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 The following hiking options will be available on the Picos de Europa trip. Choose the hike that's best for you!  |
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OPTION
1 Majada de Belbín Start: Lago de la Ercina, 3,629 feet Destination: Loop hike past Majada de Belbín End: Lago de la Ercina, 3,629 feet Estimated time: 2.5 - 3 hours Elevation change: Gain of 840 feet; loss of 840 feet Highest point: 4,167 feet, Majada de las Bobias Total distance: Approximately 4.7 miles « A view of the peaks of the Cornión massif near the Majada de Belbín. |
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| Start this hike on the shores of Lago de la Ercina, one of the two alpine lakes of Covadonga. The path ascends steadily through green meadows and natural "lawns" punctuated by limestone outcrops and small groves of beech trees. At the summer farm called the Majada de las Bobias, the trail drops slightly into a drainage before ascending to a ridge crest just east of the Majada de Belbín set in a picturesque, grassy depression. The route descends to the majada and then begins a steady ascent to the ridge that hems in the Lago de la Ercina's eastern shore. From this point, an easy stroll across a lawn-like meadow returns you to the trailhead. | |||
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OPTION
2 Vega de Ario & El Jultayu Start: Lago de la Ercina, 3,629 feet Destination: Vega and Refugio de Ario End: Lago de la Ercina, 3,629 feet Estimated time: 5-6 hours Elevation change: Gain of 1,850 feet; loss of 1,850 feet Highest point: 5,414 feet, Collado El Jito Total distance: Approximately 9.2 miles « Peaks of the Urrieles massif rise beyond the Vega de Ario. |
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| Follow Option 1 to the Majada de las Bobias. Bear right at the farm and shortly thereafter, the trail reaches a small wet meadow (Llaguiellu) and ascends the slopes of Las Reblagas in a series of switchbacks. At the top of the switchbacks, the landscape becomes more open. The trail winds between boulders and outcroppings as it makes its way to the high point of the hike—the mountain pass called the Collado El Jito (marked by two large stone cairns). From this point, the views across the deep slice of the Cares Gorge toward the high peaks of the Urrieles massif are jaw-dropping. Here is one of the finest views in all the Cantabrian Mountains! The path drops slightly to the green meadows of the Vega de Ario and shortly reaches the welcoming doors of the Refugio Vega de Ario (food and beverages sometimes available). Retrace your steps to return to the trailhead. | |||
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OPTIONAL
ASCENT OF EL JULTAYU: Before returning to the trailhead, hardy hikers
can make the vigorous side trip to the summit of El Jultayu. A
boot-beaten path marked by stone cairns makes its way along the ridge that
leads to the summit of the El Jultayu mountain. The summit
offers spectacular views over the Cornión and Urrieles massifs, and from
the top you can see the settlement of Caín 4,800 feet
below you at the head of the Cares Gorge—the destination of tomorrow's
Option 2 hike! This side trip adds another 886 feet of vertical elevation gain, an additional 886 feet of
loss and two additional (steep) miles to the hike. « The summit of El Jultayu (left side of image) rises above the cloud-filled Cares Gorge. |
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Hiking Holidays, Inc. |
