Benasque winter walks - part IV
THIS is the final part of the section on winter walking in Benasque in the Pyrenees.
Our route runs up the picturesque Estós Valley (Vall d’Estós) which is a couple of kilometres north of Benasque town. The walk starts from the car park off the A-139 – just past Camping Aneto (take the signs for the Estós valley).
It’s a fairly gentle climb on a wide track for the first half of the trek up towards the Puerto de Gistaín mountain pass at 2,577 metres (13km, one way). However, most walkers in winter will not get as far as the pass and the Estós mountain refuge at 1,895m is a more realistic target with snow on the ground (8.3km one away).
The route forms part of the GR-11 long-distance footpath which runs the length of the Pyrenees mountain range, covering 800 kilometres from coast to coast in 46 stages. As such the walk is very well signposted and has red/white waymarks to help with orientation.
In the car park the GR sign points the way up towards the Refugio de Estós. The track passes through a short steepsided ravine where there is a dam and small reservoir before it opens out into the valley. The route follows the Estós River, crossing over to the left bank before ascending to the Cabaña de Santa Ana (see photo), where there is a spectacular view up the valley. The track is now running high above the nascent mountain river. Soon the walker is warned of the danger of avalanches on a short section of the route, so it best to check the alerts at state weather agency (www.aemet.es) before heading out. After passing the Corones natural spring the next point of interest is the Galantes waterfalls, which are in a gorge of the same name.
The GR-11 passes them, and there is a minor detour to see these gushing natural works of art. After crossing another bridge over the river the route flattens out for a section where there are more fantastic views up to the peaks. At the sign which indicates the turn off for the route up to the summit of Posets (3,369m) it is worth taking time to admire this stunning massif which towers over the Gistaín pass. From this point it’s only a short shin up to the Estós refuge which offers beds and meals to all comers (reservations and information at www.albergue syrefugios.com/estos). Return by the same path. The route can be seen on the maps Aneto/Maldeta 1:25,000 and the Valle de Benasque (Editorial Alpina) 1:30,000 which are available from shops in the town.
To get to Benasque (journey time approx 7hrs from north Costa Blanca) take the A-7 motorway past Valencia towards Sagunto. Turn off on the A-23 to Teruel, passing Zaragoza and Huesca, then on to Barbastro, Graus and Benasque.