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Wednesday, April 06, 2022

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. Jai Alai Court? - Hiking to the Summit of  Puig Tomir - Lluc, Mallorca, Spain

Then a section of the old Roman Road. On the Old Roman Road - Hiking to the Summit of  Puig Tomir - Lluc, Mallorca, Spain

Plenty of signage along the GR221. Hiking to the Summit of  Puig Tomir - Lluc, Mallorca, Spain

We walk through the hamlet of Menut. Menut - Hiking to the Summit of  Puig Tomir - Lluc, Mallorca, Spain Sheep - Hiking to the Summit of  Puig Tomir - Lluc, Mallorca, Spain

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. Hiking to the Summit of  Puig Tomir - Lluc, Mallorca, Spain

At one point there is a chain plus metal handles to get us up through a rock "funnel". Hiking to the Summit of  Puig Tomir - Lluc, Mallorca, Spain Hiking to the Summit of  Puig Tomir - Lluc, Mallorca, Spain

Once above the "funnel", it's a 1km walk across a rock field to the "summit pole" with great views in all directions. Hiking to the Summit of  Puig Tomir - Lluc, Mallorca, Spain Hiking to the Summit of  Puig Tomir - Lluc, Mallorca, Spain Hiking to the Summit of  Puig Tomir - Lluc, Mallorca, Spain View to Alcudia - Hiking to the Summit of  Puig Tomir - Lluc, Mallorca, Spain

The summit pole is in sight! 1103 meters = 3619 feet. Hiking to the Summit of  Puig Tomir - Lluc, Mallorca, Spain Hiking to the Summit of  Puig Tomir - Lluc, Mallorca, Spain

John at the summit with Alcudia (our next stop - stay tuned) in the distance. The  Summit of  Puig Tomir  (1103 meters = 3619 feet) - Lluc, Mallorca, Spain

Heading down from the rocky summit. Hiking to the Summit of  Puig Tomir - Lluc, Mallorca, Spain

Walking down past the scree slope. Hiking to the Summit of  Puig Tomir - Lluc, Mallorca, Spain Hiking to the Summit of  Puig Tomir - Lluc, Mallorca, Spain

The colorful ubiquitous chaffinch. Chaffinch - Hiking to the Summit of  Puig Tomir - Lluc, Mallorca, Spain

Back down and heading home on the GR221. Hiking to the Summit of  Puig Tomir - Lluc, Mallorca, Spain

Sun-Ling gets over the stile. Hiking to the Summit of  Puig Tomir - Lluc, Mallorca, Spain

A view down to the our home, the Lluc Santuary. Hiking to the Summit of  Puig Tomir - Lluc, Mallorca, Spain

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

2 comments:

Liz said...

The climbing looks fun!

john said...

Yes, fun! The Uphill/ downhill sections are pretty short, and thus neither tedious nor exhausting. Fun.

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