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From Istan parking go up the hill passing the football stadium, walking signboard, and hotel to the highest track to see the Arroyo de Rio Molino
Once past the little dam and into the valley you'll find a few bits where hands may be useful - my grandkids always like to go the hardest way!
Just keep going up - there's little choice where to go
The odd cairn is scarcely necessary
The further up you get the clearer the path?
And the valley widens out
Continue on for some two and a half hours until you reach the sandy plain to exit at the col on the right with the path under its wall - by the time we reached here it was too dark for photos, so here is the col (on the right) from the other side with the ridge of the "short cut" to the left
After descending the zig-zags from the col you'll reach the signpost to La Concha, so it's back uphill to the crossing track with the Cruz de Juanar on your left (half hour diversion - you haven't time!) and a bit to your right there's this view of (from left to right) La Concha, Salto de Lobo and "1212" - you can see the track in a couple of places
Looking back at Cruz de Juanar from the same point
In perhaps 20 minutes you'll reach the path under the cliffs of Salto de Lobo - this is looking back after negotiating it - you can just make it out on the lower left
Looking back at Salto de Lobo - the scramble up it is just a couple of metres from the edge, and you can just make out the sign high up on the left shoulder - why isn't it at the top?
In a few minutes you'll get this view of La Concha summit - there's a tricky bit round the lump on the right (going over it is actually easier). The signpost can just be made out at its foot. Then it's the long ridge on to La Concha - but only if you're supremely fit and can afford an extra 40 minutes or so - the signpost says it's three and a half hours to Istan
If you are going on this is the way
Looking back at La Concha after about half an hours descent
Getting down - but still a long way to go
Looking back from well down the ridge this post indicates a right turn down to the track you will see on the opposite side of the big valley - going up you could easily scramble up the ridge rather than take the faint, cairned, walking track on the right
At last! After crossing two big ravines and some smaller ones the Embalse de la Concepcion seems nearer and the white village of Istan will come into view - although it's still a good half hour away
