Gallina Pelada

Peaks: Cap de Gallina Pelada (2327m)
Area: Serra d'Ensija, Catalonia
This is the highpoint of the range of rounded green hills that forms the western wall of the valley enclosing Saldes and our campsite. It gave a perfect quick outing before we left the Cadi-Moixero park (with some regret in my case!). A small road winds up the lower slopes of the Serra d'Ensija from the Col de Trappa above Saldes, and I set off running from the road just below Font Freda. Scented pine forests lead to a dry riverbed or storm channel. Then steep scree eventually gains beautiful green meadows with scattered dwarf pine trees (Les Planelles). This landscape characterises the Serra d'Ensija: and Pedraforca is an ever-present object across the valley. The meadows were runnable, although I went much too far left initially. This was no problem though, as it was all delightful, and I eventually gained a giant limestone plateau with sinkholes and rolling low hills. Superb running led to the Refugi Delgado Ubeda, with Gallina Pelada above. In some ways the terrain was reminiscent of the Clwydians, certainly just as runnable and I made good progress to gain the broad ridge up to the summit. The light was very different to yesterday. Gone was the crystal clear clarity, to be replaced by a beautiful soft orange glow: sunny but with a very thin layer of cloud. Distant views were hazy, but the Cadi range and Pedraforca were clear, and the Serra d'Ensija close at hand was bathed in that soft sunshine. It was still very early, so I had a bit of cheese and chorizo on the summit before pelting down in a superb 35 minute downhill blast.