Picos de Europa in 1 Week

Picos de Europa is a mountain range in Spain giving the Alps a run for their money when it comes to hikeability.

I’m all set for my next hike — Walker’s Haute — come June 26th, so it’s high time I get LAST year’s event off my chest.

We opted for a circular path about 115 km (71 miles) long.

Day 0: Flight to Madrid, 5-hour drive to Asturias

We got a dirt cheap (220 euros for 7 days) DR 4 (tf even is that?) from Madrid airport that needed to be switched to 3rd gear going up the steeper hills. But it was clean & spacious. And Spain’s highways are just *chef’s kiss*. The obscure rental company — Record go — fleeced me for 37 euros in bogus refueling charges, so I’m never using them again. Better off paying the Hertz/Europcar premia.

Dat 1: Hotel Mirador de Cabrales — Refugio de Ario

Expected ascent: 1500 m
Descent: -200 m
Distance: 14K

Since we’re going in a circle we leave the car near the hotel for a whole week. Ruta del Cares starts just up the bend and boy does this hike instantly spoil you. You’re traversing canyons and caverns to the music of whitewater below, with free range mountain goats approaching to be petted.