Puig Tomir Summit

I had much trepidation undertaking this hike. It's actually not particularly long or high, but the last 400m of ascend is steep and through scree (scree in particular gives me anxiety, disturbs my sleep, makes my knee weak). At the same time, I fear it is one of those now-or-never situations, never mind it is our 4th hike in five days.

The hike turned out to be every bit as hard as I expected, especially going down. With some help from John, I was elated to have bagged the peak. On the way up we were passed by two young men who never came back. They must have descended on some equally or even more difficult paths. On the way down, we came across ten or so of our contemporaries headed up.

Even though it was not a particularly clear day, at the summit we could see the whole north coast of the island, as well the various towns we had bused through. After we got off the peak, we felt well enough to return to The Sanctuary on the GR221, instead of the road we came on as advised by Park Services. Compared to summiting, we felt walking on the GR221 was like sightseeing.

It's not every day you start a hike by walking past a Jai Alai court.

Then a section of the old Roman Road.

Plenty of signage along the GR221.

We walk through the hamlet of Menut.

After walking on the GR221 for 15 minutes or so we take a sharp left and head up through the forest, and out beside and across the scree.

At one point there is a chain plus metal handles to get us up through a rock "funnel".

Once above the "funnel", it's a 1km walk across a rock field to the "summit pole" with great views in all directions.

The summit pole is in sight! 1103 meters = 3619 feet.

John at the summit with Alcudia (our next stop - stay tuned) in the distance.

Heading down from the rocky summit.

Walking down past the scree slope.

The colorful ubiquitous chaffinch.

Back down and heading home on the GR221.

Sun-Ling gets over the stile.

A view down to the our home, the Lluc Santuary.

Walking along the no-longer-in-use pilgrim cells at the Santuary. The Virgin with Child image in the Sanctuary Church.

Puig Roig Circuit

From Soller we transferred (bus -> train! -> bus) to our next base at LLuc. Though not even a village, the LLuc monastery having been a pilgrim destination in the past, now runs a hotel, and there is a bus that delivered us right there.

Having learned our lesson with crossing private land, we checked with the Park Headquarters at Lluc. The Puig Roig (Mount Roig) circuit can only be done on Sundays, when the gates through two different farms (one towards the beginning, and one towards the end) are open for hikers. Needlessly to say, I was oblivious when I made our reservation for Saturday through Tuesday. Our Sunday program is now clear.

The hike was very interesting, that it went through so many different terrain - valleys with olive groves, rocky coasts with stupendous views, long stretches wading through the high grass, and the asphalt highway's stream of cyclists - a panorama of what I think of as Mallorca hiking. We encountered only a few dozen hikers, fewer than I had expected, considering it can only be done once a week.

Catching the train to Inca at Palma Station (Sun-Ling w/red bag).

View from the train to rocky peaks in the west.

We got off the train at Inca Station and caught a bus to Lluc. On the steep uphill of Coll de sa Batalla we passed one cyclist after the other.

At the Sanctuary in Lluc, we had a cell room in this building.

Getting started on the Puig Poig circuit.

Part of the circuit is on the road shared with sheep and cyclists. ;-)

We turn off the paved road, through the normally locked gate, and around Puig Roig.

First through a working farm.

We take a snack break with a view to the valley on the other side of Puig Roig. We'll walk through it from right to left in a few hours. Sun-Ling making progress up to the pass.

Short video of the beginning of the pass.

A view to the sea before we veer to the left. Check out the hiker in the red jacket ahead of us.

Parts of the trail are easy walking.

The back side of Puig Roig is along the rocky coast. There is a lot of tall grass and it's not always easy to see the trail.

The last 5 miles of this 13.7 mile walk are on a paved road through a beautiful valley.

The usually-locked gate on this side. Still a few miles to go



View as we exit the valley.