Anillo Integral de Picos de Europa|3 Macizos-9 Refugios|Picos Outdoor Mountain Guides

ANILLO DE PICOS INTEGRAL
3 MASSIFS - 9 REFUGES

The Integral Picos Ring It runs through the three massifs of the Picos de Europa National Park. It is one one of the most demanding treks that can be done in the Iberian Peninsula and it is one of those treks that cannot be missing in the backpack of every mountain lover.

We will start in Poncebos, heading to the Western Massif or Cornión, the one that gave rise to the National Park and the one with the most varied landscapes. We will make some modifications to the itinerary marked by the Ring of Picos, to give it the Picos Outdoor seal and improve it, passing through places that we consider a must-see such as the Canal de Trea, the Vegabaño Forest or the Valdeón valley, among others, to go to the Urrielles Massif or Central Massif of Los Picos de Europa, located between the valleys excavated by the Cares and Duje rivers, without a doubt the most rugged, the one with the greatest unevenness and where The highest and most representative peaks of the National Park are located, such as Torrecerredo, the highest altitude of these mountains and of the entire Cantabrian Mountains with 2,648 meters or the Picu Urriellu(Naranjo de Bulnes), authentic symbol of the Asturian mountains and the National Park and place where, since its conquest in 1905, the most beautiful pages of mountaineering in the Iberian Peninsula have been written. It is in this massif where these mountains reach their maximum expression, with an unsurpassed high mountain environment, concentrating a large number of peaks in a relatively small area, unmatched in any other mountain range on the peninsula, where there are other higher mountains, but not so wild and inaccessible. We will also tour the Eastern Massif or Andara, ascending the Jidiellu canal and resting in its only protected refuge, the Andara cassetón.

For six days we will visit all the protected refuges of Picos de Europa, the most emblematic and beautiful places in the region.Picos de Europa National Park, in a demanding, but unforgettable trekking, that cannot be missing in your backpack.

Program:

Meeting point: El Repelao Parking Lot, Covadonga, Asturias. Duration: 6 days.

Day 1: On our first day of this super trek, undoubtedly the most demanding of those that can be done in Picos de Europa, we will take one of the most classic routes of the Western Massif, crossing it from North to South, through the characteristic karst landscape of the high altitudes of the Picos de Europa, where the chaos of the limestone rock reigns between jous and hills, making orientation not at all easy. We set off from Los Lagos de Covadonga towards the Vegarredonda Refuge, to enter the highest heights of the Massif, passing through Vega Huerta to enjoy the impressive view of the South face (600 metres high) of Peña Santa de Castilla, the highest point of Cornión at 2,596 metres high. From this plain, from which we will also enjoy beautiful views of the Central Massif, we will descend through the Frade pass towards the Vegabaño Refuge (1,420m), located in a magnificent place surrounded by beautiful forests, to enjoy a well-deserved rest, after a long and hard day.

Distance: 24 km. Elevation: +1,710m -1,550m

Day 2: Beautiful and hard day, in which we will enter the Central Massif, and which will take us from Vegabaño to the beautiful Valdeón valley, to from there, overcoming a significant difference in altitude, reach the Collado Jermoso refuge (2,046m). We will descend to the beautiful Valdeón Valley, to the town of Cordiñanes, from where we will begin the ascent through the beautiful Asotín beech forest that will leave us in the Vega de Asotín, a beautiful and spectacular place. From here we will ascend to the Collado Jermoso refuge, located in one of the most spectacular and beautiful places in the entire National Park. Located on the edge of a cliff and surrounded by the steep peaks of the Llambrión group, opposite the spectacular Torre del Friero, and with magnificent views of the Valdeón valley and the Macizo del Cornión, with Peña Santa always standing out. Despite the hard day, everyone will feel satisfied to stay in such a place, run by a fantastic team that will make us feel at home.

Distance: 20 Km. Elevation: +1,630m -950m

Day 3: One of the queen stages of trekking, although a spectacular day with a change of massif included, since we are going to the Eastern or Ándara Massif. We enter the Central Massif through several Jous to Tiro de Casares, from where we will have to pass through a chaos of limestone to reach the Cabaña Verónica Refuge, unique in all its glory and located in an amazing place. Once the passport is stamped, we will head along the turn towards Áliva to run through the Duje valley to the entrance of the Jidiellu Canal, the last difficulty of the day to reach the Valdominguero pass. From here we have a gentle descent to reach the Casetón de Ándara Refuge, with just the right comforts but exquisite treatment, where we will stamp a new stamp on the passport and enjoy a magnificent sunset and a well-deserved rest.

Distance: 25 km. Elevation: +1,750m -2,100m

Day 4: From the Casetón de Ándara, we will descend to the pretty village of Sotres and the winter lodges of the same name, to ascend to the Collado de Pandebano and the La Terenosa Refuge, already in the Central Massif, where we will stamp our passport while having a drink with its friendly guard Emilio. From La Terenosa, we will ascend to the busiest refuge in the Picos de Europa, located at the base of the most emblematic summit of all those that make up the National Park, the Picu Urriellu, and in its most spectacular part, its impressive West Face, more than 500 metres high, a true reference of Spanish mountaineering. An unforgettable place, both for its beauty and its symbolism, where we will spend the night.

Distance: 15 km. Elevation: +1,170 m -960 m

Day 5: We leave the Urriellu refuge to head to the Cabrones refuge, the base of the mountain sector where the highest peak in the entire National Park is located at 2,648 metres, Torrecerredo. Next, we will head, passing in front of another emblematic peak such as Cabrones, towards the refuge of the same name, where we will stamp the passport. There is only a long and steep descent left from the Cabrones refuge (2,030 m) to Puente Poncebos (218 m). We will go down the Cuesta del Trave and the Canal de Amuesa to reach the beautiful town of Bulnes (648 m), inaccessible by vehicle and only reachable by the Tejo canal or by the Pandébano pass until the construction of a funicular from Poncebos. From Bulnes, we only have to go down the Tejo canal to Poncebos, where we will spend the night.

Distance: 16 Km. Elevation: +570m -2,230m

Day 6: Last day of trekking. We will leave from Puente Poncebos (218m), to do a section of the famous, popular and spectacular Cares Route, one of the most impressive gorges in the world, until we reach the detour to the demanding Canal de Trea, which we will climb to reach the Vega de Ario Refuge and enjoy its impressive views of the Central and Western Massif and better treatment from its staff. With great regret we must leave Vega de Ario, to descend, along a comfortable path, towards Los Lagos de Covadonga, the final point of our spectacular adventure.

Distance: 22 Km. Elevation: +1,750m -790m

Distance: 122 Km. Elevation: +8,580m -8,580m

It includes:

Certified Mountain Guide Service with AEGM-UIMLA accreditation.
Five nights of accommodation in refuges.
Five half boards (dinner + breakfast) in refuges.
Passport of the Ring of Peaks.
Collective security material.
Accident insurance and RC.
Picos Outdoor 42k breathable T-shirt.

Does not include:

Transport.
Any other item not mentioned as included.

Grades:

In the refuges you can buy picnics for each day, avoiding carrying weight.
In the refuges there are blankets. Carrying a thin sack or a sheet sack is enough.
The route may be altered depending on the weather conditions, availability in the shelters and/or other types of circumstances, always keeping in mind the safety of the group.
Group of 4 to 8 people.
Picos Outdoor only obtains benefits from the guide service