Trekking from Sotres

From Sotres, we were able to access some really marvelous hiking trails.

Back to Sotres at the end of the day.

At lower levels, we went on picturesque farming tracks and footpaths through beech woods and meadows.

Don't disturb the horses...

Following other paths, we climbed beyond the tree line into a landscape of rock and sky.

An elemental landscape

In spite of the signposts, we are about to become lost.  (photo supplied by fellow hikers, Arjan and Amke)

The three mountain masses (massifs) that comprise the Picos are of limestone, which makes for much different experience than hiking in the mostly-granite Rockies.  Limestone erodes in rainwater, so we saw interesting formations -- caves and sinkholes, but no tarns (small mountain lakes) and no waterfalls.  No wonder we sometimes felt as if we were hiking in the mountains of the moon.

What did make the walks above Sotres interesting was evidence of mining.  These lead and zinc mines closed down in the early 20th century, but horizontal shafts, tailings ponds, abandoned equipment, and even a few empty houses still testify to an industry long gone.

Through the arch to the Rufugio de Andara...locked and unoccupied.

 

A mining ghost town