VALLE DEL LAGO - LAGO DEL VALLE - PEÑA ORNIZ ROUTE

It combines one of the classic routes of the Cantabrian Mountains, to Lago del Valle, with one of the highest summits in Somiedo, Peña Orniz. Lago del Valle lies between the Sierra de La Mortera and the Picos Albos and Pico Rubio. The mountains form a cirque that gives a feeling of verticality all around. Lago del Valle is the largest lake in Asturias by surface area. Peña Orniz presides over a glacial cirque whose couloirs and ridges can give freeride skiers great enjoyment. The north-west wall of the Torre de Orniz is imposing, and it is an area with very few visitors in winter.

The route starts in the village of Valle de Lago, a village set among mountains, facing south, in a privileged spot which, when it turns white, delights its visitors.

You can leave the car at the start of the village or, if the road is clear of snow, in a car park in very good condition beyond the first part of the village, beside a fountain. After heavy snowfalls, leave the car before entering the village. Continue towards the south-east of the village to pick up the PR-AS 15.1 towards Lago del Valle. Most of the route to the lake follows this path, although at times you need to leave the track depending on the ice or the amount of snow. The valley is enclosed and leaves no room for error.

Take as your reference Pico Albo Occidental and Pico Rubio, which guide you all the way and give a very precise bearing for locating the lake. Once at the lake, skirt it on the left, looking for a couloir that takes you up to 1,800 m and leaves you at the south wall of Pico Rubio, to continue through the glacial cirque. The cirque can be very tiring if you do not choose your line well. It is very important to avoid losing height. For the approach to Peña Orniz, start by tending slightly east and then south, trying to stay at around 1,850 m to find a couloir that is not clearly visible until you are close to it. This couloir leads to the Collado de Orniz and lets you reach the summit by its southern side. The last few metres may have to be scrambled, but in good conditions it would be possible to ski from the summit, starting quite steeply down a narrow couloir with little exposure.

Descend by the same couloir that leads to the summit. On the way up, study the terrain and the snow conditions carefully, as there is high exposure at the start of the descent from the col. Once in the glacial cirque you can enjoy a pleasant descent that leads to the couloirs down to the lake. Here again there are variants of different levels. Once at the lake the route becomes easier and all that remains is to retrace the long valley to the village.