After a thourough introduction by Robert to the tour (and all the options) and the bike I set off from Panticosa towards the main road to France. The E-bike seems easy enough to handle and the first test starts when ascending towards Sandinies on an almost perpendicular road up.
North face of the Partacua
On the road somebody has left a note saying “Marisol – you can do it!” (… in Spanish of course) and I feel strangely reminded of my first attempt on a not so impressive mountain bike up toward the Ibón de las Paúles some years ago. It took forever and by the time I got up there I was so exhausted that I couldn’t enjoy the views anymore.
Admittedly, I am not a great cycling enthusiast, but I am good mountaineer, well-trained and tenacious, and most of all always motivated to get up to some mountain lake for a swim. This time the ascend almost sails by unnoticed and I can admire the stunning views on the way up.
Depending on which turn of the gravel road we are on, you either admire the 3000m peaks of the opposite side of the valley (from Balaitus to Infiernos to Vignemale) or the Sierra Partacua directly in front of us, with the fake Breche de Roland (as I call it). The ins and outs of the tour are all in the description and I won’t repeat them.
The Ibón de Piedrafita already in the shade
Just a few things to say: firstly, this tour proves the classic mountain effect … don’t go to the highest peak, rather go to the one opposite to admire the views. And secondly, any mountain tour should always be enjoyable and varied, which it was, whether it goes to your physical limit or not. In fact, you actually have time and energy, thanks to the kind help of the E-bike.
One of the pools of the Gorgol Canyon
The tour all in all for me took about 5 to 6 hours, with a few detours (the Arco is hard to find), partly doing the options, having a leisurely lunch in Tramacastilla, going for a swim in Gorgol. So a bit of everything. It was truly enjoyable and I recommend to try it out (and leave your scepticism about the un-sporty support of the E-bike at home).