From Lacs de Barroude to Parzán …and on… to past Central di Urdiceto

^22-07-14

Sunrise across the Lacs de Barroude (approx. 2360m asl) is described as magic in the guide book… and it’s: nice. Maybe the sky is too clear, so no colouring of the light? Maybe I’m just not in the mood 😉

I pack up my things while watching the sunlight’s line make its way down the cliffs and finally meet the lake, and enjoy the cool morning breeze.

Again, I manage to start early and am on the way just after 7, even though it’s just a short climb along some curious black gravel slopes (that remind me of the volcanic hills on the Canary Islands) up to Port de Barroude (2534m asl), where I cross into Spain one again.

Then the long downhill starts.

I have a short break, fill up my water and have a footbath in the cool river by Cabaña de Barrosa.

Then continue downhill as the path gets wider and smoother, and there are -luckily- more and more trees providing shade.

Finally I end up at the road A-138 towards the Bielsa tunnel, and have to follow it down to Parzán in search for some beer, internet, electricity, and food (in that order). It’s faster and less gruel that anticipated; just a constant smooth downhill on a good wider road shoulder.

Parzán is the typical border shopping town, with a gas station, far too big supermarkets and a couple of old houses tucked up the hill away from the road.

I spend a looong time the the lovely cool terrace of Restaurante La Pipeta, have some beer, good food, coffee, more beer and a lot of water while letting the mid-day heat pass, charge my power bank, update the blog and plan ahead.

Maybe I can make myself to use the later afternoon to climb back up again, to continue right in nature tomorrow?

I’ve decided to follow the GR11 towards Hospital de Viella from here (and drop the reall challenging next sections of the HRP, in light of yesterday’s experience and the fact that time is running out to go up and then possibly having to turn around…)

Around 16:30 I feel like I can’t occupy space at the restaurant’s terrace any longer; and also it has gotten a bit cooler and a light breeze comes up, so I start back out.

On the way I stop at one of the large border shopping supermarkets to resupply. Here you can get all that you wish for: wine by the litre and haribo by the kilogramm.

Not that good choice when it comes to backpacking-friendly food (i.e. light, calory-dense and easy & fast to cook)… but I find some stuff and am on the way.

The trail follows mainly a gravel road that goes up to Urdiceto power station; so it’s a bit boring, but on the upside: not too steep and there is still plenty of trees for shadow.

After the power station there is kind of a flat-ish plateau in the terrain, so I start looking for some ‘stealth’ bivouac-site and quickly decide on a spot next to the river.

It’s late, so it’s just a short dip in the river to wash off the sweat, food, and the sleep.

approx. 4,5h incl. breaks to Parzán;

15,4km, 170m ascent, 1420m descent (to Parzán)

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plus: approx. 3,5h incl. some shorter breaks;

9km, 875m ascent, 0m descent

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