ÀSSUA VALLEY FROM SORT
A very comprehensive, in-depth, and fascinating excursion that takes us deep into the Àssua Valley, following the old bridle paths that connected the small villages of Batlliu de Sort and the Àssua Valley with the rest of Catalonia. We begin the route in Sort, the capital of Pallars Sobirà, and climb to the village of Olp. Then we skirt the mountain through a wooded area to the hamlet of Altron, descend to the old Mola de Sall, where we cross the Pàmies River, and ascend to the picturesque villages of Sorre and Llessuí. We continue to Saurí, where we cross the Pàmies River again. A series of switchbacks along the shady side of the mountain bring us to the Trases pass, from where we begin a long descent to Bordes de Olp, the panoramic village of Pujalt, and finally, back to Sort.
If we want to discover the essence of Pallars Sobirà, its agricultural and livestock past, and the architecture of its small mountain villages, we can't miss this route. Despite being a physically demanding hike due to the distance and elevation gain, it offers several attractions: we enjoy fantastic views of Monteixo, Montsent de Pallars, and Torreta de l'Orri; we walk along beautiful historic paths (some of them recently restored); and we discover what life was like in these mountains not so long ago.
The best part of the route:
The magic of the Àssua Valley!
The views of Monteixo, Montsent de Pallars, and Torreta de l'Orri.
Refresh ourselves at the Batlliu de Sort and Valle de Àssua springs.
Discover the impressive network of paths that linked these villages in Pallars before the existence of cars.
Observe fallow deer in the wild.
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Duration:
Full day.
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Total effective time (without stops):
7:50 h in total: 3:45 h from the starting point to Llessuí and 4:05 h to return from this town to Sort passing through the Trases pass, the Bordes de Olp and Pujalt.
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Cumulative elevation gain:
1,265 m
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Difficulty:
Fair. The route presents no technical difficulties, but the physical demands of the route are considerable: the distance and the elevation gain are considerable. Caution is required on the stretch from the Bodoluixos ravine to the Trases pass, where the path is not clearly defined (we only found some trail traces, but they quickly disappeared). This route is not suitable for those inexperienced in the mountains.
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Season:
All year round. In winter, you have to get up early to take advantage of the daylight hours.
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Material:
Since there are many possibilities of seeing large and small birds of prey (griffon vulture, golden eagle, black and red kite, peregrine falcon...) and mammals such as fallow deer or roe deer, it is advisable to carry binoculars in your backpack.
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Cartography:
High Pyrenees Natural Park. 1:50,000. Alpina Publishing.
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Notes:
In winter, the shady areas are often frozen almost all day long. Along the route, we pass a large number of detours and frequently change paths. We also have to overcome a section with no defined path. For these reasons, it's important to pay close attention to your orientation and know how to interpret a map and/or GPS device.
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How to get there by car:
The starting point for the excursion is the Hotel Les Brases in Sort. We arrive in Sort via the C-13 highway. Hotel Les Brases is located on the C-13 highway, just off the northern exit from the town. There is plenty of free parking in front of the hotel.