Hiking the Picos de Europa Mountains ...Day 4 Ascent to Vega de Urriellu

Hiking the Picos de Europa Mountains...Day 4 Ascent to Vega de Urriellu

One of the most spectacular hikes we have ever experienced was today's ascent to Vega de Urriellu in the Picos de Europa. It was breathtakingly beautiful and awe-inspiring. 



The Urriellu peak itself is an incredible feat of nature as a massive tower of limestone jutting up above all the others in the area.

Right below the foot of Pico Urriellu is the Refugio Vega de Urriellu. In the photograph above, the refugio Vega de Urriellu is dwarfed by the face of Pico Urriellu , but you can make it out. It is located right above the words written in italic "the foot" in the first sentence. That's where we're headed. The Picu Urriellu is known for its vertical ascent and conical top. 

It was an astounding crystal clear sky blue day. The visibility was incredible! As we started our 12 mile hike, we could see our destination of Pico Urriellu jutting up on the left. A considerable portion of our hike today was steep with 3,700 feet each of our ascent and descent.

We started out hiking up to the Collado Pandebano

past a shepherd's stone hut nestled into the rock.

 Then over the rise.

       

It was another bucolic postcard scene as we entered the heart of the Picos de Europa.

With the Pico de Urriellu leading the way, we followed the trail to 

the cow and shepherd's huts.

We met a few friends along the trail and gladly gave them right of way.

When we had hiked higher, we looked down on those same cow shepherds' huts in the valley below.






The views were amazing every step of the way!










The steep trail took us through rocky areas

with loose rock and sensational panoramic views.

             

The narrow trail hugged the cliffs  

and then the very steepest part of the climb was the last bit over rocks up to the refugio.

The Vega de Urriellu was a welcomed sight!

Here's the refugio, Vega de Urriellu.










 All too soon it was time to head back down.

I saw an unexpected sight.

Two heavily laden mules were coming up the trail.

I learned that each day these mules start from down below in Pandebono and make the steep trek up to Vega de Urriellu in order to restock the refugio with food and drinks.

It was an amazing day of a hike with so many stunning vistas to feast our eyes upon 

that it was sometimes hard to keep focused on the trail.

There was one spot where we just had to sit and inhale the view.
Pictures do not do it justice for this was exceptional. In the distance, we could see the Cantabrian Sea! It is hard to tell from the photos below, but it was a glorious sight.

Every turn was absolutely beautiful.

As I was hiking down, I  turned around and took another look at this mighty limestone sentinel.

Our hike was far from over,

 but it was a welcome sight to see cows grazing in the high alpine meadow.

A little lower we came across some mules ambling along.

In a while, we could see the shepherds'  stone huts once again.

We went up and over and continued on down 

to the road back to Sotres . 

And so ended a glorious day of our ascent to Vega de Urriellu.

.