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By the trails of madera

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Take a walk through the mountains of Madera and discover the true island, the least known. Experience its natural beauty.

Browsing the mountains is a feat that is only accessible to some. The paths and trails in the island of Madeira is one of those challenges in terms of physical and mental capacity. I mention this chronicle, the route that encompasses the peak of Areeiro, with 1817 meters to the tallest mountain in the archipelago, the Red, with 1861 meters of altitude. It is unusual ride that connect the two highest mountains of Madeira. It is above all a journey that cannot be undertaken by people with vertigo and heart problems. I'm going to tell you why.

Our journey begins very early in the morning; the sun is covered by the morning mist over the mountain in the Pico Areeiro inn. The rail is made of stones that guide us to our first stop the lookout, the nest of the manta. From this point on the mountain swallows us and put us to the test. Several miles of rugged landscape, with almost no vegetation that we are graced by the constantly merciless win. It should be taken extra care, as any misstep can end in a fatal fall in the cliffs that surround us along the path. The great central mountain range is overwhelming; we are merely points in a landscape that involve us. The mountain is the protagonist. The rock breaks through the cliffs that intersect the slopes. The undergrowth paints of green the scene and we get going with the clear sense of our insignificance, at this temple of imposing nature. It makes us even believe in a divine intervention, such is the beauty that around us.

The valley of Faja da Nogueira is ideal for a stop. At this latitude, we could see some of the rarest birds on the island, the famous patarras and the nuns of Madeira, but they must should themselves only to a privileged few, namely, the author of our guide, Raimundo Quintal, because we did not have such luck! Not even a manta, the largest bird of prey in the archipelago. The harsh test is ahead.  The stairs carved into the mountain by the hundreds, it is necessary to go down. It requires a great physical effort redoubled in the leg muscles. It is not easy, believe me. And no, I did not count the steps. But the pain does not end here. We are now approaching the climb to Pico Ruivo. And at this point the narrative, I was complaining all the time because I off the pain. A walker is a masochist. Must be. There is no other explanation for all the suffering in a conscious and deliberate manner.
The climb to the highest peak on the island is one of the hardest tracks of the route for one reason only, we're tired and climb is quite hard, but the end is worth it. You must struggle to truly appreciate the beauty that surrounds you. You literally have the feeling of being at the top of the world, where we only hear the hiss of the wind, our breathing and the wild nature. It is the mountain greenery that involves us on all sides. We sat down and savor the moment in silence. Then we laugh for the simple fact that we have achieved it. In this momentary fit of madness, foreigners who have finished the course also watched with wide smiles. Words for what!

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