Normal-sanctuary-col piedra

Approach

For approach to sanctuary see the main page.

Route Description

Time to summit: 1h 30min or 1h 45min. Total: 2h 30 min-3h.
Slope: 696 meters.


Behind the restaurant of the sanctuary (1620m) near a fountain take the path to right towards the forest. The forest is a quiet walk without slope between the pines. After the trees we will come to a plain under the Circo del Cucharón or Pozo de San Miguel in that we will see to the right the coveted summit though the way continues for the left side. It is enough to follow the marks of the stakes of wood of white and yellow to find the bottom of the hillside that we will have to climb.
The hillside is the hardest part since it is covered of stones and land with the strongest slope that now is climbed of a pull (the rural walk was ended). In the sunny summer days rows can be seen of more than 100 persons winding in the hillside to that it is possible to be difficult to improve in the path and there will be necessary to have patience. For a moderately well trained mountaineer is a good exercise of 30 or 45 minutes to climb this ramp but for the normal people becomes hard (we must it to warn to your lazy friends that you have obtained that they should accompany and leave the tv and the video games).
After the ramp we reach the Collado de la Piedra (2150m) signaled with an stake (very important place to loaclize the point of descent in the return). This is the point to climb Morca and Peña Lobera to the east before the descent if you want.
We walk the light slope to reach the cairn of the summit of Cerro San Juan (2283m). Only there stays a nice walk along the wide ridge-plain of more than 100 meters of width from the col towards the right up to reaching the top in which you will find to a lot of people of the surrounding provinces of Soria, Navarra and Zaragoza that to enjoy a well-deserved lunch.
It is forced worship produced, if one is religiously, to the statue of marble of the Virgin of Pilar that magnify the summit with her high pedestal and a geodesic vertex (nowadays the statue is destroyed-2006)

In winter and with snow the climb of the hardest ramp it's no complicated but is necessary the use of crampons and ice-axe because the slope is pronunciated and the fall is great.

Essential Gear

Good boots (and poles if you like). Water in summer (hot sun a lot of days).
In winter: crampons and ice-axe for some steps-crossing in the hillside.

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