If at the time that many are put on the pajamas you are dressing with ski clothes is that something extraordinary will happen. And what better from Maundy Thursday evening to the mountain to walk with snowshoes under the full moon? Today occur, or so meteorologists presage, The best possible conditions: The wind does not bother and there is no fog or rainfall is foreseen. But, nevertheless, You cannot prevent a tingling of restlessness from traveling your stomach. Beside me, in the car, My nine -year -old son travels, that today fits some rackets for the first time. Impossible to think of a better premiere.
While we upload the port of Somport, El Antiguo high Port Romano, The thermometer is slowly descending until it stops, in the parking lot of Candanchú, In some benigns 2nd. Crowded until a few hours ago of skiers, Now look lonely, One more incentive to look for snow shelter from the moon. There are no more cars than the three in which we have uploaded this small group of nine people, four of them children.
What better than going to dusk towards the mountain to walk with snow rackets under the full moon?
While we put the rackets and warm, We keep the lights of the vehicles on. The circuit starts between the big track box office and the Mountain Military School, Right to the right of the sled track. It is marked and is wide. No loss. After ten o'clock at night, We get in motion, At first with the fronts lit, that we soon turn off because the clarity of the moon is overwhelming. It is the only artificial light that will light us in the next three hours.
The snow is hard, in perfect condition to save a small slope that borders a water tank. Only the rags of rackets on snow and broken breaths are heard, that exhale the characteristic vaho. Past, Only our elongated shadows as if it were the morning sun that project them on the mountain. It is a special moment, one of those that paladas with the conviction that, often, Life is willing to give ourselves much more than we dare to sweep.
Only the rags of rackets on snow and broken breaths are heard
To our left, The road goes to the east, in the direction of the border with France. But, We deviate to the right and begin to gain height, at the beginning softly, Until a small picnic, Already on Gallic floor, With exceptional views, calculate that almost 1.700 meters. The Aragon Valley It opens in front of us surrounded by its Pyrenean summits, a panoramic view to which the night has superimposed a Cinderella gauze that does not prevent, however, clearly distinguish your summits. On the slopes of Tobazo The lights of the quotanyese machines that work during the night to leave the clues in ideal conditions for the skiers move.
Past, Only our elongated shadows as if it were the morning sun that project them on the mountain
A small snack for the little ones and we continue by the foothills of the ASPE VALLEY, Now for a narrow mark on a half hillside for which my son stays somewhat lagging and even loses a cane that slides down and forces me to descend a few meters to recover it. Saved this slope we meet immediately with the track that goes back to the With De Bessata. It is already midnight and before continuing we divide: While three adults return with children to cars, The rest we continue to complete the route. The course is clear: Down there are the lights of the Self-Service of Candanchú.
The Aragon Valley opens in front of us, As if in the middle there was an Cinderella gauze
We resume the march when we make sure that the group walks in the right direction. Now we walk at more alive rhythm and after reaching the hill, With the top of the Raca, in Astún, and the station lights shining in the distance in front of us, The track runs by French soil silhouette a bird protection area, A sanctuary where the urogallo nests.
Forty -five minutes after separating ourselves from the rest of the group we are again in the parking lot. It is almost one in the morning. The thermometer continues to mark 2nd. We have stayed in a station cafeteria to take a hot chocolate, But everything is closed in Candanchú at this time. We tried luck in Canfranc and Electrician With identical success. At one thirty in the morning we are again in Pony. The full moon continues to illuminate the night.
