Walking out of Isaba, past some of the younger generation clearly still awake from the nights celebrations, we enjoyed a gentle climb along a wide path along the river before hitting a signpost. Here we had a decision to make: to go the much harder, longer and more technical route (old GR11) to Zuriza or the shorter and easier one (new official GR11). Knowing the temperature was meant to rocket up again today, and knowing we had plenty of harder days ahead, we chose the simpler and shorter route, which followed the river further and, surprisingly, past a beautiful waterfall spot; a perfect place for a swim if we hadnt only really just got started.
Continuing on, up along the river, you then cross it and soon start to climb more intensely through woodland. We climbed up and up until suddenly you meet a car park and sign to say youre crossing from Navarre into Aragon! Wow! We made it to the next area of the trail and pretty much Go us! Now in
more open sun, we crossed the road and followed the trail along and downand then all the way around the campsite on the roadto get to the actual entrance of it, to check in and pitch up; all before the midday heat began.
The campsite at Zuriza is in a great location, but was busy and hectic with everyone pitching anywhere & everywhere. Its also not the cleanest of places with many water taps, toilets and lights not working, and the supermarket still very much closed for the foreseeable. However, the bar was open and, with nothing else around, clearly a popular place for hikers, youth groups and families.
It was a needed spot to stop for us too in todays heat, and with shade, napping, cold drinks, salty crisps, and later catching up with all the Dutch again, was perfecto.
6:45 - 16:00 with lots of short breaks, 30mins at top of climb, 20mins at on descent down and 120mins at La Mina
noises and throwing pine cones at our tent) we did manage a good sleep and woke early, as usual, to get ready slowly. Unsure as to how far wed get today, we ventured out, excited and nervous as we hit Alpine territory. Following the river gently up again, it wasnt long before we noticed the change in trail with steeper gradients, rockier paths and paths through scree beginning to appear. We felt the air change as it got fresher and, perhaps weirdly, we also smelt the change and can confirm its nicer then the car fresheners you can get!
After surviving and enjoying our first real taste of a more technical ascent, (and spotting our first marmot!) making it to the top at Cuello Petraficha and suddenly seeing the vastness of the mountains in front of us was an amazing feeling! We are here and we are doing it! Whooohooo! Enjoying the view with a break here, two of the Dutch overtook us, and, using them as guide points, we soon followed them down the steep but zigzagging descent all the way to La Mina; actually much more descent then we thought, stopping for another short break to
Shoes off and feet in the river, we enjoyed some shaded rocks to sit and rest for lunch; also to do some much needed water filtering and topping up. Theres obviously a popular pool bit just up the river too, noticing many locals taking a dip there. Feeling a little early to call it a day, and with the heat less intense today, we decided to follow in the Dutchs footsteps again, and continue further on the trail (first time weve done more then the guidebooks section!) Keeping the river on our right, (you can go the other side to what looks more like road walking) the trail follows it along, with gentle ups and downs, small and barely flowing streams, little shade and past increasing amounts of cattle, until it brings you back to the river over a bridge. Here, the trail then begins to ascend, but is where, with the two Dutch we had caught up with, we decided to wild camp.
With lots of little, spots dotted between bushes and the river flowing nicely for water, it was a good place to camp.
