What a difference a day can make

We wake to a lovely morning at St Celoni. We still have a half an hour drive to Santa Fe, the place from where our second trek in Montseny starts. The trek today: climbing up to the two highest peaks of the park: Turo de l’Homme and Les Agudes, both around 1700 metres.

When driving up to Santa Fe I give a quick call to Quim, the mechanic, to find out whether the bank transfer to pay for the fifth gear for Dora went well. “Yes, no issues. The gear should be with us Tuesday or Wednesday. I will give you a call when it arrives” he says. Excellent! We can now go climbing in peace.

We park Dora at the Santa Fe car park. Very sunny and warm today, this doesn’t mean anything. The weather can be so different in the mountain.

The estimated time for the trek is three and a half hours. It is now 11.30 am. We won’t bother taking lunch with us, so we have less things to carry.

As it is still quite early, we may extend the trek a bit further if we feel like it. Looking at the map last night, we found out that the route continues over the ridge after Les Agudes. However, it is a bit exposed and slightly demanding, according to the guide. ‘For the most adventurous ones’ they say. We will see how we feel.

After 15 minutes walk, we cross the road and meet another car park, full of cars, we feel this may be quite a popular trek.

The trek is again well signed posted. following the PRC208 route. A very steep climb to start with, zigzagging through the woods, for about an hour, quite boring.

We are currently facing north. The fresh snow has turned into ice, even this far down, covering the whole path. It is getting quite tricky, we didn’t even consider to take our crampons with this weather. We are going to have to be a bit careful.

We hear people behind us, but we can’t see them. Knowing how noisy Spanish trek can be, they could well be still close to the car park and just speaking very loud. Spanish trekkers talk all the time when they are climbing. Gary and I are quite quiet. We talk occasionally, but most of the times, we are just lost in our own thoughts, making plans, coming up with ideas, which then we share with each other. For us, this is what walking is about; reflecting, thinking, relaxing…

Finally, we leave the trees behind, and see the Turo de l’Homme, our first peak in the distance. There is a bar at the top of the peak. On the one hand, good news. This means we may be able to have a drink before we climb Les Agudes. On the other hand, not that good news, as this means the peak is reachable by road and therefore, full of weekend tourists.

And here it is, Les Agudes in the distance, our second peak of the day. However, we cannot see where the ridge goes after it.

Looking back, we have gained height so quickly, only in an hour.

The weather is as sunny as it was at the bottom of the car park. We are starting to get stunning views of this side of the valley. We may be able to see the Mediterranean when we get to the top.

Gary is feeling energetic. He is probably thinking of that drink at the bar, looking over the valley.

A few people are popping up in the far distance. We were right, this is like a nice drive up to the top of a mountain, for the lazy ones . The road to this peak may come from the other side.

We are getting closer to the bar. I have nasty feeling, the bar may be close for the season. This is quite disappointing. I was looking forward to that cold, icy beer…

And finally, the summit. The Mediterranean in the far distance, so clear, so blue, so beautiful!

13.00 and we reach the summit. Unfortunately, no beer.

I am reading the map. On the left hand site, Matagalls peak, which we climbed yesterday. From there, we couldn’t see this side of the mountain, it was so misty. What a difference a day can make!

I am also looking at where we are going from here. The ridge now becomes clear. It looks interesting.

We keep going. Les Agudes is only half an hour away, which will take us to 13.30. If the guide estimates three an a half hours for the walk, the way back should be pretty quick.

The path to Les Agudes crosses over to the north side, getting quite icy. We come across a couple both in trainers. We have proper walking boots, as you do when you climb a high peak. No matter how popular it is, still a peak, and therefore, potentially dangerous. We get closer to them. Eventually, they notice us and let us pass.

A bit further ahead, the path gets narrower and slippery. We do our best to keep going using the grip of our boots and poles. We fear for that couple. I don’t think they could make it. A sensible thing to do for them is turning back.

We summit Les Agudes at 13.30. Lots of people are having lunch and enjoying the sun.

I explore the ridge further along. It looks quite tricky. Two things that put me off: one, it drops quite quickly, scrambling up is great, which we enjoy a lot, but scrambling down, is much more tricky and mentally tiring, you really get a sense of the exposure. Two, the way back is through the woods, not that interesting and no great views. We decide to head back and have a nice lunch in Dora. If we have withdrawn symptoms of walking, we can always do another trek this afternoon.

We look back, no sign of that couple. We never see them again. I hope they have turned back and not fallen down to the valley!

The way down is pretty quick and easy. Not that zigzagging business as on the way up. We suddenly come across a fountain. Actually, we need to fill Dora’s tank for tonight. This fountain could have been very convenient. I don’t think Dora would like to come up here, though.

14.30 and we are back in the car park. After a nice lunch, we decide to drive up to Vic, have a relaxing evening with a glass of wine and go to bed early. We are looking forward to driving to Vall de Nuria tomorrow, the place we have planned to go skiing on Monday.

SM