Logistics Coming from the north, Las Arenas is the last town with food and camping gas.
As jwi says, the last part of the drive (after Sotres) takes ~20 minutes up an unmade track. Consider parking before the cattle grid if you want to avoid your hire car getting attention from horned beasts. The path from the road head at Collado de Pandebano to the Refugio Urriellu is obvious the whole way, about 5km and 800m ascent, though lovely scenery. 1.5 - 3 hours depending on how fit and how much you are carrying.
Description, not really necessary.
The refugio is hard to book in July/August but there seemed to be spaces for those who turned up on spec. Lots of people camp or bivi. There are numerous camping spots and a few bivi boulders in the vicinity of the hut and there seemed to be no issues with campers using hut facilities. I guess it's better for everyone that you shit in a toilet rather than under a rock. Evening meal is €15 and a can of beer is €2.50 (less than a cup of tea on the train in the UK and it's got there on the back of a donkey).
Camping Narajo de Bulnes is a pleasant family site in Las Arenas. €25 for two people, tent and car in high season.
Some RoutesRabada-NavarroClassic route, mostly on excellent rock. We took a single full set of Totems (Black-Orange), wires 3-8, and about 12 quickdraws or slings. The long third pitch is the crux and feels quite trad. (~E3). Don’t go up too far on the pitch before the start of the big traverse. Work out how to do the lower and traverse in advance (clue: don't abseil!). We had 50m ropes and took ~20 pitches. 60m ropes mean you can do it in ~16 pitches -
topo. Large parts of the second half of the route - after the lower - could be simul.-climbed if you do that sort of thing.
LeivaOne of the three classics of the West face. First six pitches make a good 6c+, mostly on fixed gear but cams to red will be useful. Abseil
Sagitario or continue up (7a and 7a+ pitches, trad. rack needed)
Sagitario6 pitch 6b. Abseil the route, can be done on a single 70m.
Murciana and
Soy un hombre neuvo were both popular when we were up there and look great. Next time...
Topo of the west faceWebcam of the west face
