Getting close to Santo Toribio

Camasobres to Pesaguero
19 k, 300 m

Peña Porrera from Pesaguero,
11.5 km, 700 m

https://www.wikiloc.com/hiking-trails/pesaguero…

There were a few patches of blue in the sky when I woke up, the first in a long time. I left later than usual, so that the sun would have a little more time to rise up behind those clouds. There were a few patches of blue, but nothing promising a sunny day.

I surprised myself on my way back to the mirador. I actually remembered all the tough spots with all the flooded tracks, and was able to navigate without even soaking my shoes. When I got back to the high point, there was a little sun. Better than when I was there yesterday in the rain! Snow covered mountains in the distance, with some very nice views in all directions.

The next 10 or so kilometers were gently sloped downwards, all in a beautiful forest. And the last five or so kms were alongside the Río Bullón. The water was running fast and loud, lots of beautiful waterfalls. Beautiful, easy walking.

I got to my Hotel El Hoyal about noon, a very nice place in a town of about 20. Luckily they have a restaurant and serve dinner. After checking in, having a snack, and sitting down for a while, I looked at my Wikiloc alternatives for the afternoon. After discussing it with the hotel owner, I chose the tracks that would take me up and back to a peak from which the entire Liébana Valley can be seen.

It was a pretty strenuous ascent, about 700 m over a little more than 4 km. I wasn’t sure I would make it, which was another reason why the out and back made sense – I could turn back at any point. But I made it! It’s such an exhilarating feeling to get to the top. Even with some cloud cover, it was spectacular. All the little villages nestled in the valley. So picturesque.

On the way down, I stopped and talked with a couple out working in their garden. They grow just about everything you can think of, and even have fruit trees and grape vines. The señora told me that they have more than enough vegetables for the entire year, and a very big freezer!

I had a lot of Wikiloc meltdowns today, so all that I was able to save was the way up to the peak. Since I went down on the same way I came up, losing those track is no big deal. I’m not sure what happened to my stage tracks, but it’s easy to find good tracks for the stage on Wikiloc.

No rain today, other than a few minutes of drops here and there. I’m hoping my good luck will stick with me tomorrow when I get into the real mountains. But the forecast looks pretty grim.Læs mere