A week of brilliant weather exploring the Aragon Pyrenees based 3km north of Benasque at Camping Aneto named after the tallest mountain in the Pyrenees, Pico Aneto which rises from its glacier, which along with all Pyrenean glaciers is rapidly shrinking, at the eastern end of the Maladeta massif.

After arriving in the sunny Benasque valley from the long bus from Barcelona a small walk and quick dip in the glacial fed stream was a nice relaxed start to the week.

Waking on Sunday to beautiful weather we walked up the GR up the Valle de Estós past some beautiful waterfalls to Cabaña del Tormo where we crossed the river and then ascended up through the woods and on up to Fites de Perdigueret (2454m) where there was a nice scramble towards the top and we found some lovely meadows and took in the views south towards Monte Posets whilst looking up towards the clouded peak of Pico Perdighero above us. Descent was then taken back down the northern side of the valley returning to the campsite after a beautiful walk. 21km 1363m dénivelé.

Monday took us on a nice relaxed walked into Benasque village and then up behind it through the woods finding some good viewpoints and the chance to stock up on provisions for the next couple of days. 9km 363m dénivelé.

Tuesday started with a leisurely 3am wake-up to catch the bus up to La Besurta (1900m) where we headed up in the pre dawn light towards Tuca de Salvagurdia (2736m) gaining stunning views as we climbed out of the cloud as it was being burnt off by the early morning sun giving ‘vistas muy pintorescas’ south towards the Maladeta massif and Pico Aneto as well as north into France and east and west across the Pyrenees. Some vultures were seen and some nice bits of scrambling were undertaken before we returned down to la Besurta and then up again to Refugio Renclusa. 13.5 km 1197m dénivelé. Whilst most of the group were relaxing a small group went to explore Pico de Paderna (2627m).

After spending a relaxing night at the refugio we returned to the lower bus station at Llanos de Hospital via Pico Paderna in the morning experiencing the beauty of the Pyrenees once more enjoying the wildness of the valley down which we descended. 7.5km 584m dénivelé.

Whilst the majority of the group enjoyed a nice lie in on Thursday a small party embarked on a walk from the Ski Station above Cerler starting at dawn and making the most of the cool of the day to summit Pico Cerler (2409m) giving wonderful views down over Benasque and up towards the south side of the Maladeta massif as well as across towards Posets. Then up the steep slopes of Pico Gallinero (2728m) before carrying on along the narrowing ridge to the trig on Pico del Cibolles (2749m) and then on over Tozal del Portet via some fun technical sections before descending down some scree back to the track to make it back down to the car (12.5km 1282m dénivelé)and then the campsite by 13.30 to enjoy a chilled afternoon by the river with everyone else before a wonderful meal in Benasque rounded off a brilliant trip with some brilliant people. – Josh

Above: View of Pico Aneto and the Maladeta massif from the slopes of Tuca de Sauveguardia

Below: Pico Aneto and the Maladeta massif in the dawn