right
Ándara
Peña Sagra
Cueto Concilla, Peña Labra and Valdecebollas
the lake below
The Espigüete, which I climbed last year
and after feasting on the views from the summit, the descent in the company of two other climbers
this gives an idea of the scree
the final part of the descent
viernes, 10 de septiembre de 2010
Urrieles
This is the view you have when you get off the cable car above Fuente Dé. I left the track after an hour or so's walk and took a steep path up to the right, to reach a col about half-way along the line of peaks in the photo. The last peak you can see in that line (on the left) is the Torre de Horcados Rojos.
On the way up that path you are in the shadow of the Torre de las Coteras Rojas, which I later ascended
From the top of the path a lovely view of Ándara, the Eastern Massif
I decided to check out the view from the Collado de Santa Ana, just up to the right from the snow, below the actual peak of Santa Ana itself, which was rather risky to attempt on my own
From the col you see the Jou de los Boches way below, which many cross to get from Horcados Rojos to the Naranjo de Bulnes
To the right is Tiro Navarro, which again I didn't fancy climbing without company. I decided to retrace my steps and skirt round it to get closer to the other mountains you see here in the centre-left of the photo
On the way another view of Ándara, with Áliva just visible at the bottom
Peña Castil, with the village of Sotres just visible near the "V" of the valley. Incidentally, this valley takes you down to the Moñetas Lake you can see in an entry from July.
Here there's a better view of the mountains previously seen from the collado de Santa Ana. I didn't have the energy to find the right path to get up close and see over to the Naranjo on the other side
Yet another snap of Ándara, with the slope up to Pica del Jierru (see July) clearly visible in the left half of the photo. On the right hand side is Peña Cortés (see May/June).
Time to walk back up towards the Torre de la Cotera Roja, here in the centre. Not many people bother to climb it as it's so near the higher Peña Vieja
From the summit though , there's a good view of Peña Vieja
Some more views from the top: Torre Blanca is just right of centre. You can see a photo I took from there looking this way in the May "Peña Cortés 1" entry.
Looking down towards the cable car station and the mouth of the "Jenduda", which you walk down (2 hours and very steep) if you're not feeling lazy or knackered (which is usually the case). The mountain in the distance on the left is Curavacas, which was to be next on my list.
Time to head down the "Canalona" and then to follow the path you can see in the last photo back down to the cable car station
About half-way along the skyline of mountains in the distance is Curavacas, followed by Peña Prieta and el Espigüete to the right.
On the way up that path you are in the shadow of the Torre de las Coteras Rojas, which I later ascended
From the top of the path a lovely view of Ándara, the Eastern Massif
I decided to check out the view from the Collado de Santa Ana, just up to the right from the snow, below the actual peak of Santa Ana itself, which was rather risky to attempt on my own
From the col you see the Jou de los Boches way below, which many cross to get from Horcados Rojos to the Naranjo de Bulnes
To the right is Tiro Navarro, which again I didn't fancy climbing without company. I decided to retrace my steps and skirt round it to get closer to the other mountains you see here in the centre-left of the photo
On the way another view of Ándara, with Áliva just visible at the bottom
Peña Castil, with the village of Sotres just visible near the "V" of the valley. Incidentally, this valley takes you down to the Moñetas Lake you can see in an entry from July.
Here there's a better view of the mountains previously seen from the collado de Santa Ana. I didn't have the energy to find the right path to get up close and see over to the Naranjo on the other side
Yet another snap of Ándara, with the slope up to Pica del Jierru (see July) clearly visible in the left half of the photo. On the right hand side is Peña Cortés (see May/June).
Time to walk back up towards the Torre de la Cotera Roja, here in the centre. Not many people bother to climb it as it's so near the higher Peña Vieja
From the summit though , there's a good view of Peña Vieja
Some more views from the top: Torre Blanca is just right of centre. You can see a photo I took from there looking this way in the May "Peña Cortés 1" entry.
Looking down towards the cable car station and the mouth of the "Jenduda", which you walk down (2 hours and very steep) if you're not feeling lazy or knackered (which is usually the case). The mountain in the distance on the left is Curavacas, which was to be next on my list.
Time to head down the "Canalona" and then to follow the path you can see in the last photo back down to the cable car station
About half-way along the skyline of mountains in the distance is Curavacas, followed by Peña Prieta and el Espigüete to the right.
miércoles, 8 de septiembre de 2010
Somo de Guzmántara
The last day of August, celebrating the end of the month's intensive course.
I parked the car just over the provincial border with Burgos and started off up the track in the photo. To the right is the Mosquía, which I came back by.
Nearly at the top of the modest climb, looking back on the way I'd come
The boundary between Cantabria and Burgos
Santander and the coast were just visible from the summit (Somo de Guzmántara)
Looking southwards into Castile
The Picones de Sopeña, Picó de Lastreros (see July) and Castro Valnera
Walking along the summit ridge, another view of Castro Valnera, with Picón del Fraile now visible (in the centre of the photo)
a group of horses I disturbed enjoying the scenery on the way down
one of the abandoned huts in the area
two still in use, with the Mosquía behind them, which I dedided to make a detour to climb
the view from the top
I chose this way down via a beautiful slope covered in heather
a shot of the Mosquía with the Somo de Guzmántara behind
I parked the car just over the provincial border with Burgos and started off up the track in the photo. To the right is the Mosquía, which I came back by.
Nearly at the top of the modest climb, looking back on the way I'd come
The boundary between Cantabria and Burgos
Santander and the coast were just visible from the summit (Somo de Guzmántara)
Looking southwards into Castile
The Picones de Sopeña, Picó de Lastreros (see July) and Castro Valnera
Walking along the summit ridge, another view of Castro Valnera, with Picón del Fraile now visible (in the centre of the photo)
a group of horses I disturbed enjoying the scenery on the way down
one of the abandoned huts in the area
two still in use, with the Mosquía behind them, which I dedided to make a detour to climb
the view from the top
I chose this way down via a beautiful slope covered in heather
a shot of the Mosquía with the Somo de Guzmántara behind
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