SJP - Pico’s Mountain Challenge - 2016

Challenge Overview Straddled across the twin provinces of and Cantabria in Northern , the Picos Mountains are nothing short of breath- taking. Thousands of years of erosion and geological activity have created soaring limestone towers, and plunging cavernous gorges. This really is and awesome part of the world and well worth a visit.

From the tip of the range’s highest peak (2 648m), to the raging Rio , this amazingly compact range of mountains offers everything we are looking for in a ‘mountain getaway’. Also known as a fine reserve of wildlife it will certainly be possible to see a great variety of birdlife including broad winged vultures, eagles and certainly mountain goat, and possibly wild deer, but other sightings are strong possibilities. The under- growth in summer is alive with wriggling lizards. Your trip will be an unforgettable introduction to Adventure in this inspiring high mountain environment. How To Book!!

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Adventure Itinerary Adventure Itinerary cont

Day 1 3rd June 16’ - Meet Bilbao Airport latest by 12:00. Day 3 Cont…. Transfer to Poncebos. Begin trek down the famous Cares gorge for afternoon drinks in Cain. From Cain we will trek Arrival into Sotres is expected by 18:00 allowing time to relax back to Poncebos and transfer back to the fascinating before you evening celebrations that are sure to go late into the mountain village of Poncebos our base for the evening be- night. fore departing high into the Picos the next day! Day 4 - 6th June 16 - Depart Sotres 09:00 transfer back to Day 2 - 4th June 16 - Depart Hotel 08:30 and transfer to Bilbao Airport for your journey back to the UK Poncebos where we will begin our trek into the Picos. Your first coffee stop will be in the beautiful mountain vil- lage of Bulnes, which is only accessible by foot or funicular Weather railway. From Bulnes you start your climb towards your Most likely is glorious hot temperatures and warm sunshine, overnight accommodation, Refugio Vega Urriellu Located although rain and overcast conditions are surprisingly common high in the mountains (1903m) for an estimated arrival by here for Spain. This is due to the proximity of the Atlantic. Be 17:00. You arrival should be just in time to watch the sun prepared for all weather conditions especially if heading into the set over the magnificent Limestone cliffs of the Naranjo de mountains.. Bulnes. There may also be time for an optional short walk to explore these beautiful mountain surroundings before Accommodation the sun go’s down. Expect to be trekking to high passes of 2250m - with epic views across incomparable mountain Night 1 - Hotel in the mountain village of Poncebos. scape. Night 2 - High Adventure in the mountains - wild and away Day 3 - 5th June 16 - Depart Lodge 08:30. Further trek from it all at the Vega Urriellu mountain refuge in the heart of into high Picos mountains, climbing to over 2250m beneath the Picos. Simple standard, and simple food. the stunning & awe inspiring Picu Urriellu - before departing back to the village of Sotres for the evening! Night 3 – Hotel in the Mountain Town of Sotres with hot showers and great food.

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Trip Notes Document SJP - Pico’s Mountain Challenge - 2016

What is the Picos Mountain Challenge Like?

The Picos Mountain Challenge will take you deep into the heart of this spectacular limestone mountain range. Expect to hiking up to 9 hours each day on uneven mountainous terrain. The trails that we will be using are good quality well defined trails. During the trek you will experience a variety of different trails from rocky steps, loose scree, muddy trail through alpine meadow as well as wood- land trail. We strongly recommend the use of walking poles to as- sist with moving over this terrain.

Pack light to help with your ascent. You will need to be more resil- ient - due to simple living conditions - ie using the same clothes for two days, using basic washing facilities and eating simple food - this forms an integral part of the challenge.

How Fit Do I need to be?

You need to have good endurance for these events. You must be used to doing very long walks in the countryside - 7 Medical Issues hours + . You should be doing regular exercise - possibly with some running. Your running speed will be around 11-12 min- Please note, it is extremely important for this physical chal- ute miling, and you should be able to run a minimum of 4 lenge that you are in good health. If you have any pre- miles. If you do not run, you should be concentrating on existing medical conditions, please consider carefully other types of exercise - but for longer periods of time (ie whether you should be joining the challenge. Please ensure sessions in excess of 1.5 hrs.) - these other forms of exercise you fill in the booking form accurately and honestly, this is should be at a moderate to high level. important. In the case of serious conditions (epilepsy, diabe- tes, heart conditions, recent illness or operations), please discuss the challenge with your GP. Please also ensure you Included From Trip notify us of any allergies or similar.

Transfers, All Accommodation (B&B), Guides and information You should be used to walking reasonable distances each pack as prepared by Adventure Café, Packed Lunches x 3 + day to contemplate this trek. It requires stamina and good Dinner x 3 aerobic fitness - but good willpower will also come in handy! Failure to disclose medical conditions is a serious omission - Excluded From Trip that could have serious repercussions on any of our chal- lenges International Airfares - please ask if you require assistance with flights and we should be able to offer well priced flights with good connections. Excludes transfers in UK to airport (Lift Share may be available expect to share costs on Parking at Airport.

Location Map of Arenas de Cabrales in Spain

Flying in to Bilbao Airport we have approximately a 1.5 hr drive to the small town of Arenas de Cabrales. ‘Arenas’ as it is known is per- fectly positioned at the foot of the highest mountains. Our base hotel has an awesome view of the high range including Mt. Torrecerredo the highest in the region. The region is also home to the tasty ‘Cabrales’ cheese – be sure to sample this and the local Chorizo before returning home!

The start of the trek is no more than fifteen minutes drive from our base hotel.

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Trip Notes Document SJP - Pico’s Mountain Challenge - 2016

Visas / Redtape Equipment Required

When travelling abroad you may require a Visa. Please check Medikit the Travcour website (www.travcour.com) for up to date Water Purification Tablets, Suncream, Blister Repair Kit Visa information. Here they can advise you on the best ac- Plasters, Vaseline, Rehydration Salts tion to take. If you require further information please don't Painkillers, Sunbloc, Insect Repellant hesitate to contact the Café. Washkit Pack Towel (lifesystems recommended), Soap (small bar) Shampoo (not a full size bottle!) Toothbrush, Toothpaste (small size)

Hill Walking Items Sleeping Bag - 2/3 season rated to 0° C comfort rating or sleeping bag liner (silk or cotton) Medium Sized Rucksack - lined with waterproof bags Rucksack Liner(s) / Plastic Liner(s) for Rucksack Bladder System (highly recommended - or other water bot- tles e.g. exercise bottle/Nalgene bottle) Walking Poles (highly recommended) Sun Hat (wide brimmed), Neck Scarf Snack Foods - we recommend good slow burning items - nuts, dried fruit, cereal bars etc

Warm Clothing Lightweight Fleece, Medium Weight Fleece, Lightweight Gloves Heavy Gloves (mitten type recommended), Fleece Hat

Trek Clothing Safety Information Long Cotton Trekking Trousers, 1 Pair Tracksuit Bottoms Comfortable Trekking Shirts (long/short sleeved) By nature all activities contain an element of risk. Your leader will be Walking Boots (broken in with ankle protection) first aid qualified and will carry the appropriate safety kit for the Walking Socks, Liner Socks activity, such as mountain safety shelters, walking rope and from Underwear, 1 Change of Casual Evening Wear time to time mobile radios. Safety equipment carried will be appro- priate to trip. The leader's primary role is to ensure your safety, but Waterproofs it is your responsibility to listen to their guidance and instructions. Outer Fully Waterproof Jacket (Gore-tex, E-vent) Outer Waterproof Bottoms 1. Please ensure that you follow leaders instructions at all times. 2. There are some limited sections of scrambling (which could be avoided if the group really wants to) – please discuss this with the leader. It Other may be that the leader uses a rope to assist participants and to keep people Toilet Roll / Pack of Travel Tissues, Spare Lace safe. Camera, Film / Memory Card / Spare Battery 3. When trekking in the gorge there are sections where you must be Travel Documents, EHIC Travel Card fully focused. It is a very exciting trek – but needs to be taken seriously. Please listen to your leader for team orders on this one! At these times – Travel Insurance (compulsory) please walk single file only and always remain on the inside of the trail – Passport especially when crossing paths with other walkers. If you need to stop to Wallet, Credit Cards, Cash allow others to pass then please do so… it is safer than pushing past on the outside. Sunglasses, Spare Comfortable Shoes 4. Please ensure you bring your waterproofs (both leggings and tops) Penknife, Mobile Phone (packed in a plastic bag deep inside just in case! your day pack!) 5. Please remain well hydrated throughout the challenge – we recom- Emergency Rations (energy foods - for the tough days on mend Nuun Tablets to assist in remaining hydrated. www.nuun.com trek) 6. Please ensure you line your rucsac with a plastic liner. This is par- ticularly important – as you need to ensure that your sleeping bag remains Head Torch with spare batteries and bulb dry.

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Trip Notes Document SJP - Pico’s Mountain Challenge - 2016

Gallery and Regional Information

Arguably the finest small range of mountains in Europe, The Picos D’Europa certainly pack a punch – rising dramati- cally up from the Northern Coast of Spain they are criss-crossed by dramatic valleys, and soar to towering heights. The highest Peak is the Torrecerredo at 2648m, whilst probably the most spectacular is the awesome Naranjo de Bulnes – a mighty slab of limestone towering above a potential nightstop on any Adventure Café trek in the region – the Refugio J. Delgado Ubeda; a classic night in the mountains.

TYPICAL TREKKING ROUTES:

Day 1:

Day 2:

High Picos Extension Trekking Options:

Day 3:

The Cares Gorge – marked in Orange is simply unmissable…. A towering slot through the heart of the mountains

The Trek to Bulnes (Blue) is a great short trek and may be combined with the funicular railway for a rapid return journey if you’re in a hurry…

The Onwards Trek up to the Refuge (blue) below Naranjo de Bulnes is tough – but incredibly spectacular. And well worth the overnight stay!

Contact Adventure Cafe Frogmary Green Farm West Street South Petherton Somerset TA13 5DJ www.adventure-cafe.com

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Trip Notes Document SJP - Pico’s Mountain Challenge - 2016

Payment Protection Policy cover: CLAIMS PROCEDURE:

In accordance with "The Package Travel, Package Holidays and Package Download Claims Form from www.ipplondon.co.uk Tours Regulations 1992" all passengers booking with Adventure Cafe are fully protected for the initial deposit and subsequently the balance of Any occurrence which may give rise to a claim should be ad- all monies paid to us, including repatriation if required, arising from vised within 14 days to: cancellation or curtailment of your travel arrangements due to the in- solvency of Adventure Cafe. International Passenger Protection Limited There is no requirement for Financial Protection of day trips, and none Claims Office Telephone: +44 (0)20 is provided. 8776 3752 Consumer aware: Your booking is insured by IPP Ltd and its panel of IPP House Fax: +44 (0)20 8776 insurers. - This insurance is only valid for passengers who book and pay 3751 directly with/to Adventure Cafe. If you have booked and/ or paid direct 22-26 Station Road to a Travel Agent for a holiday with Adventure Cafe please request West Wickham proof of how the booking is secured as this will not be covered by IPP Kent BR4 0PR United Kingdom Ltd in this instance. For further information please go to www.ipplondon.co.uk In order to deal promptly with any claim hereunder it is essen- This Insurance has been arranged by International Passenger Protection tial that you retain all bills, receipts and other documents relat- Limited and underwritten by Insurers who are members of the Associa- ing to your travel arrangements tion of British Insurers & Lloyds Syndicates. CLAIM FORMS MUST BE SUBMITTED WITHIN SIX MONTHS OF DATE OF INSOLVENCY. WE CANNOT CONSIDER OR

The tour is offered and operated by Adventure Café Ltd. 7. If you do not pay the full balance for your trip on time (8 Our head office is at Adventure Café, Frogmary Green Farm, weeks pre-departure) then your trip will be cancelled, and your deposit will not be refunded. South Petherton, Somerset. TA13 5DJ. 8. A trip may be cancelled. This will be notified to the customer 1. To make a firm booking you must complete the at the latest 8 weeks pre-departure. A Full refund will be given booking form, complete with answers to all ques- in this instance, but no compensation will be due. tions, and send us a deposit as per the outline in the 9. If Adventure Café are forced to significantly alter, reschedule, trip notes. (Usually 15%) or cancel a trip due to factors reasonably foreseeable to our- selves, then the following will apply, you may: 2. If the trip is due to depart within 8 weeks, then full payment is required. If the trip is more than 8 weeks • Take a lower cost alternative—along with a refund of away then only the deposit is required (15%) the difference. 3. Deposits paid, are not refundable. However, the • Take an equally, or higher priced alternative. amount may be transferred on to another trip if the • Request a refund of monies paid trip is more than 8 weeks away at the Café’s discre- tion. A small fee may be payable for the transfer of We shall notify you as soon as the situation becomes apparent. You must reply promptly with your chosen option. Compensa- the booking. tion may also be due, in the instance where Adventure Café 4. After Payment in full, if you, the client cancel your cancels a trip due to foreseeable factors. trip the following refunds will apply: If a trip is cancelled due to factors outside of Adventure Café’s 56—43 days pre departure—60% refund of total trip cost control. No compensation will be given. 10. Prices quoted can change up until 30 days before departure. 42—29 days pre departure—40% refund of total trip cost These surcharges may be passed on to the customer. Down- 15—28 days pre departure—25% refund of total trip cost wards revision in prices could result in a refund to the cus- Less than 15 days pre departure—10% of total trip cost tomer. Areas that could trigger such price revisions are as fol- Less than 7 days pre departure—0% of total trip cost lows: You are also required to provide written confirmation of Transport cost variations Transport dues, taxes or levies (airport taxes, park permits etc) cancellation. Exchange rate fluctuations Such increases will not be levied unless the impact is greater 6. If you are not able to travel on your holiday due to than a swing of 2% in the trip cost. genuine factors beyond your control, then you may transfer your booking to another person subject to certain administrative charges.

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Trip Notes Document SJP - Pico’s Mountain Challenge - 2016

11. For full details on any of Adventure Café’s itineraries, 18. For overseas trips you must be covered by Travel please consult our trip dossier on your chosen trip. All Insurance before joining the trip. This is your respon- standard statutory required information is included sibility to organise appropriate cover. Make sure that therein. you are covered for activities included. 12. In the case of a significant change being made to your itinerary by Adventure Café, you are able to take any of 19. Adventure Café’s responsibility for you on the the options outlined in item 9. Significant change means a trip begins, where an air journey is involved, at the change in flight timings either at the beginning or end of destination airport. Adventure Café takes no respon- your trip by 24 hrs or more. It also means a major change sibility for getting you to the beginning of the trip. to your itinerary. Similarly in the UK, Adventure Café takes no respon- 13. VISAs are the responsibility of the individual to ar- sibility for getting you to the start of a trip. range. Adventure Café takes no part in making such ar- rangements. 14. Advice is given on matters such as equipment selec- tion, Health, Visa and Passport arrangements—but it re- mains the responsibility of the individual to make such necessary arrangements.

15. Trekking, Biking, and Open Canoeing are all inher- 20. Address any complaints firstly directly to your ently mildly hazardous activities. Whilst on your trip, you tour leader. Explain the cause of your complaint, and undertake to follow the instructions given to you by your attempt to rectify it in situ. If this is not possible, and leader. Their decisions are at all times final. If you do not you feel it may detract from your holiday, then please follow the leader’s instruction, and your behaviour is dan- contact Adventure Café head office directly, to see if gerous, or irresponsible, then you may be requested to anything can be done to remedy the situation. On leave the trip, with no cost penalty to Adventure Café. return form trip, in the case of a complaint, please write to Adventure Café, including a full description 16. Inherent in an Adventure Holiday is the possibility of events. Please request our complaints procedure. that your clothing or equipment may suffer some damage. All complaints should be received at the very latest Equally you may experience minor injury (scratches, by Adventure Café by 28 days after the end of your grazes, twisted ankles etc) - these minor injuries and holiday. property damage are an unavoidable component of the 21. Adventure Café or representatives may request type of trips that Adventure Café operates. You should to see your insurance documents at any time. understand this before joining an Adventure Café trip. 22. By signing the booking form you agree to the above set out terms and conditions.

17. Alterations in the itinerary are also a more frequent occurrence than on a regular holiday. Particularly in a developing country, timetables slip, road conditions can be variable, weather can interfere with a schedule, as well as many other factors. Hence alterations to the itinerary are common. At all times , your ground leader will at- tempt in conjunction with the local operator acting on behalf of Adventure Café to perform the trip as faithfully as is reasonably possible. At all times, safe performance of the trip is considered before completing the itinerary at

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Trip Notes Document