Day 5 - Refugio Vallferrera to Tavascan via Pica d'Estats

Distance: 23km, Ascent: 1550m, Descent: 2300m


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After breakfast with the 4 Catalan guys, I left the Vallferrera Refuge just before 6:30am.  The climb towards Pica d'Estats was more convoluted and interesting than it looked on the map, and once past the 2 lakes it was continuous snow cover until the rocky col of Port de Sotllo at 2893m.  I wasn't quite sure of the route to Pica d'Estats after the col, but gathered that it was best to descend a little before skirting around to meet the voie normal from Refugi Pinet.  I contoured right around until I met the easy-angled north east ridge, and soon found myself on the summit with the customary enormous iron cross draped with Catalan flags, and nobody else around.

The initial descent was fast down soft runnable snow, but then I cut across to the col north of Pic de Sotllo via a steep snow slope, and even steeper descent on the other side.  Once back on the snow it was easy but trackless descent into a dramatic bowl to drop out near the Refuge de Broate.

The section of trail below Ref. de Broate was awash with wild flowers, and once down to Pla de Boavi I took a late lunch stop before picking up the pista down to Tavascan.

I checked into the Hotel Llacs de Cardos and had a quiet evening.