The experts of the Mountain Civil Guard are very clear: Death of Javier Amigo Coto from Gijón it was before a routing error on the first part of the route This would take him from Poncebos to Bulnes, and it occurred when he fell a few hundred meters down a very steep and uncrowded slope he was climbing, which at its lowest point opens out to sea at the bottom. the river cares. “Everything indicates that he died at the scene that same Sunday,” Lieutenant Pablo Villabrille, head of the Cangas de Onís Civil Guard Mountain Region, told this newspaper.
Last Sunday, 60-year-old Javier Amigo said goodbye to his wife at the exit of Poncebos (Council of Cabrales), with the idea of meeting again in Bulnes, where they planned to meet with the members some time later. He is from the Xove mountain group, which crosses between Fuente Dé and Bulnes and spends the night in the Urriellu sanctuary. Amigo and his wife were also his sister-in-law. less accustomed to walking, women chose to ride the funicular.
“He only took a can of water with him for an hour’s walk.. No warm clothes, no food, no restallu sun. The aim was to go up to Bulnes to eat vermouth with the mountain group and then to land in Poncebos for dinner. At the time allotted to dine in Poncebos, I started to worry when we arrived at two and she wasn’t there,” said his wife, Elvira Fernández, noting that her husband had traveled the same route four times before.
Javier Amigo broke up with his wife and sister-in-law at the end of the asphalt. It had to go about 300 metres, turn left, cross the Jaya bridge and enter the Texu canal, which is just over three kilometers long, which would take it to Bulnes an hour later with minimal difficulty for a hiker.
What happened? according to the lieutenant Pablo Villabrille is very quickly confused. “After 300 metres, it didn’t turn left, but continued straight along the old road of Ruta del Cares. A much less frequent option than Texu”, Cangas de Onis Civil Guard.
Initially, this alternative route is so wide that it offers space for a helicopter to land. But it soon gets complicated. The man from Gijón encountered a very steep channel, a sudden ramp, what mountaineers call a “climb” because it requires the use of all four limbs. It’s a tough climb to a plain with several collapsed cabins (a “winter” in industry slang).
This winter route has no way out, but from there it is possible to reach Ruta del Cares with great difficulty. Javier Amigo fell while climbing to reach him. On this climb, he fell about a hundred meters down the steep slope. His slip – he wasn’t in free fall – and stopped “about five feet from the Cares River”denotes Pablo Villabrille. The body was found five days later, last Friday, by firefighters from the Principality of Asturias Emergency Service (SEPA). The canal, which was the scene of the tragedy, has no name as it is a dead end and insignificant road. The closest place with its own denomination is the Estorez canal.
“I have no words to express my gratitude,” the widow says.
Elvira Fernández, the wife of Javier Amigo Coto, was very impressed this Saturday, but also calm. One of her priorities was to thank both her late husband, who was found dead, and all the help that has been given to her: “I would like to express my deepest gratitude to the people of Poncebos, who have always given us their support and love, to the mountain rangers and GREIM members for their cooperation. [Grupos de Rescate Especial de Intervención en Montaña], to the Civil Guard for their love, understanding and professionalism. I have no words to explain what I owe them.”