After deciding that I wanted to walk the GR221 dry stone route of the Tramuntana mountain range, Mallorca, I knew I would have to do some recce’s before hand. The actual 5 day hikeis planned for April 28th to May 2nd 2012 as a sponsored Event to raise money for Esteem’s next project. The walk will be open to participants and the general public alike (for more info please contact hello@esteem.org.uk). Each walk will end at one of the ‘refugio’s, a mountain hostal where a log fire and a warm hearty meal await you!
So, yesterday Cat and I set off on a rainy Saturday morning and dropped the car off at Pont de Roma, the 1st refigio’s where we will spend the arrival night. By the time we started walking the rain had stopped and we made our way along the river passing fields of olive groves and fruits trees in the morning mist.
Good footwear is essential as at one point, crossing the river the path ran out and we had to walk along the riverbed, only just escaping wet feet! 
After an hour and a half, slowly climbing higher into the mountains we stopped for a snack and a flask of tea. and re-checked the map.
Following the track until we reached a clearing with spectacular views, we wound our way up until we reached the Font de Muntanya where waterfalls and streams cascaded across the path. 
Looking back over the distance we had come made us feel hungry so we continued just until the base of the Piug Tomir mountain (an area where black vultures are sometimes sighted) and stopped for lunch under a tree. 
Lunch time was cut short when a shower came in and moved us on as Cat started feeling the cold once we’d stopped, but quickly warmed up contouring the wooded slope of the Molleta de Binifaldo and crossing the path at the Coll Pelat at 686m.
It is hugely satisfying to see the path around the mountain you have just walked, breathing fresh mountain air, hearing nothing but birds and getting the blood pumping on the up-hills. 
From the the lunch stop it took us about an hour and a half to get down to the Son Amer refugio where we would spend the second night on the 2012 Tramuntana hike. It looked very inviting with its wood fire and delicious smells coming from the kitchen. Unfortunately Cat and I couldn’t stop as we had to make our way to the Monastery at Lluc, another 15min walk, where we got a taxi back to our car at the start of the walk in Pollenca (we did try hitching).
The whole walk took us 6 hours, including stops. It was a great day and I cant wait to do the next stage of the GR221, Lluc to Tassals Verds next weekend! Check out our blog each week to keep updated!
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