The 3 summits of my Pyrenean life

Déjame vivir (Let me live), the second film in the Summits of my life series, was released a few days ago (March 27^th, 2014), as part of Kilian Jornet’s personal project.  In this installment, we can follow Kilian running up and down Mont Blanc (broke the record), the Matterhorn (broke the record again) and Mount Elbrus attempt.  Brutal!  The film is technically superb, adventurous, inspiring, heartfelt and fun.  You won’t be disappointed!

Maybe one day I will be able to get closer to these mountains as well.  Why not?  Sky is the limit (for Kilian, that’s really true).  A complete different thing is the physical conditions, training and skills required.  But I’m working on that…  In the meantime, I release my desire to live, running around other summits that are also beautiful and mystical.

If you want to approach the highest peaks within the Pyrenees mountain range, there is one particular place, almost hidden, where you should go to:  Benasque Valley.  We mentioned it in our previous post, but today we’re aiming higher.

There are 200-some-odd peaks in the Pyrenees above 3000 m and a significant part of them are in Benasque Valley.  In addition, Europe’s southernmost glaciers are also here.

These are Pyrenees top 3 highest peaks:

Aneto (3,404 m / 11,168 ft)

Made of granite (an ice!), Aneto is king.  It gets its name for the village that stands at its foothills.  It has the largest glacier of the entire Pyrenees, but it’s unlikely the Aneto glacier will survive past 2050 due to climate change.

Posets (3,375 m / 11,073 ft)

Despite being the second highest, Posets peak is often overlooked, even by mountain specialists.  Maybe a mountain worth re-discovering?

•  Aneto is part of the views you will enjoy in the Aneto Tour   
•  Those who choose to take part in the Gran Trail will get to see Aneto and Posets as well. 
•   Both peaks are part of the Posets-Maladeta Natural Park. 

    Monte Perdido (3,355 m / 11,007 ft)

      If we consider the the five highest Pyrenean peaks, only Monte Perdido is out of the boundaries of what is called Benasque Valley.  Curious fact:  200 years ago this mountain was thought to be the highest one.  This comes to show once again how “hidden” and “unknown” this valley has been.