SIERRA DE GREDOS
ARENAS DE SAN PEDRO (ÁVILA)
Rutas a caballo con guía local
Tfno: 615 16 26 62
Sólo si tienes caballo propio
Gredos Mountain, reign of silence
2017
The Gredos Mountains is the reign of silence. It’s possible to ride for an entire day without seeing a single person. Years ago, narrow paths connected small towns, however the towns have been abandoned, the trails are grown over and the rider has the sensation, like the conquistadors, of discovering a new world. Only the cows and horses grazing on Summer pastures give an indication that somewhere, man is managing to survive in this land that is closed off by cold in Winter. We propose for you to discover Gredos during the explosion of Spring, the vibrant green, the spring melts causing streams to bubble over, the yellow tint of the Piorno flower, the intense fragrance of a perfect silence.
 pto.El Arenal |  praderasmenga |
|---|---|
 Cuerda |  Cordel |
 garganta |  cargadero |
 arenalsur |  Alberche |
 Cuevas |  calzada |
From here until 2.000 meters we’ll experience Gredos in its full splendor. Sheer walls of granite, impossible stone figures and the Piorno flower, the only plant species apart from high altitude pastures. On clear days, we can see the horizon as far as 80 kms. away.
Here Gredos again shows us the spectacle of her immenserock walls, vertical spaces which climbers use to put themselves to the test. We’ll test our own ability following ancient paths forged by herds of cattle, the main economic resource of this region, and marked by the slow passing of time. We’ll traverse continuous slopes and steep ascents in order to arrive at the Tormes River
Not too many years ago, the trail awaiting us on this day was used by travelling herds of cows and horses on their constant search for the best grazing land. Today, only an occasional rider like us, possibly escorted by an eagle or Red Kite, evokes these journeys. The Puerto de Chía pass opens the door to the Corneja River valley where oak forests shade tranquil paths. Navacepedilla del Corneja is the first of several towns showcasing the rustic granite architecture typical to this region.
We’ll ride through an inviting pine grove with trees as high as 30 mts. Once again, the hoofprints of cattle herds show us the way to the Puerto del Pico mountain pass, located above the Valley of Five Villages. The Romans were well aware that this was the best spot to cross the sierra from north to south and built a road which even today remains during about 6 kms, and which we’ll follow until we arrive at the town of Cuevas del Valle. The local architecture is typical of the region, with wooden balconies overflowing with flowering plants carefully tended by residents.