En France, je pense

Following the excellent outing on Friday to the summit of Pic de Coma Pedrosa, the highest peak in Andorra, I took another rest day on Saturday with the intention of a final run on the Sunday. It was clear that the weather was due to turn the following day with rain and thunderstorms throughout the day. I had been very fortunate with the window of weather I had experienced so I was keen to make most of the last reliable day.

I had spent a good while on Saturday trying to select a route as I did not have anything pre-prepared. I did not feel the need to cover any great distance, nor did I feel compelled to climb again to any great altitude. What I really wanted was to run, at least more than I had done on the trip thus far. So, I needed something with kinder elevation, easier path underfoot whilst still exploiting the scenery and landscape to full advantage. In a nutshell, a fun run.

Here’s what I came up with.

I breakfasted well then caught the bus for a good distance up the main road towards the French border. The journey took about half an hour, and I alighted at the bend in the road between the small ski towns of El Tarter and Soldeu.

This junction is the start of the Vall D’Incles, a short but very picturesque valley which leads north from the main road and is very popular with day walkers. There is a little electric bus/buggy thing that plies the valley road to the carpark at the road end, but I was here to run and the tarmac road up the valley undulates nicely rather than being a steep climb. The road run would be a good, easy warm-up before the off-road part commenced.

I started up the road, thoroughly enjoying the run and the pastoral landscape of the valley.

It is less than two miles to the road end and soon enough I was climbing up the initially steep path that leaves the Vall D’Incles itself and rises up into the Manegor river valley.

After the initial steeper section, the path levelled off and although rocky, the path was runnable with due care and attention. I enjoyed moving quickly over the ground with the light pack. I had also only half-filled my soft flasks as there was water all along the route so no need to carry a full load at any time.

I stopped briefly at the bridge where the pasture flattened off beside the river then pressed on towards the pass above.

The gradient was kind, the path only technical in places and it was possible to run some of the uphill. I knew the pass was at just over 2,200 metres so it was not a great distance or hardship to reach the top.

The pass is known by two names, the Port d’Incles or Port de Fontargent. The linguistic anomaly is easily explicable as the pass lies bang on the border between Andorra and France. My goal lay beyond so a stealth border crossing was required to continue the run.

Below the pass on the French side lie the Estanys de Fontargent, the lakes that give the pass their French name. I paused to take in the view from the pass although the tranquility of the experience was somewhat marred by the large, guided group of French walkers with whom I was sharing the moment.

I moved on, so as not to get caught behind the group on the more technical downhill to the lakes. This was a rockier affair but only a short distance and before long, I was running on the smoother path alongside the larger of the lakes. I ran to the far side of the lake, mainly to enjoy the run itself but also to get a view back with the jagged peaks to the east of the lakes as a backdrop.

I sat briefly at the lake and enjoyed the view then turned back for the return.

The climb back up to the pass took no time at all and I even exchanged a few ‘bonjours’ with our French friends in a gesture of heart-warming bonhomie.  

I was looking forward to the next part in the knowledge that everything from the pass to the end was runnable.

The trail was bone dry and although I wasn’t throwing caution completely to the wind, I didn’t hang about on the downhill. It was great to run, to dodge around and launch off the rocks and to move quickly.

The final steeper section arrived and although this was more technical, I twisted quickly around the final switchbacks and sped down the last gravel slope to the road. Great fun and trail running at its best!

I took some water from the river, finished a gel pack, then set off for the return leg back to the main road. I made great time as I was fully warmed up and the road is an average downhill on the return. It felt great to be running, even if it was on tarmac, and I was actually sorry when the main road arrived and my outing was at an end.  

Not a long run, nor an arduous one but it was exactly what I had been looking for. Actually, it surpassed my expectations and for me it was a great end to the Andorra trip which had commenced with such mixed fortunes.

Overall, I did enjoy the whole trip, despite some of those more miserable times in the first couple of days. Andorra is not a place often visited and I doubt I will ever return but I am glad to have seen and experienced it.

I have run once already since my return and I could feel the increased strength and endurance in my legs as a consequence of those hard, mountain miles. All very valuable experience and training.