Aneto Peak, the highest point of the Pyrenees. Day 1 of 2.

Climbing Aneto Peak, the highest point of the Pyrenees.

Day 1 of 2: length 20 km, climb 2000 m, drop 1000 m

We left Sitges by car on Friday around 19:00 and by 23:00 we arrived at the Plan De Senarta parking lot (1370 m above sea level), from where buses run regularly to the free shelter Refugio de Coronas (1950 m) during the day. There was a full house in the parking lot, we set up with tents a little further away by the river, and at about 9 in the morning we went onto the trail, deciding not to take the bus.

Up to the top of Aneto Peak (3404 m) we were waiting for 2000 meters of climb with beautiful views, several lakes suitable for swimming, ripe raspberries and blueberries, and many streams with delicious drinking water.

From the shelter Refugio de Coronas (1950 m) at 11.00 slowly, with stops for berries and swimming, we started moving up to the lake Ibón de Coronas (2750 m), where we were by 15.00. Around the lake there are many places suitable for tents. And this is the only place where I caught the Internet (Movistar), there is no Internet even at the beginning of the route, so download all the maps to your phone in advance - there is no network even downstairs in the parking lot.

Many, having spent the night at the lake Ibón de Coronas, climb the Aneto peak without backpacks. We planned to go from the south to the north side of the ridge and go down to the northern valley, where we will be met by the 4th member of the group who returned to the car and spent the night in Benasque.

At 15:20 we started from the lake and were at the Collado de Coronas pass (3201 m) at 17:10. On the approach to the pass there was a steep place that could no longer be walked on, it can become an obstacle for people who are afraid of heights. With beginners, I would go there in conjunction.

Right after the pass on the glacier we were met by two fully equipped climbers with crampons, ropes and ice axes. We had to go through the upper part of the glacier, only 10 meters wide, two of us put on crampons, the third went like this. It was the only place where we met with ice. I think in a couple of years the glacier will not be there at all.

Further along the path, through a white snow blow, we came to Paso de Mahoma. After the snowfield and just before the summit, there were two more non-pedestrian sections that required climbing skills and a calm attitude to heights - on the ridge there is where to fall in both directions, and without insurance and without experience you should not go there: destroyed rocks, live stones, narrow and high. Look at the photos on Google maps to assess your level in advance. Our trio has a calm attitude to heights and climbing experience, so we, having missed a bunch of climbers in full gear, climbed the ridge without insurance, and at 18:00 we were at the top (3404 m). Near the top there is a place for a romantic overnight stay in a tent (one three-ruble note will stand).

Returning for backpacks left at the snowfield before the ascent to the top, at 19.00 we continued our way to the northern side of the mountain to Lake Salterillo (2470 m). It was the most physically difficult section of the path - a descent with a loss of height of 1000 m without obvious paths along a bizarre granite relief carved over millions of years by a glacier, which has now almost completely melted, leaving behind a heap of stones. It took almost two hours to descend to Lake Salterillo, we were already pretty tired. A hot dinner, a clear sky with bright stars and ten hours of sleep, and in the morning we are again cheerful and full of strength. At night it was warm and windless, a sleeping bag at +10 is quite OK. There are many places for tents near the lake. In the morning, timid cows came and obviously wanted something from us while we were having breakfast)

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