When you are a mountaineer and autumn arrives, the beach is not enough for you. Very little! It’s time to put on your boots, look at the horizon and head towards that adventure that you’ve been waiting for all year… or that you’re about to discover. Therefore, we tell you 5 reasons to travel to Ordesa this fall. You’re going to fall in love!
5 reasons to travel to Ordesa
1. Pica d’Estats
Adventure and challenge usually go hand in hand. Porta del Cel is the adventure and Pica d’Estats, your challenge. We are talking about the highest peak in Catalonia: 3,148 meters.
Mountaineers from all over the world prepare for this ascent, the most demanding in the Pyrenees but also the most grateful! The route, of alpine character, includes a wide variety of sections, some green and others with snow and ice. The summit offers magical views of the entire mountain range and some say that, on the clearest days, you can see the Barcelona mountain of Montserrat!
.2. The Lakes
Summer in the heights is accompanied by thaw. The result?Incredible lakes of glacial origin.The stops on the Porta del Cel trekking are a true delight. When the heat is on and our mountaineering muscles need a break, there are the lakes Blaus, Romedo, Estats or Sotllo waiting for us for a good dip!
By the way, did you know that the largest natural lake in the Pyrenees is located in Porta del Cel? It is called Certascan and we came across it at 2,236 meters above sea level at the head of the Cardós valley.
3. Parc Natural de l’Alt Pirineu
The lakes of Porta del Cel are another reason why you should travel to Ordesa this autumn. They are just a part of the indisputable beauty that we discover throughout the Alt Pirineu. It is the largest Natural Park in Catalonia and is home to thousands of protected species of plants and animals.
The variety of landscapes ranges from Mediterranean forests, through green valleys to alpine flora environments. There is a great effort not to alter the characteristics of the area. This allows you to experience the mountain in its most authentic sense!
.4. The Refuges
4 pit stops. 4 homes high. The Porta del Cel shelters are an essential part of this great experience. They are the beginning and culmination of each of the 5 stages and offer the comfort and mountain complicity that only a refuge can have.
Being at different altitudes, the refuges are surrounded by very different ecosystems and views. All wonderful!
The journey passes through: Graus (1,360 m), a cozy hostel 5 km from the historic town of Tavascán; Certascan (2,240 m), next to the impressive lake that bears the same name; Pinet(2,246 m), the highest and most alpine, in the Artiga Valley, on the French side of the route; Vallferrera (1,940 m), the oldest federative refuge in Catalonia.
5. Local tourism, the perfect excuse to travel to Ordesa
Sometimes we forget that we have paradise just a stone’s throw away. We have lived through a difficult time that has highlighted the importance of betting on local tourism. Now more than ever, the local economy needs us and mountaineers can contribute our grain of sand.
The Alt Pirineu Natural Park supplies 15 municipalities, full of cultural heritage, tradition, stories and curiosities. These small towns, the refuges and other services in the area for sports and nature lovers are a real treasure!
You already know 5 reasons to travel to Ordesa this fall. But there are many more! Join our groups and discover them. -> Trekking Porta del Cel, Pica d’Estats
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Sources: Ara Lleida / catalunya.com / lasrutasdemoskys / Desnivel / wikiloc / parcsnaturals.gencat
