La Cresta del Medio
Altitude: 3350m. Formed by Pico del Medio (3346 m), Punta Astorg (3355 m) and Pico Maldito (3350 m).
Situation:
Aragonese Pyrenees, between the valleys of Chistaú and Benasque. It can be reached from the Plan de Están via the La Renclusa refuge and the Portillón Superior route and the Aneto glacier in about 3 and a half hours.
When to go:
This route can be done from late autumn to early summer.
Difficulties of the route:
- Ascend the wide initial corridor, which later narrows, to skirt the steep rocky wall that closes off the pass on the right. It is also possible to ascend directly if there is enough ice. Ascend the last section of the corridor that leads to a gap. From here it is possible to reach both Pico del Medio and Punta Astorg along the ridge that joins them.
Descend from the summit of Pico del Medio down the Normal route to the east to reach the Collado del Medio and the Aneto glacier. It links up with the normal route of Aneto to return to the starting point.
Complicated sections:
Difference in altitude: 120 metres. Difficulty: PD+/AD. Its northern slope offers several possible itineraries, the Northern Corridor of the Pico del Medio being the most obvious.
Recommended equipment:
- Waterproof boots.
- Classical climbing equipment and gear
- Sunglasses and sunscreen.
– Ice axe and crampons
