Canfranc-Majada de Gabardito

Approach

ROAD ACCESS: The climb begins from the village of Canfranc, in the valley of Aragón and about 14 km north from Jaca (do not get confused with Canfranc-estación, placed some four kilometers north and home of the railroad station building). The closest province capitals are Pamplona and Huesca. The trip from Pamplona should be done by road N240 (road signs "Huesca") until the small village of Puente la Reina. Right after crossing Puente, on the other side of the Aragón river turn left to follow the signs to Jaca. From the city of Huesca it's all the way along road N330, crossing the Monrepós mountain pass to reach the city of Sabiñánigo and turning left there to get to Jaca in twenty kilometers more. There will be only fourteen kilometers left to go north, and right after crossing the village of Villanúa and the road tunnel after it you shall be in sight of Canfranc. Do not get confused with the settlement known (and marked in the road signs) as "Canfranc Estación", for such is kind of the railroad station quarter of Canfranc. Your trailhead is Canfranc, plainly, the first village after Villanúa.
In order to get to Canfranc from France, start from the town of Oloron Ste-Marie and follow the road to the spanish border, south, all along the Vallée d'Aspe. You may cross the new road tunnel of Somport in order to get a shorter trip, but the old road across the mountain pass offers fine views of the Pyrenees. It's your choice!

NEAREST MAJOR AIRPORTS: Zaragoza / Barcelona (307 km)

RAILWAY ACCESS: The nearest rail stations are the ones at Sabiñánigo and Jaca, thirty to fourty kilometers away from Astún. Additional transport will therefore be required. Check the link page ("Autobuses Valle del Aragón").

Route Description

Start walking from Canfranc. If coming by car you can find a couple of spots to park in just after entering the village by its south side. You must cross the road and begin walking by an old farmhouse placed at the southernmost end of Canfranc. An obvious path begins there, indicated by red-and-white paint marks. The path soon enters a forest and keeps winding across it for about 45 to 60 minutes, depending on your speed. After that time you will come out to a dirt road grossly driving north and south. Take right (north) on this dirt road and keep following it for about 20 additional minutes until it opens up and places you at the Majada de Gabardito. This is a wide grassy area placed under the slopes of Las Blancas (left) and La Magdalena (right), a couple of two-thousanders standing in front of you. The hut of Gabardito is placed in front of you, just before a deep ravine formed between the two mountains. You can reach the hut in five to ten additional minutes walking westwards.
After the hut, cross the ravine behind it and follow the obvious path north/northwest. It will lead you into a pine forest and across two additional ravines, to end in a steep climb of a grassy slope leading to the second pasture of the route: majada de Lecherines. This shall be the moment to turn right (north/northeast) and head for a small couloir placed between two rocky cliffs. Follow that couloir upwards until it splits in two, and get going northwest in that moment. The entrance of the cave shall be obvious soon. If you're not interested in the Cave of Lecherines, but wish to bag the summit of Peña Blanca as soon as possible, turn right (northeast) at the splitting point of the couloir.

Essential Gear

The hike to the entrance of the cave does not call for any special equipment. Nevertheless, winter conditions do require appropriate equipment. Walking poles might be useful for the long way down and headlamp and crampons are strongly (and obviously) recommended if you wish to enter the cave.

Some GPS waypoints

Canfranc village: 42º 43.12 N / 00º 31.28 W
Majada de Gabardito: 42º 43.18 N / 00º 32.10 W
Ice cave of Lecherines: 42º 44.49 N / 00º 32.16 W

Images

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