Sailors christened the mountains "Picos de Europa". When they returned from long voyages, the snow-covered peaks were the first thing the scouts saw on the horizon. The rocky cathedrals of the Cantabrian Cordillera tower over 2600 metres above the ocean. Jagged limestone, modelled into bizarre needles by constant erosion. Almost at sea level, rivers roar through the massif and have been cutting deep gashes in the rock for thousands of years. The valley of the Rio Deva is so narrow that for five months in winter not a ray of sunshine illuminates the unfortunate village of Hermida. Salmon migrate to their spawning grounds in the icy cold waters of the river. The neighbouring Rio Cares has carved one of the most enormous gorges in Europe into the rock. The walls of the Garganta dei Cares tower over 1000 metres into the sky. Vertical madness.
The very name Costa Verde, Green Coast, reveals that water in every form is part of nature here. The peaks are often shrouded in mist. We quickly warm up on the rough gravel track towards the adventure. The wild tracks of the Picos don't make it easy for anyone. The routes often bog down at deserted mountain pastures or get completely lost in the scree. There are no signposts. At best, a splash of colour on the rock or a wobbly cairn at the edge of the path reminds you that people have walked here before. And it's better not to rely on that. If you set off without a map and compass, you risk your life and limb. But that's exactly what Klaus and I were looking for. At some point, time seems to have stood still. There is even a village on the north side of the mountain range, which until recently could only be reached via a beaten track.
You can find these tours in the PDF download:
Tour 1: La Ruta de Treviso (65 km, 1900 m elevation gain)
Tour 2: Great Picos Crossing (70 km, 2100 m elevation gain)
