Asturias trip report - 3

The previous evening after dinner, Sergio had enquired if we would like to accompany him on a Rebeco survey, essentially a drive to a high mountain pass and then a short ascent to view Rebeco. Sergio's work as a mountain biologist authorised him to drive along the restricted mountain tracks to conduct survey work. Realising there would be no slog uphill in the night, Nic immediately said yes and how could I turn down an opportunity to be taxied to a high point for the quality light of dawn.  Generally the topography required a minimum ascent of 600 - 1,000m from the parked car and a few hours of night navigation to reach a high point for dawn. In any case the weather forecast had taken a turn for the worse, with weather charts indicating high pressure and the depressing symbol of sun and clear blue sky for the next 4 days, so dawn twilight would be a welcome opportunity.

Following an interesting drive up a rugged mountain track the destination was an area of pasturage on a col covered by a hard ground frost, with a dramatic vista of surrounding peaks and valleys. Normally a frost should equate to clear air and excellent visibility, instead there was a distinct haze, deep sigh and another reason to loathe high pressure weather systems.  I complimented Sergio on the location and views, then explained that I'd take the opportunity to look around and with indecent haste departed, leaving Nic to keep Sergio company in finding Rebeco.

The views encompassed some areas of compelling structural geology, sadly the azimuth of sunrise and haze mitigated against that image. In my view what defines twilight landscape photography from the hills with clear skies is alpenglow and the haze would accentuate that, with pastel colours of purple, pink, red contrasting with cool blues transitioning to a golden colour developing towards sunrise, then the warm golden light and then harsh lighting.  The image narrative I wanted was to convey the dawn colour, geology and mosaic of habitats.

The col was a mosaic of grass, holly bushes, gorse, bracken, brambles, broom and daffodils growing between 1,200 - 1,300m asl. The vegetation assemblages hinted at reduced levels of grazing/trampling and with a continued reduction in grazing would given time witness a succession of scrub communities then secondary woodland.

The numbers of holly bushes must be close to satisfying the requirements of woodland categorisation and showed no visible browse lines, the larger holly bushes appeared to be old coppice stools some with younger sucker shoots and possibly an historic resource of animal fodder during winter. 

The high elevation of closed canopy woodland prompted thoughts of autumn photographic potential.

I did take an image of the geology outcrops tracing the outlines of folding that hint at the structural complexity of this area of the Cordillera Cantábrica. Having since read some geology research papers it is indeed the case with thrusts, folds and faulting associated with thin skinned deformation in the Variscan Orogeny and later reactivation in the Alpine Orogeny.

Geology structure on a landscape scale

Sergio, had located Rebeco and a look through his spotting scope at a grazing Rebeco was a revelation, as I couldn't see anything looking through binoculars at the same distant hill side. The ride back down emphasised the ruggedness and exposure of the mountain track. After breakfast, we went to the nearest village store and bought a couple of bottles of wine as a thank you to Sergio. A siesta was taken and suitably refreshed an excursion made to specifically scouting out a valley for its autumn potential.

Angel's Tears

It was an enjoyable and useful walk, identifying some areas of autumnal potential.