Katherine & Phil's Pyrenees Trip, 2000

Day 7: Tour of Ordesa

So far we'd carried our full rucksacks every day and it seemed like time for a day off, so we decided to spend a day doing a light-weight tour of the Ordesa Canyon. It turned out to be an excellent walk.

There's a bus into the Ordesa Canyon from Torla, where there is a large car park, and during the summer other vehicles are not allowed in, so the park is pleasantly traffic free. Unfortunately the bus doesn't stop anywhere between Torla and the national park - aarghh! - so we had to start by walking 2km back to Torla from our camp site at San Antón.

We decided to walk the length of the valley high up on the south side, returning down the middle. So the walk started with a long, steep climb through the trees, with occasional and increasingly impressive views when there were gaps in the canopy. Eventually we were high enough to see over the north rim of the canyon to the peaks beyond - including the Brèche de Roland.

The Brèche de Roland and the Casque du Marboré above the Circo de Cotatuero.

We did practically all of the day's climbing in that initial ascent. From there on the path contoured along; at times it was narrow and often there were enormous drop below. Slowly the upper reaches of the canyon and the peaks beyond were revealed, along with equally good views behind us.

The steep south side of the Ordesa Canyon.

The upper canyon revealed, with Monte Perdido in the background.

Looking back down the canyon.

As our path contoured along the valley floor slowly climbed to meet us. Once we reached it in the Circo de Soaso we still had a long walk back to do! There were many more people on the path down the middle of the valley; it mostly descended among the trees with a few diversions to look at waterfalls.

By the time we finally got back to the camp site our "rest day" had been the longest day of the trip - and certainly well worth it.

Total for the day:19.5km, 650m.