Km Point Height Landmark Description 0 Km 1.280 M Starting from the Centre of Town Along with by Enchanting Music and Fireworks
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Organització Km point Height Landmark Description 0 km 1.280 m Starting from the centre of town along with by enchanting music and fireworks. We are surrounded by a crowd admiring our courage. It is the beginning of an unforgettable Ordino tour in the heart of Andorra. We follow the road for 900m to reach Sornàs, before taking a wide path, with some ascents and getting narrower. We cross the town of Ansalonga and get to La Cortinada. 3,5 km 1.330 m We take the time to appreciate the old houses and cobbled alleys. We get back to the path, which now follows the iron route, an old itinerary taken by the miners who delivered the ore to the forges located below. We skirt the village of Arans. The frontal La Cortinada allows us to admire the sculptures lining the road (we enjoy this ghostly beauty before getting into the, soon to come, serious matters). We leave the road through a narrow bridge on the left and start the first climb of the race crossing the village of Llorts. 5 km 1.440 m At the edge of the village, we turn left onto a paved road, the climbing gets hard until Llorts reaching a few typical houses; we then start a descent for nearly two kilometres before taking a steep climb to Coll de les Cases. 10 km 1.960 m Little flattening before taking a tough way up again with a 100m vertical gain. We reach Coll de les Cases a second port and take a path to go down again to the traditional houses of Prats Nous. 12 km 2.010 m The road becomes hilly and we follow a contour line before reaching a small Bordes dels descent. We leave the GRP, get onto a large level area that will take us to the Joan Prats Nous Canut refuge – Pla de l’Estany. Km point Height Landmark Description 15 km 2.060 m Refreshment point Smooth climb on a grassy path, the slope becomes steeper progressively before entering the pure mineral. We are facing an 880m climb for 3kms. Refugi Joan Canut Some big rocks, so be careful and watch your step. We arrive to a pass (collada del Pla de l'Estany forat dels Malhiverns). After 10 more minutes of a very technical climb we finally reach the summit of Andorra: the Comapedrosa peak at 2,942 m. We take the time to soak in the panorama. 17 km 2.942 m We tackle the descent cautiously over the rocks to get back to the previous small pass and start a long descent on a rocky path, skirting two lakes (the Estany Negre and the Pic del Estany Negre ponds). We keep being careful as we may be walking on snow. The slope Comapedrosa gets steeper, we cross a small stream to reach a level area. After a short climb we get to the Comapedrosa shelter. 21 km 2.367 m Refreshment point Upon leaving the shelter, take the GRP and walk along a rather Refugi del flat way for about 1km. Then, take a very steep climb up a stony path. We soon reach Comapedrosa the crest of Portella de Sanfons. 23 km 2.592 m Path with a gentle downward slope before rounding the Pic Negre and crossing the Portella de Sanfons "Coll Petit" pass; fast rise of 120m vertical to arrive on a ridge which we follow until the Port de Cabús. 27 km 2.302 m 3 km down through meadows to get to Setúria and go up the ski slopes to Coll de la Port de Cabús Botella Km point Height Landmark Description 31 km 2.047 m Refreshment point. We follow the GRP, the path becomes narrow, flattens and enters the forest. On our left hand side, we can see the peaks we will be trekking in a Coll de la Botella few hours. We cross the Pal slopes and enter the woods again before reaching the magnificent Montaner pass: we now walk on the Spanish border. 35 km 2.084 m Tough way up in the woods at first, in the rhododendrons then and finally on grass. We make it to the ridge and skirt it. If we are watchful, we may be able to spot some Collada de chamois and envy their agile manoeuvers on dizzying slopes. The views will again take Montaner our breath away, however, we keep on watching our step! We have reached the Bony de la Pica. 37 km 2.406 m Tricky and very technical descent into a lane. We need to be cautious and take Bony de la Pica advantage of this stretch to recover before reaching the small pass of Les Comes. 38 km 2.228 m Sharp descent through a narrow path in the woods: mind the roots! The woodland trail eventually meets a grassy path that takes us to the hamlet of Aixàs (it is private Les Comes property, so we need to make sure we do not disturb anyone). We can greet the friendly family that lives there if we meet them. Today they get to see more visitors than during the whole remaining year. 41 km 1.530 m After 50 m of asphalted road, we descend along fields down to a small lake before Aixàs starting the climb to Coll Jovell. Km point Height Landmark Description 42 km 1.582 m Enjoy the stunning view over the valley of Andorra la Vella and Escaldes before plunging into the valley where we soon reach the forest. The narrow path downhill gets steeper Coll Jovell and the forest thicker. Cross a small stream to arrive at a spring said to be aphrodisiac (if proven truth, please notify the organization team). We approach the first houses and, after 100 meters of asphalt, we arrive at the Margineda schools. 44 km 1.074 m Refreshment point and runners bags. We take the time to get changed and to feed ourselves peacefully. The public greets us. Upon leaving, we climb on a stoned La Margineda path before reaching the main road. We must be careful as the traffic may be dense. We arrive at the magnificent Romanesque Margineda bridge. 45 km 948 m We are at the lowest point of the trail, we cross the bridge and, after 800m of a flat path (which allows us to digest the supplies), we face a very steep path in the woods Pont de la (cami de Costa Seda). We then reach a small pass and we leave the Ronda trail on our Margineda right , after walking 200m, we reach the barns of Cortals de Manyat. 48 km 1.650 m We’ve already done half of the race’s total positive gain elevation. We go up through a quiet narrow path, cross some fields which used to be farmed, before going back into the forest for a hundred meters. After that, the vegetation gets scarce and the pendent Cortals de Manyat becomes even harder. We reach a mountain path , where we can run again while we follow a track that smoothly goes through a forest and ends at the Prat Primer refuge. 52 km 2.240 m Refugi de Prat We leave the refuge and immediately find a steep slope again. The path goes from Primer grassy to rocky until reaching the Bou Mort pass. 53 km 2.501 m We start a quick descent through a narrow rocky track, and then enter a grassy area; Coll del Bou Mort we cross a river and arrive at the Claror refuge. Km point Height Landmark Description 54 km 2.290 m Refreshment point. Quick descent followed by a level area, we cross a river and start a new climb on a rocky path that brings us to a magnificent lake (the most beautiful Refugi de Claror lake in Andorra according to many locals): the Estany de la Nou. Again, a gentle descent and another level area, as well as a stream before reaching the Perafita shelter. 57 km 2.200 m We have now covered half of the journey. We get back onto a rather tough climb Refugi de Perafita through the wood, which eventually gets gentler, allowing us to stretch our legs on a nice lawn. We arrive at a pass: the Collada de la Maiana. 59 km 2.424 m In front of us, the Madriu valley (named after the river at the bottom of the valley,) recognized as a world heritage site by the UNESCO. The descent starts on the lawn Collada de la before entering a forest, the slope gets quite steep and brings us to the bottom of the Maiana valley. Wonderful site which we cannot help admiring. We leave the GRP for about 100m to cross the Madriu. 61 km 2.035 m We run along the river on an easy path in the woods, we leave the forest gradually and go around a few small lakes. Do not forget to open your eyes and take the time to look Estall Serrer back, oblivious of the timer, to let the magnificent view soak in. The Illa refuge is just below the lake carrying the same name. 66 Km 2.485 m Refreshment point. We go along the Illa lake going smoothly up before getting Refugi de l’Illa onto a tough climb on a rocky path. When we finally get close to the ridge, the path gets flat to reach the Collada dels Pessons. 68 km 2.848 m Take a big breath and admire the 360º point of view.