Volvimos a Isaba después de unos días en Ibiza con los amigotes de la Universidad. Pensamos que darle ese tiempo extra a la nieve para derretirse sería bueno. Y, obviamente, después de 2 años por Canadá y La Patagonia teníamos ganas de pasar tiempo con nuestros amigos.
Ya en Isaba volvimos a la Pensión Txiki. Al levantarnos preparamos las mochilas y mientras revisamos que no nos estuviésemos olvidando nada apareció un charco de agua bajo la mochila de Marina. La Camelback estaba mal cerrada y se había vaciado toda dentro de la mochila. Afortunadamente era sólo agua.
Salimos pronto de Isaba, antes de que abriesen la Farmacia del pueblo y Marina se pudiese comprar las plantillas que se había dejado olvidadas en Vilanova. Pensamos que en Candanchú encontraríamos. Esto sería un gran error.
Como el tramo de Isaba a Zuriza lo habíamos hecho ya por la Peña Ezkaurre de ida, y desde Belabarze de vuelta, decidimos probar suerte haciendo autostop. A los dos minutos nos recogió Felipe, de Vitoria, que iba al monte un par de días.
Así que salimos de Zuriza con mucho sol caminando por el Llano de Tacheras en dirección al Collado de Petraficha, de 1963 m.
Es un sendero muy bonito que serpentea, a todo esto también vimos una serpiente, por praderas salpicadas por rocas grises en las que vimos marmotas o nutrias, estaban jugando lejos, cerca del refugio destruido de Taxeras.
Llegamos hasta el Collado de Petraficha muy frescos. Ahí nos encontramos con una “experta montañera” que nos dijo que hacía 5 horas que había salido de Candanchú. En aquel momento nos lo creímos; habiendo hecho ya las etapas sabemos que esa señora mentía como una bellaca.
Bajamos de Petraficha camino del refugio militar de La Mina, al que llegamos mucho antes de lo previsto por lo que seguimos caminando hasta el Puente de los Chitanos, desde donde empieza la ascensión más seria hacia el Achar de Aguas Tuertas. Estos últimos 7 km acaban haciéndosenos largos.
Al final de la etapa, justo en la entrada del Valle de Aguas Tuertas está la cabaña - refugio donde pasamos la noche.
Montamos la tienda en la llanura, cerca del río y nos fuimos a bañar a una pequeña catarata. A la hora de cenar descubrimos que, inteligentes nosotros, nuestra botella de gas no era compatible con nuestro hornillo: sobrevivimos a base de barritas de muesli. Ahora hemos aprendido la lección.RESUMEN DE LA ETAPA:Fecha: 3 de julio de 2018Hora y altitud de partida: 09:00 a 816 mHora y altitud de llegada: 18:15 a 1351 mDesnivel acumulado: +1160/-770Distancia: 19 kmTipo de vía: Sendero Meteorología: Muy soleado durante el día, tormenta de nocheAlojamiento: Refugio libre de Aguas Tuertas
Enrique & MarinaEnglish versionPYRENEES TRAIL GR11 STAGE 6: ZURIZA - AGUAS TUERTAS HUT
We came back to Isaba after a few days in Barcelona and Ibiza. We decided to fit that break on the way to give some extra time for the highest snows to melt. Besides we had organised that trip to Ibiza with our friends from Uni from a long time ago. On the morning we would leave Isaba, I had my backpack ready and I was just checking that there was nothing we were leaving behind in the room when I realised that there was a puddle under it. The rubber closing my Camelback was miss-placed and it had enough time to leak about a litre in just a few minutes. Most of my gear was wet, luckily it was just water.
We left Isaba early in the morning, before the Pharmacy opens and I couldn’t buy a pair of insoles for my boots. I had been using a pair of gel insoles that worked wonderfully during the traverse of Navarra. I forgot them at home and I didn’t realise until the time of leaving Isaba. I thought I could buy a pair in Candanchu, two days away. Now I know that it was a serious mistake.
As we had previously covered Isaba to Zuriza and we had seen both Belabarze and Ezkaurre we decided to try our luck hitchhiking. The first car stopped only two minutes after walking on the road. The driver was Felipe, from Vitoria, who just came from home to the area to spend some time in the mountains.
From Zuriza we walked on the Tacheras flats towards Petraficha saddle at 1963 m.
This was a pretty scenery where the path zig-zags through prairies scattered with grey rocks, snakes sneak across the path, marmots sunbathe on the hot rocky surfaces and otters play in the distance. There’s an old and rundown hut with the same name as the flats.
We reached Petraficha saddle while it was still pretty early. The saddle seemed to be a busy place as may side hikes also cross this point. There we met a lady (make up on) who told us and everyone who was there that she came from Candanchu that morning and just left about five hours ago. At that point Enrique and I thought “OK”. Now we’re positive that unless you’re seriously running the trail it isn’t possible in that time.
We descended up to the militar hut of La Mina. We got there early and decided to carry on to Chitanos’ bridge (this translates for Gypsies’ bridge) and then climb the last slope that would take us to Aguas Tuertas Hut. Those last 7 km did feel really long.
The end of the day for us was at the entering point of Aguas Tuertas (literally translating for Turning Waters). There’s a concrete hut by the trail. Someone (probably a local farmer, there’s a 4WD road by the shelter) generously takes care of the place supplying the medicine cabinet with drugs and some other basic items.
Still, we set up our tent in the flat meadows, close to the river and the cattle and went to a further waterfall to pick up some clear water and refresh ourselves. At dinner time we found out that our gas bottle wouldn’t fit the gas burner. So many years going to the university, two masters, managing people for years… And still, we forgot to test the stove. Bravo. We eat muesli bars but that didn’t leave us satisfied. And went to bed. STAGE OVERVIEW:Date: 3rd of July 2018Start time and altitude: 09:00 at 816 mFinish time and altitude: 18:15 at 1351 mCumulative elevation gain/loss: +1160/-770Distance: 19 kmType of track: path and simple scrambleWeather on the day: Sunny and thunder at nightAccommodation: Aguas Tuertas free hutEnrique & Marina
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