By: Frank Parrott de Roarloud
Trails around the world present
Mount Pico hike
The Mont Pico is a stratovolcano located on the Azore Island in Pico and the highest point in Portugal. The Mount Pico hike was one of the activities we were most of the way to do during our Azore adventure. Pico has the reputation of being very misleading in his difficulty. In the days preceding our hike, we heard stories of premises on the difficulty of Pico to climb. One thing that we have learned over the years on hiking is to treat all trails with respect. Although we felt confident of our recent hike from Mount Kilimandjaro, we thought it was wise to listen to when they said that we absolutely needed a guide. The last thing we wanted was to have a ruined fantastic adventure because we thought we knew better on a mountain that we had never climbed.
Tip: Whatever your level of experience, always listen to the advice of the inhabitants on your climbs
We met our guide at the Ferry Dock on Pico, and he took us 30 minutes by car through the picturesque countryside of Pico to the start of the path. The parking lot was empty. April is not a high tourist period of the year, so if you like to avoid crowds, this is the perfect time to go. Despite the fight against flu, my minds were noted when seeing this volcano and having everything for ourselves. It’s funny, but I always feel the worst just before a hike. The first 10 minutes, I believe that my mind tells my body that it is a terrible idea and to abandon. Looking at the top in the distance with an amazing cloud of clouds, suddenly, I realize that I did not feel sick and my voice in my head telling me to leave is silent.
Our guide is dressed in the most modest equipment. Decreeed clothes and more like what it is ready for a cup of relaxing coffee in a coffee, than to be about to climb a mountain. He looks at us with a little confusion. He has not completely trapped as hikers, but we are much more prepared than the usual tourist. Apparently, there are a significant number of unsuccessful attempts on this mountain, and it seemed to assess our probability of making the summit. Not exactly stimulating confidence, but neither Cathy nor I stop easily (or never). Being underestimated in fact, feeds our fire to prove that skeptics are wrong.
The pico field is very foreign to New England like us. This volcano has left the remains of eruptions spent everywhere. There is a strong shredded volcanic rock which contrasts against which it rubs. There are smooth layers of colorful rock that look like ribbon candies. The smooth rock becomes extremely slippery when it is wet. Combined with the shredded rock, I can see why this mountain is deceptively difficult. There are no trees on the mountain, just shrubs that did not relieve any relief of heat. However, it allows almost constant picturesque views on your hike.
Going up the mountain, you start to see craters dotting the landscape. Above the clouds, the view is like seeing a lush green version of the moon. Significant craters are everywhere. It is amazing to see tentacular agricultural land and livestock enjoying the rich fertile soil and drinking in a crater which is now used as a water point. Stoping for a quick snack and to catch our breath, we can see sub-couplant clouds form like a white cotton blanket. From time to time, there is a break in the clouds to reveal the landscape well below. Due to the slope of the land, you can see the mountain base all the time you hike. At a moderate pace on this hike, the cows well below quickly turn into ants.
A few hours later, we meet on the crest of the Volcan’s mountain crater. This huge volcanic rock ring reveals an asteroid type landscape inside the crater. In the center stands the summit of Pico, a steep and disturbing peak rising at a thousand feet from the inside of the crater. On the crater floor, there are shelters many years ago who visited the summit. These are pits with stone stacked in stone and a ceiling. It is a popular place for hikers to camp, and I can see why. Being able to be at the top at the dawn break or seeing the sunset of this place must be an incredible spectacle. If our schedule had allowed it, it would have been a great campsite.
Now the hike becomes a bit technical. Our guide insists on taking our hiking posts. You will need your hands, he explains. He was right. You certainly need to use your hands. It’s practically climbing. There is barely a path to follow. He’s just straight and does not look down. Adrenaline is high and it seems just a moment before we are at the top. In climbing the last 10 feet, we live something that we have never felt before at a summit this top…. A crack in the peak releases a hot steam that makes the air surrounding very hot. On the summum of the summit, there is barely enough room so that Cathy and I are holding up long enough for a photo and see the breathtaking view of 360 degrees around the mountain. This peak is an experience not to be missed in the Azores.
The return trip also has its challenges. Our guide was extremely useful for navigating in delicate places, which we saw other hikers (not accompanied by a guide) who have trouble navigating. By climbing on the edge of the crater crest, we only have extensive lush landscape views throughout the range. This means that the return trip at the bottom of the mountain seems to fly. Spending time on the mountain, we had a little extra time to explore some of the huge craters near the base. The pico craters are very inviting to explore.
Tip: Make sure you save time to explore craters after your hike. It is very fun and constitutes good photos.
Pico was a great hike with a lot of top of beauty, challenge and surrealist. Whether it is a passionate hiker or an adventure in search of a tourist, Mont Pico will not disappoint!
A big thank you to Cathy and Frank for sharing their incredible time to hike at Mount Pico in the Azores! If you want to know more about them, see their website Ribbing!
Did you go to Mount Pico hiking?
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