Back to the lakes – final part
THIS is the final page on Cataluña’s lake district in the national park of Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici.
It highlights two shorter routes in the area – but ones which, nevertheless, involve serious height gain and quite a lot of effort.
The first of the walks is to the Portarró d’Espot – a wide expansive pass with magnificent views at 2,427 metres. It’s a relatively easy ascent on wide tracks with a gradient that won’t trouble most serious walkers.
Complete the 4-km basic route described in part 2 of this series, which starts from the Prat de Pierró car park in the Aigüestortes national park. The GR-11 footpath leads up towards Sant Maurici lake.
Ascending from Prat de Pierró, pass the hermitage which is still the site of a pilgrimage. Shortly afterwards (before reaching Sant Maurici lake), the track forks. Take the left turn to Ernest Mallafré mountain refuge.
The path curves round to the right. Follow the signs for Portarró d’Espot.
The track starts to climb, offering views down through the trees to the lake. At a fork keep straight on. At the next fork keep left following the Portarró signs.
The scenery improves and becomes more verdant on the way up to the pass, from where the walker can see the famous Estany Llong glacial lake in the valley below.
Return on the same path. There is around 1,000 metres of ascent on this route of approximately 16km.
The second route is to the Coll de Fogueruix at 2,108 metres. The route sets out from the Voraparc campsite on the road which leads into the national park from Espot.
From the turn off to the campsite, walk up the road for a little over 100 metres then turn off right at the sign for the GR-11 long distance footpath.
Follow the GR-11 for a little over 1km, then turn off right for the Mirador de Fogueruix on an offshoot of the GR-11.
Bear in mind that is a very steep ascent, with some steep drops in places and a head for heights is needed.
In places wires and steps have been installed to help with the climb.
It is a lung-buster – and a knee-knocker in places – but it is an attractive path which has been lovingly eked out by some hardworking walking enthusiasts.
The reward comes at the top. The Coll de Fogueruix is a wonderful green expanse of undulating land with panoramic views over the Espot valley and into the interior. Return on the same path.
This is a difficult route but the descent was not as frightening as I’d expected it to be on the way up.
All the same, great care should be taken – and this path should be avoided in adverse conditions.
There is a height gain of around 800 metres on this route of approximately 8km.