Fabien with Pico Arriel behind

Every time I open the shutters in my flat I see the Pico Arriel at the head of the Valle de Tena on the French border. I’ve wanted to climb it for ages but with the summit covered in snow for most of the year hadn’t got round to it until this week. So glad I did as it was a fabulous hike with a good scramble up the summit ridge.

On the summit ridge - a fairly easy but sustained and really enjoyable scramble

Autumn is definitely setting in and the woods around Sallent de Gallego are particularly colourful. Our route started in these woods before climbing out into a surprisingly grassy meadow with fantastic views south back down the Valle de Tena.

Emerging from the woods into the high alpine meadows

The weather was great at the start of the day butthe mist closed in as we started up a steep scree field to a col on the French border. From here the fun started as we scrambled up the ridge to the summit. It was a good scramble – not too exposed or difficult but enjoyable and fairly long with a cpuple hundred of metres of ascent.

On the ridge near to the summit of Pico Arriel

There was a dusting of snow and the rocks were pretty slick in the mist so we had to take care. The clouds opened up several times to give us great views of the Ibones de Arriel on the Spanish side  (a popular hike on our Peaks & Passes walking holidays) and the Lacs d’Arremoulit on the French side of the border.

The refugio and Lacs d'Arremoulit from Pico Arriel

Sadly we didn’t have any summit views and I’ll definitely be doing this route again as the views of Balaitus and Pico Palas would be great in good weather.

Fabien on the summit of Pico Arriel

We descended by the same route passing this fabulous rowan tree with great autumn colours. A dood day – next week we’re hoping to get in Pic du Midi d’Ossau – another summit I’ve been meaning to do for ages.

A rowan with fabulous autumn colours