DIFFICULTY: Red

DISTANCE: 78 km

CLIMB: +1480 m

TIME: 3h-4h h

WITH MUD: Feasible

MARKINGS: No

AREA: Bielsa, Bal de Chistau

EXIT: Mesón de Salinas

ARRIVAL: Mesón de Salinas

VARIATIONS:

 

DESCRIPTION

 

We are going to visit two of the best known valleys of Sobrarbe and Alto Cinca while we witness the landscapes of the Posets-Maladeta Natural Park and the Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park.

Chistau is perhaps the most unspoilt part of the region, partly due to its difficult access over the years, and partly because of how well its inhabitants have been able to look after it. By means of a very irregular ascent we will be witnesses of its pristine nature and we will go through its main villages: Plan, San Juan de Plan and Gistaín.

Pineta, which we will reach from Bielsa, is perhaps the most immense and alpine valley in the Pyrenees. Surrounded by immense walls with an altitude of almost 2000m and a perfect combination of traditional houses and pastures at the beginning, and forests and rocky walls at the end, it will take your breath away and make you feel very, very small.

Fountains and bars along most of the route

Its two variants delve into the possibilities of the valleys of Chistau and Bielsa/Pineta respectively, where we will find short but explosive and very photogenic climbs.

 

TERRAIN

 

Watch out for the tunnels between Saravillo and Plan, both uphill and downhill. Poor visibility and bad road surface.

 

RECOMMENDATIONS

 

All year round, except in very cold winters.