The Mountain State of Andorra

The trail gradually ascends. A solid climb of over an hour. When I emerge from the forest and pass above the tree line, the fresh wind picks up considerably. I put on my rain jacket against the wind. It's colder than I expected. I even regret not bringing my gloves. I follow the trail further along the barren mountain slopes. The view is stunning. I see clouds hanging around the mountain peaks in front of me. The landscape is rugged. I frequently have to step from boulder to boulder. Mountain streams run between the rocks. Around noon, I arrive at Estany Cabana Sorda, a large mountain lake at 2,300 meters altitude. The crystal-clear water reflects the surrounding peaks. On the slopes above the lake, I still see remnants of snow, left over from last winter. The snow lies too high up to walk to. I head to the refugio by the lake. At this stone mountain hut, I eat my lunch.