A Path Through the Picos


 We wanted to get in at least one hike during our time in the Picos de Europa. We had to change our plans slightly because to get to our original selection, we would have had to travel back through the Hermida Gorge, where extensive construction was underway. Our arrival at our rented cottage took us an hour more, due to the roadwork, so after that we decided to minimize travel on that road.

While taking the cable car at Fuente De sounded intriguing, we had read that it sometimes involves a wait of an hour or more, and although I'm sure the peaks at the top of the cable car are spectacular, it just didn't suit our desire to walk in nature with few people around. We found a hike that the local tourist office characterized as "easy" near Potes, the closest town to where we were staying.

I did not find the hike easy! With my knee issues, I can walk for miles on the flat, but elevation gain can present real problems. The hike we took was exactly what we desired in terms of beauty and striking mountain scenery, and we only encountered two other local couples on our walk. I was happy that I had ordered a collapsible walking stick--it has three sections that screw together--because I would have found the trek impossible without the stick. 



But what fantastic scenery! We found ourselves looking out on mountain meadows and even an abandoned shepherd's hut. (At least we thought it was a shepherd's hut.)


In the end, it was exactly what we wanted, with the exception of the elevation gain. But I suffered no long term effects, and my knee was fine the next day.

It was a remarkable experience and one that we treasure. It's a hike we will remember when we look back on our time in the mountains of Green Spain.

 

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