Today is spent in the mountains around the Pajares pass. First you climb to the highest point, then the long grind begins: the descent. It’s steep and it goes on for hours. It’s not your lungs that suffer, but your knees and toes. You lose well over 1800 metres in altitude, and you will feel it.
If the mist closes in or it rains, it becomes a hard day. You see little of the landscape and every step needs extra care. At over 10 hours, it’s a long day anyway. Allow yourself plenty of breaks.
Then La Pola de Lena lies below you. You walk into the town, find the public albergue and finally put your rucksack down.