Pal

• Location: 42 32' 10.57" N  1 29' 30.74" E
• Starts at :1890 m Assent 460 m
• Distance: 6.5km (takes about 2.5 hours)

Pal is a ski station served by a gondola from La Masanna. It really is only suitable to walk prior to mid June, and after mid August because this part of the mountain is used for downhill mountain biking. The first half of the walk is a green run in the winter, used by those who have graduated from the beginners area nearer the ski station. There is an unpaved road that goes most of the way. The path that is marked involves walking up a fairly steep red run for the last 10% of the walk, which can be easily avoided by taking an optional traverse between the 2nd last and third last red dots, following the traverse to the reservoir, and following the path to the top of the El Cubil chairlift. From the top, you can see the town of Os de Civis, a town in Spain that can only be accessed (by paved road) via Andorra. the ridge line behind the top of the chairlift is the Spanish boarder.

 Start here, at the ski station.

 You have the option of walking through the trees on the South (left) side of the piste. There are trails that eventually end, but bear right to get back on the piste. You can also follow the bike trails.

 Those park service guys keep building these bivouacked. Not sure why.

 Once again, snow on the piste makes for a shorter walk than I had hoped for.

 Pancho likes the snow, as long as he can get out of it.

 Back to the ski station, then head home for lunch.

  The town of Pal (on the way up to the ski station) has an lovely church built in the 9th or 10th century, with beautiful frescos. The bell tower was built in the 11th century, by some Italian masons. They built several bell towers around the same time and are easily recognizable.