The Tiatordos peak, also known by hikers as the perfect mountain, is the most emblematic elevation of the mountainous system of the Cordal de Ponga that divides the councils of Caso and Ponga, in the Redes Natural Park. With a height of 1.951 meters offers us an unrepeatable route. We must overcome for it a considerable difference, of some 1.300 meters, along some 6 kilometers of walk one way and others 6 of return. It is a demanding route that requires a good physical shape and that It is not suitable for children. We must do it in good weather and on a clear day. It will take us about 8 hours to complete, including rest stops. It is better not to go too loaded, or to go fully loaded but full of spirits.
The route will be "perfect" like the mountain's nickname, since the effort is linked to the discovery of imposing beech galleries, wild cherry trees, ash, dreamy sheep, crystal clear fountains, narrow foxes and beautiful lapiaces.
Tiatordos from Pendones
We leave the vehicle in the public parking of town of Pendones. A beautiful village of Caso, at 700 meters of altitude, which is famous for its mother-mother tradition. Before or after the ascension to the Tiatordos it is worth a visit without haste to the Workshop of the Mother, inaugurated in 1999. The route that leaves from Pendones is very well marked at the main crossroads, so on a clear day it does not present any orientation difficulties. We take the road that goes to the NE parallel to the river, flanked by trees and green meadows with abundant cattle, cows and sheep. The trail initially coincides with the path PR-AS 65 but shortly after passing the bridge over the river you have to leave it (approximately 1 km from the starting point) taking the path to the left; shortly after there is another fork, in this case we take the path to the right until we reach a group of well-appointed cabins that we leave on our left (Sen de la Vara) and, without leaving the path, we arrive at the beginning of the Foz de la Palombar.
Rise to Tiatordos
We ascend through this foz looking for the most appropriate steps. The climb is marked with landmarks painted on the limestone. We travel approximately 1 kilometer and we overcome a few 400 meters of unevenness. It is a gorge that runs close to the channel of a stream of large limestone rocks, between the vertical walls of the Arcu and Palombar peaks. After overcoming this narrow passage (in which we have spent almost an hour) we enter a small forest that leads us to the Majada de Palombar, where can we refresh in the existing source. We rested a few minutes and we continued walking. From here we already spotted the Tiatordos. We take the path to the left of the fountain and continue along the track that leads to the Tiatordos sheepfold - unmistakable for its abandoned cabins. We have taken an hour and a half since we left the gorge.
Network Park
After delighting the view in the sheepfold and making a small and necessary rest, we return to the top of the Tiatordos. We continue through a beech forest and then climb a few miles to take a marked path that leads between briers to the base of the Tiatordos. There are numerous paths to follow from here, but the most suitable part to the left of our sense of the march and is marked with stone landmarks. The climb will be very hard as we face a steep slope. It will take almost an hour to reach the top and thus overcome the last 350 meters of slope. From this summit, queen of the Asturian panoramas, we discovered most of the mountain ranges of the Redes Park, but also others as far away as the Picos de Europa or the Ubiñas, and the Nalón river valley or the Ponga valley.
Natural Park of Redes
One of the most exceptional reserves in terms of nature and ethnography in the entire Principality of…
Information:
To get to Pendones we take the AS-117 that leaves the center of Asturias and goes through the Nalón basin to the town of Campo Caso, in the Redes Natural Park. At 10 kilometers from Campo Caso, following the AS-117, we will find the crossing to Pendones and we will arrive at the town after about 700 meters. From Oviedo we will take an hour approximately for a total distance of 70 kilometers.
Text: © Ramón Molleda for asturias.com
