When I walked up the mountain I used the road for the first half, more through accident than design. There is a village at about half-way up where water was available. Thereafter I used the track to the top and it was a very trying experience in the Spanish sun. I was absolutely creased by the time I reached the monastaries, so much so that I took the road to descend the whole way down to Santa Cilia. I weighed the possibility of slipping or falling and injuring myself on that seldom-used path and having to spend hours awaiting assistance and decided the road was the only sensible option. Thank goodness for that albergue in Santa Cilia, and the wonderful woman who runs it.
The ironic thing is, having said after the trip that I had no further interest in the Aragones, I now want to return and walk it again! This time with a tad more water on certain stretches, and maybe not in summer!
