That's the way!
These walkers were on track for a snow-capped summit, with a white Christmas guaranteed in the Pyrenees this year. Read about our walking routes in the snow
THE TENA Valley offers some excellent opportunities for snow walking - and also happens to be the closest area of the Pyrenees to the Costa Blanca. With a base in either Panticoso or nearby Sallent de Gállego, walkers have a network of footpaths on their doorstep.
However, the state of the snow over the winter will affect which routes can be undertaken safely – and which will allow the walker to strap on their snow shoes. As mentioned last week, it is best to remember that a combination of walking with shoes off and on usually makes a trek more en- joyable – and therefore a good rucksack is needed to carry the shoes when they are off.
Acquiring the editorial Alpina map, ‘Valle de Tena’ from a local store will allow the walker to view most of the footpaths available on a 1:40,000 scale. I have chosen to highlight three routes which are accessible and popular all year round – and are not ‘summit routes’.
The first sets out from the village of Piedrafita de Jaca on the PR HU-93. This heads to the Piedrafita glacial lake (ibón). If the initial section of the walk is icy, then the walker can drive around 1km further up the road to park at Lacuniacha animal park. It is 3km from the park to the lake, mostly on a wide track. From the lake, the track continues on (almost endlessly) into the hills, running alongside the wonderful Sierra de la Partacua. Those wanting to make use of their snow shoes can plough on to their heart’s content.
The second route is on the GR-11 long distance footpath from the Anayet car park of Formigal ski resort. The route runs up a magnificent valley to the glacial lakes of Anayet. The waymarked footpath starts close to the ski station, on the right of the piste. It runs along the left-hand side of the stream before doglegging right, up the valley to the lakes. Parts of the ascent are quite steep but this is a very popular route and en- joyed by hundreds of people on busy days.
Once at the lakes there are options to continue on either side – up to the Espelunciecha peak (2,397m) or the Vértice de Anayet (2,559m). Many walkers won’t reach the summits in the snow but it is worth going a little further to get even better views of the surrounding mountains.
The third highlighted route is the PR-HU 95 from Panticosa to the Sabocos glacial lake. It is just over 11km one way from the village to the Cuello de Sabocos (2,090m), the saddle above the lake. In heavy snow, snow shoes are essential for the top of the Ripera Valley and the dog-leg bend which leads up to the ‘Cuello’.
Where to stay?
Both Panticosa and Sallent have a wide variety of options, with different prices. A good economical option in Panticosa, opposite the splendid medieval church, is Hotel Navarro ( www.hotelnavarro.com). Hotel Aguas Limpias (www.hotelaguaslimpias.es) is just one of many options in Sallent.
How to get there
Take the A-7 motorway past Valencia towards Sagunto. Turn off on the A-23 to Teruel, passing Zaragoza and Huesca, then on to Sabiñínigo, afterwards taking the road for France (N-260) which leads to Panticosa or Sallent. It’s around 7hrs without stops from the south Costa Blanca.