(Route also on Bikepacking.com)
The latest release from MontañasVacías comes in a completely new format that won’t leave you indifferent: a downloadable story in ebook format that will immerse you in a unique experience through the majestic Jiloca Valley.
Guided by Espe, the protagonist, whose name comes from the Spanish word ‘Esperanza’ meaning ‘hope’, you will discover the impressive landscapes of this area in a story of resilience, perseverance and connection with the territory.
Of Resilience And Hope pays tribute to proximity, but also to the toughness and resilience of a land that refuses to lose its identity. Now, more than ever, these villages need all of us, both their inhabitants and their visitors, to make an effort to enhance the value of their landscapes, which, despite their harshness, hide a tremendous fragility and vulnerability.
Every bend in the route told me a story of resilience: the villages struggling not to disappear, their people struggling to preserve their identity, the landscape itself struggling to remain as it is.
The reality of this area is that, apart from the villages at the bottom of the valley, there are no more than four inhabitants per square kilometer along the entire route. But in villages such as Olalla, Almohaja, Pozondón, Aguatón, or Nueros, there isn’t even one. And that’s just the official figures. You only have to ride through these villages between October and May to realize that the real figures are much harsher.
Despite this, the region is remarkable for its cultural and historical significance. Over the course of twelve chapters, you will embark on a journey that unveils new and awe-inspiring perspectives of the valley, revealing the striking contrasts found in castles such as Peracense or Los Ares. You will also be immersed in the region’s fascinating history as you explore the abandoned mines of Ojos Negros or the war trenches of Los Pilones.
In terms of geology, the route boasts great interest due to the variety of landscapes that are the region’s hallmark. From the Jiloca depression to Gallocanta Lagoon, and from moorlands to forests with age-old trees, there is no room for monotony.
The route traverses areas of immeasurable environmental and ecological value, including bird sanctuaries with endangered species such as the Dupont’s Lark or steppe birds such as the Little Bustard or the Great Bustard, as well as nature reserves such as the Gallocanta Lagoon, where thousands of cranes gather each year during their migration.
Like all MontañasVacías routes, Of Resilience And Hope features outstanding acoustic quality. These soundscapes are among the best-preserved in Europe, and you can pedal for hours without hearing a single disturbance of human origin.
However, the installation of hundreds of wind turbines could change this situation forever.
This land embodies sacrifice, as it is ingrained in its DNA. In the mid-20th century, its inhabitants sacrificed themselves to fuel the growth of the country’s major cities. Now, there is a growing sense that they are being asked to sacrifice again, surrendering their landscape, their greatest treasure, to nourish the big cities with energy. These cities are located far from the source of the resource and are surrounded by already degraded environments, where the impact would not be the same.
It is clear that this is a polyhedric issue, one that provokes much debate in the area and requires a challenge of consensus between the actors to solve it. This route and its accompanying narrative are intended to provoke reflection, to invite the traveler to immerse himself in the different realities, to encourage critical thinking and to help form a more holistic opinion.
Traveling is already a lesson in critical thinking that could help resolve many conflicts. This could be a clear example.
THE BOOK
For all the reasons mentioned above, I consider the book format, or rather ebook, to be ideal for enriching the traveler’s experience on this route.
The download is completely free. You don’t have to pay for it, not even with your personal data or by subscribing to any newsletters. I still believe in free knowledge.
The book is available in English and Spanish, in both .pdf and .epub formats, allowing you to access it from various devices.
Within its pages you will find recommendations and a route planner with all the information you need, as well as a map of the route, which you can also download separately in high resolution.
Join Espe on an adventure full of physical and emotional challenges, as well as self-discovery and connection to the places she visits. Are you ready to follow in her footsteps and become the protagonist of your own adventure?
STATISTICS
- Distance: 255 km
- Elevation Gain: 3570 m
- Difficulty:
- Overall: 5/10
- Technical difficulty: 5/10
- Physical demand: 6/10
- Resupply and Logistics: 6/10
- Unpaved (total percentage of distance off paved surfaces): 81% Unpaved
- Singletrack trails 1%
- Rideable (time): 99,9%
Here you can see the complete gallery of the route, with photos taken during the whole process of development of this story:
Montañas Vacías 