More photos taken on the way to San Esteban
The village comes into sight, an hour after I set off, with the Ciercos Valley to the right, which I explored in 2009
An unusual sight: a dead chestnut tree with a commemorative plaque in recognition of the sustenance its fruit gave over 400 years to the locals
At last the "Pasá del Picayo" walk was underway, and San Esteban below
After an initial ascent up through woodland with mainly leafless trees I reached a point where I had to change direction
The route skirts the Cocón Sierra and ascends giving views of the mountains above the Ciercos Valley...
...as it winds its way round the rocks
This is the Cabeza Vigueras, which I last climbed in 2010 - see the first entry on this blog
This was the steepest section of the walk
Another mountain I climbed some time ago comes into view, to the right of Cabeza Vigueras
The Ciercos Valley again
Eventually the route reaches a point where it overlooks the Gorge and gradually changes direction
This is the view up the Gorge towards Urdón
and from a bit farther on
The Cueto del Ave (see June 2010) was audible almost before I could see it owing to the water crashing down from the hydroelectric plant
Another view of the Gorge below, at the point where I left the main road earlier on
You can see the Canal de las Aileras on the Cueto clearly here. Until I saw the scree I found it hard to believe this was the walk I did a year ago as it seemed so steep from across the way.
As the path continued round the side of the Sierra, the Picos de Europa came into sight
Another mountain I visited some time ago, on the left, just above the village of Bejes
The Cueto del Ave again
Imagine losing your balance and slipping down that scree and over the edge...
At last Tresviso came into sight, with the Picos behind, from Samelar to the Naranjo - minutes before they were covered in cloud, as I sat and had my lunch
A look back
And Tresviso just ahead.
On the way down from Tresviso now, another angle of the Jontaniella, above Bejes, and the collado Pelea, which leads to Potes
The first part of the descent from Tresviso
The path zigzags spectacularly
Right opposite the hydroelectric plant now
The river Urdón
a shot of the path
the final part of the descent as it snakes its way down the mountain
looking up the scree in the Canal la Cerrosa
and from a bit further down
Eventually you get to the point where the torrents of water crashing down the Cueto del Ave reach the Urdón
Looking back up the river everything's placid
but the other side there's a tremendous roar as the cascade joins the river
Looking up towards the initial release of water
And finally the end of the walk, with a photo of the entrance to the Urdón valley
and the main road along the Gorge as it goes into Asturias, which I started walking along seven hours earlier
