Comments on: Refugio Jou de los Cabrones – Refugio de Urriellu 2-Day Trek in Picos de Europa, Spain

By: moonhoneytravel

moonhoneytravel — Mon, 15 Apr 2024 12:03:53 +0000

Hi Eddie,

It’s possible to reverse the route, however it would be far more difficult.

Day 1: Bulnes – Refugio Terenosa – Refugio Urriellu
Distance: 7.9 km
Time Needed: 5 hours minimum
Elevation Gain: 1410 meters
Elevation loss: 99 meters

Day 2: Refugio Urriellu – Refugio Jou de los Cabrones – Bulnes
Distance: 11.2 km
Time Needed: 6 hours minimum
Elevation Gain: 542 meters
Elevation Loss: 1876 meters

Trail numbers aren’t very clear. Try to secure the Picos de Europa Macizos Central y Oriental 1:25.000 trail map by Adrados Ediciones.

All the best,
Sabrina

By: Eddie Liu

Eddie Liu — Fri, 12 Apr 2024 00:47:08 +0000

Hi Sabrina,
Love the look of this hike and keen to do it, thanks for sharing the detailed information.

Had a look at booking the Refugio, and unfortunately jou de los cabrones is booked out for when we will be there. I wanted to get your thoughts on doing this hike in reverse and staying at Vega de Uriellu instead. Wasn’t sure on the inclines/declines, marked trails etc. if one was to go the other way round.

Are you able to share the trail/path names to help with further research that you did?

Thanks,
Eddie

By: moonhoneytravel

moonhoneytravel — Tue, 10 Oct 2023 10:56:59 +0000

In reply to Chitra Sundaram.

Hi Chitra,
I think that’s definitely doable/feasible. And, by doing so, you’d cut off the taxing final stretch to Bulnes.
-Sabrina

By: Chitra Sundaram

Chitra Sundaram — Tue, 19 Sep 2023 20:26:57 +0000

Hi Sabrina: Quick follow up. What do you think about walking from Terenosa straight to Sotres instead of going back to Bulnes? We wondered if we could do that and then continue on the village to village walk next day. Any thoughts much appreciated! Thx Chtira

By: moonhoneytravel

moonhoneytravel — Tue, 01 Aug 2023 11:35:44 +0000

In reply to Chitra Sundaram.

Hi Chitra,

There are two short sections with a fixed rope on stage 1.

The rope is simply an aid that will help you up, or across an exposed area. You don’t need to be a climber, or have any climbing equipment. Kati and I are not climbers. There are some steep areas, which any experienced hiker can tackle with care and caution.

The trail is marked with painted waymarks, but some are fading (stage 1). We had some trouble locating a turn after Majadas de Amuesa, because of the fog. Yes, I would definitely download offline Maps like GAIA for orientation.

We purchased a paper trail map in a shop in Las Arenas, before driving to Poncebos.

I don’t know what conditions are typically like in late September. I would reach out directly to the hut manager and ask.

Have a great trip to Picos de Europa!!!
Sabrina

By: Chitra Sundaram

Chitra Sundaram — Mon, 24 Jul 2023 16:04:55 +0000

Sorry but to add to the note above. Are we better off doing the hike the other way then so we can rappel down the wall section? Or are there rope sections the other way as well so really we are in the same fix? Thanks so much, Chitra

By: Chitra Sundaram

Chitra Sundaram — Mon, 24 Jul 2023 15:18:39 +0000

Hi Sabrina: Awesome post. We are considering doing the hike as you described it but on the 2nd day we get to and stop overnight at Refugio de la Terenosa. Then after descending down to Bulnes we keep walking to Sotres to Tielve and then pick bus to Poncebos, thus doing both this hike and the walk around the villages of poncebos/bulnes/sotres/tielve/poncebos. However regarding the 1st 2 days had a couple questions. We’ve hiked a fair bit thru the Stubai alps, dolomites etc. We are not technical climbers just solid trampers. (a) In the hike up to Refugio Jou de los Cabrones there is a section where we use a rope to get up the slope. Do we have to depend on the rope to find our way up or is it more like we are climbing up but using the rope for protection and to provide addl support? Asking cos neither my husband nor I could kinda climb up a rope you know? But like a low grade Via Ferrata we could climb up rocks while holding onto a rope. Can you advise? (b) Once you get the rope section, the picture you showed of the other side looked pretty steep. Again is this just the angle of the photo and we can kinda find footings in the crevices and pretty much find our way down? It would be sad to overstate our skill level and get to that point and then be unable to go further. (c) In checking out the hiking path at various points it almost seems like a social path. We will have Gaia GPS, but where would we find a paper map, and what else did you use to ensure you were on the right track? Or am I mis-stating and its fairly well sign-posted? (d) We are planning to do this hike (if we can) in late September 2023. Any ideas when the snow fall comes thru in these areas? Thanks for all your advice, and would much appreciate your insight on these points. Best Regards, Chitra