Arinsal Things to Do

This is a common site in Arinsal, instructor leading his charges (students) down the slope.
The snake can be a nuiscancewhen you are trying to ski on your own, but if you lose your nerve and feel out of your depth, you can wait for a snake and follow it a few hundred metres until your confidence returns.

The best invention on the slopes, you can only fall off at the start or finish.
Tips-
1)Until you are at ease getting off, sit on the outside, especially on 4 seaters!
2)Hang on to your gloves and poles.
3)On the long 4 seater to the top, be sure your jacket is closed, or you can close it without dropping a glove or pole, it is a long trip, and cold in places!

This is a portion of the queue for the absolute beginners classes- It runs very efficiently, but the lower slopes are quite full (and when I was there the Green slope was closed at the start of the week). But a mere 4 hours on a dry slope took us away from all that, 100s of metres above it in fact, to empty slopes where you were at ease either in a class or on your own.

Moral of the story- Get a lesson or two before you go!!!!

Skis are useful on snow, but they are a pain to carry around. A much better plan is to get a locker at the top or bottom of the gondola. Some of the shops have lockers, and some of the travel companies have cages at the base of the piste, much handier than going to the pub carrying skis and poles and unable to go down a stairs!

The is virtually nothing to do in Arinsal during the day other than go up on the mountain. The mountain is bustling throughout the day as ski and snowboarding schools times are staggered which means there are always people coming and going.

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From Arinsal it is a 4hr trek to the summit of Pic de Coma Pedrosa, Andorra's highest mountain at 2942m. It is great hike with stunning views and the terrain never gets too difficult. It is an excellent day out.

Follow the road upwards out of Arinsal and through the tunnel, here take the signposted track to the right, this is part of the long distance GR11. The track soon turns to the left, and climbs steadily following the side of the valley above the Rui de Coma Pedrosa. The track turns sharply right at at a cattle grid, don't follow the track, instead follow the sign posted foot path forwards, bridging streams and climbing all the while to the Collet de Coma Pedrosa.

At the Collet de Coma Pedrosa, there is an information board, and a path to the left that climbs to the Refugi de Coma Pedrosa where food, drink and lodgings are available. However the route to Pic de Coma Pedrosa continues forward along the valley bottom.

At the valley bottom, the path climbs steeply next a stream, into a natural amphitheatre called Les Canyorques. Excellent views eastwards. Here the path turns northwards and climbs to the small lake called Basses de l'Estany Negre. Pass the lake and look out for the sign post that that points the direction of both the GR11 northwards and a path to the right that climbs up the scree to a ridge.

Once the ridge is gained, follow it upwards to the summit of Coma Pedrosa.

Descend via the same way.

For further information and a virtual tour, visit www.virtualmountains.co.uk/comapedrosa.

The 70s Night It When All The Reps Get 2Gether And Dress In 70s Clothes Its A Great Way To Finish Off Your Holiday 1st Hour All The Mixers Are 2 euro ANd All the Draft Beer Is Only A Euro So Get There Early And Get All The Drinks In :)

This Is A Night You Have To Try Out Its A Wicked Night The Reps Organize Free Shots Every Bar Your In Cheap Drink And Drinking Games Everyone SHould Try It Out Was A Good Night Out Meet New People And Get The Craic Going