The Spanish ledges

(S) Leave the bivouac site and follow the Faja Luenga, a balcony at around 2,400 m, an easy, flat path heading due west where the first few kilometres are quickly covered. Reach the Collado del Descargador.

(1) Continue to the right to stay above Plano San Fertús until you reach Collado Millaris. This section can also be done by passing through Plano San Fertús itself.

(2) Descend into the Plano de Millaris.

(3) Take the path on the left that leads toa short descent: the footholds are good, but it's a wake-up call! Then follow the Cotatuero riverbed (dry in summer) via a new plateau that leads to a beautiful sharp limestone pavement.

(4) Follow the cairns carefully so you don't get stuck in a gorge. After enjoying the view, leave on the right onto the Plano Mondarruego: welcome to the land of the izards! Head for the white mound visible to the west.

(5) Head south and follow the path to reach the start of the Faja de los Flores: be careful not to climb above the path.

(6) Walk along the Faja de las Flores: a vertiginous 3 km trail on a terrace a few metres wide that offers incredible views of the Ordesa Canyon, with a few stony passages but no difficulty. The ledge ends on a large terrace. Don't forget to turn around to see the cliff you have just walked along.

(7) If the few springs you encounter are not enough, head north to Aguas Tuertas, which offers lovely picnic spots in the shade of the cliff and a stream to refill your water bottles. Please note: the water is clear but almost stagnant, so it is essential to purify it. Return to the terrace and head west to join the path (2,420 m) that leads into the Faja Tardiador.

(9) This narrower, less travelled and therefore wilder ledge offers more thrills than the previous ones. There are a few rare passages of rock blocks to cross.

(10) As soon as you exit Faja Tardiador, turn right and tackle the southern ridge of Pico Mondarruego by following the few paths among the rocks.

(11) Descend to Collado Escuzana and continue left to join the Faja Escuzana trail.

(12) Follow the Faja Escuzana, which is fairly short but has more ascents and descents than the other ledges.

(13) After a small waterfall in a secluded spot, ideal for cooling off and filling up with water, you will come to a small valley below the Gabietous ridges. On the left, you can see the Forqueta de Gabietou, a rocky barrier that blocks access to the Boucharo valley, which can be reached on the opposite side. Take a difficult-to-follow path, marked with white circles painted on rocks covered with white lichen (!). Cross this rocky slope to reach a steep, stony chimney that allows you to cross the barrier:be careful on this somewhat exposed passage. A few white arrows lead to the exit. We didn't find the route on the first try.

(14) From there, descend steeply but without difficulty to follow the long path on the north-west face of the Gabietous. Reach the Port de Boucharo, which you crossed the day before.

(15) Continue straight ahead to return to the Col des Tentes (S/E).

Water sources:
- At the start in the Rio Arazas.
- A few springs in the walls of the Faja de los Flores and the Faja Tardiador, dripping in August.
- Aguas Tuertas: 1 km round trip. Low-flow stream, water tablets required.
- At the end of the Faja Escuzana: a small waterfall in a recess on the cliff face, then a few springs along the cliff at the end of the ledge.

Possible alternative

(10) Pass through Punta Narronal (2,753 m). Wild ridge.
After the Faja Tardiador, continue on the left along the cliff via the Faja de Mondarruego to reach the southern ridge of Punta Narronal. Reach the summit and descend via the "sharp" ridge, then cross from the southern slope to the northern slope to descend below the vertical wall of the Mondarruego secondary summit. Crossing a scree slope will take you to the Faja Escuzana path (12).

These directions are based on a map and the guidebook describing this passage, without having actually travelled it.