Estany Long
Sleeping next to strangers is something I’ve grown accustomed to after years of staying in huts and albergues during my Camino journeys. It becomes easier when fatigue sets in—you barely notice the person beside you. One thing I was concerned about, though, was the inevitable increase in snoring volume, especially with the next person barely half a foot away. When I woke up, no one gave me any looks or made comments. Everyone was busy with their morning routines, getting ready for the day. We all came down for breakfast around the same time.
I spotted the guy from Valencia whom I had spoken with the night before and joined him. I still had the map he had given me. Breakfast was simple—a classic Catalan spread: a large loaf of bread, garlic, olive oil, fruit jam, and pre-packaged muffins and croissants, not freshly baked. Coffee accompanied the meal. I also noticed that some of us ordered sandwiches for the road, so I did the same.
After breakfast, everyone went about their own business, grabbing their backpacks and preparing to leave. I set off with the guy from Valencia, and a French mountaineer joined us for a while. He was heading to the parking lot where I had arrived the day before, about two and a half hours away, wrapping up his trek of Carros de Foc. As he parted ways, I was struck by his imposing build. Meanwhile, the guy from Valencia soon left me behind—he had extra peaks to climb, adding another hour or so to his journey.
When I was left alone, I kind of lost my way, because I ran into sea of rocks and stones that I didn’t see the sign. I got diverted by going up hill and instead of following the sea of rocks. I was at the top when I realized that I had to go down again where I came from and saw a couple passing by and that was a sigh of relief.
Then, I had to climb up Pic de Contraix. At first, it was intimidating, because there was a loose sand on the way up. When I was up, I waited for a group of women who were on the way up. We took picture together with a Catalan flag.
Pic de Contraix
Women are just as capable as men in anything. I was delighted to spend time with them and share a moment before we parted, each continuing at our own pace.
As I enjoyed the scenery, I encountered a young man moving at a fast pace in the opposite direction. He still had a long way to go before reaching the next hut. Perhaps he could traverse the terrain like Kilian Jornet, the legendary mountaineer known for his unbelievable speed. However, I questioned his timing—it was late in the afternoon, and the sun was about to set.
I arrived at Refugio Estany Llong just in time for dinner. The women’s group I had met earlier at Peak Contraix was already seated, and I joined them for a delicious meal. As dinner was winding down, two men arrived much later; I overheard that they had gotten lost and barely made it.
Later in the evening, the young man I had crossed paths with returned. Without a reservation, he ended up sleeping in the dining hall. In trekking, anything can happen.
