La Gomera Hike #2: Chipude - Vallehermoso
I awoke in the morning feeling great, even after spending a longer day than I have in quite some time hiking in nature yesterday. I was eager to experience Hike #2! The morning was still blustery (I love this word) yet the fog had lifted and everything looked completely different. I could see the valley and all the farm terraces that were hiding yesterday. The views were lovely. I had my mind set that this day was going to be easier even if longer then yesterday given that it looked like it was mostly a long decent.
I bounced down into the valley and made my way up the other side. So far so good.
Today’s hike is on the GR131 and consisted of going up and over and through and down and then back up and down at least 3 times. But who’s counting?!? Looking at the map, the sense I got was that this would be just a long easy decent, that was quite deceiving. It was steep and hard and gorgeous and so very, very worth it. This area is reputed to be the most beautiful valley on the island - Barranco de Valle Gran Rey, full of terraced farms and palm trees.
From the start of the day, I had it in my head that today was going to be easy, just some flats and downhill skippidy doo dah walking. Well, I finally entered the forest and was pleasantly greeted with some easy, peasy flat walking happening. Many thanks to the flower forest fairies!!
My only question is…
is the world leaning, or am I?!?
And out of the forest I hiked, going all the way down and then up again, with brand new views of another beautiful valley and surrounding areas. Crossing the top, I hiked along the ridge and then down to Embalse de la Encantadora (Enchantress Reservoir). At lake level, I thought I was done or should I say hoped, I hoped I was done with all the steep climbs and descents!
I crossed the dam at Embalse de la Encantadora only to find I was going the wrong way.
Turns out I had 1 more steep climb and descent in me, just barely.
Arriving in the town of Vallehermoso, this is where I will be staying for the next 2 nights. Vallehermoso is situated directly below an impressive rock formation, known as Roque Cano (650m). Though the area might look quite prosperous, there is a real unemployment problem in Vallehermoso. Years of drought and poor political management in the 1950s, 60s and 70s caused a drastic decline in population. Nowadays this is mainly a farming area - where bananas, pineapple, tomatoes, wine and palm syrup are produced - and the best place to buy a bottle of palm syrup, produced right here in the midst of these plantations. The village is also known for handicrafts such as pottery, textiles, wickerwork and woodwork.
