Farewell to Ordesa

Ordesa and Monte Perdido had been good to us, but it was time to say goodbye. We had planned to trek onwards, along the GR11 to refugio Pineta.

It would be two more hard days walking, one on the lower path and back on the higher path. We were tired from our exertions of the summit and the custodian of the refuge was not now so positive about us leaving stuff in a locker. Our ideas were also beginning to change. Speaking to our fellow mountaineers, other peaks started to sound inviting. Pineta was just a hut, there and back, no fun in that!

We had already thought about the highest, Aneto, a much more serious undertaking. We had the summit of the third highest under our belts, Monte Perdido. What about the second highest, the third highest in the Pyrenees, now that sounded good on the trekking CV. Settled, we should leave Ordesa and head towards Pico Aneto, and should our energy levels allow, complete the trio with Posets.

The next morning we had two more cups of coffee each, more pastries, settled the bill and left refugio Goriz.

Another beautiful morning. It was 08:00.

The trek up had taken six hours, we hoped the descent was going to be quicker. We had decided to head down the valley path, rather than the high path we had used on the ascent. Being more travelled by the casual walker it should be easier!

Was the weather beginning to change? We hoped not, we needed five more clear days if we were to complete the two other summits. The outlook was good, with it breaking the day after we finished.

The trek down was rapid, if a little painful on our tired and aching limbs. Not as bad as we had expected, it had been two very hard days of trekking.

The scenery, we had only glimpsed from above, now closer, came into focus. The clear waters of the stream, the bridge and

the waterfall…

and the meadows that had only recently been full of cows and the tinkling of the cow bells. These had now disappeared and the place was silent.

The path down from the head of the valley was flat, easy and fast.

But it soon began to steepen as the stream, now a river carved a sharper incline down the canyon.

A series of cascades had been formed. The day was in stark contrast to when we headed up the valley two days before. Then it had been full of people, We were alone.

However we were surprised when we bumped into a group wading in the river. What could they be doing?

One was even carrying a noisy machine on his back.

They were surveying the trucha (trout) population. Once captured, the poor fish was measured and then left to recover before being returned.

It was recovering from a dose of electricity delivered through a generator, the noisy machine on his back.

The larger fish received a bigger jolt and were decidedly unhappy, lolling about on their backs, not knowing what had hit them. Unable to persuade the scientists to let us take one for supper, we headed on.

The tiredness had settled in, and the walk was taking longer than we had expected. The path was still good and easy though as we skipped through the fallen leaves.

Numerous more waterfalls came and went…

Some so large, that in the tight canyon, you could not see the bottom

Others, small and cute…

Until eventually, 4 hours later, we reached Dora. She was safe and well, as were we.

She had been happily collecting electricity, and using taps in the picnic area, we were also able to refill her water tanks. She was fully replenished.

We left, heading towards Benasque, the location of Pico Aneto.

GDR