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Flight: Spain, Andorra: Highest Point in the Pyrenees

December 8, 2016 by Garrett

Yet again I schemed to go to Montserrat, though I was faced with the pilot-photographer-author’s dilemma: do what has been nagging me, or do what is possible. The forecast indicated an anticyclone directly overtop Pico Aneto, the highest peak in the Pyrenees. If there was a time to barrel into some unwelcome terrain, this was it. I opted to go with what nature would allow and save Montserrat for another day.

The flight turned out to be just fine from a weather standpoint. Armed with confirmation that there were locations to land, albeit spotty, I felt more comfortable over this silly terrain than the last time I peered over the cliff edge. In the end, it was a banner flight with spectacular results. Since I am binging on the photo count, I’ll spare any further words (that nobody reads).

Lower Cerdanya

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Crossing into Andorra
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VERY Andorran…
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Autumn bliss
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Autumn carsickness…
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Notice the lack of a driveway or road.
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Parque Nacional de Aigüestortes aka “stupid ass restricted zone.”
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A rather significant pass for which I cannot find a name.
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Pico Aneto (11,165′ / 3.404m) in the rear left.
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Where I came from.
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Northern ridge of Pico Aneto with Monte Perdido in the background (another stupid ass restricted zone).
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Pico Aneto – while this is the highest peak in the Pyrenees, it is only the third highest in Spain.
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Rock that looks like wood grain.
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Context on aforesaid rock. Did I mention this is in Aragon now, and not Catalonia? I can sense the resignation in the air, as opposed to virulent regional independence.
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Pico Aneto
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Of course, there is a cross on top (and a human).
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Border of Aragon and Catalonia directly below the airplane, looking into the Catalán section.
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Ski area.
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Same ski area, looking back toward Aneto.
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Red rock glacier.
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Lonesome yellow trees.
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Note the chalet in the lower center. 
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Chalet is virtually under the airplane, looking back toward Aneto.
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There’s Montserrat on the horizon!
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And the Pre-Pyrenees….again. Pedraforca upper left.
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Serres d’Odèn-Port del Comte – note the warping of rock in center left.
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Pre-Pyrenees giving way to Catalonian plains. This is a diversion from my flight plan. It was too pretty to pass up.
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That damn Catalonian inversion, yet again!
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Though it can be a little pretty. 
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My flight path consisted of most of everything you see here including the horizon.
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Forestry.
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Estació D’Esquí Port Del Comte
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Pedró dels Quatre Batlles
img_3767-1655-of-1828 img_3795-1683-of-1828 /

Cadí-Moixeró with Pedraforca
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La Cerdanya, long final runway 07 with a sore ass, full bladder, and worn out mind.
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A farm field…. I just had to.
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