The day I took this photo, the last thing that crossed my mind as I left home was that I’d end up buried waist-deep in snow. But that’s just how these things go: you might plan to visit León in the morning, perhaps explore its surroundings a bit, yet fate, always a bit twisted, often has other plans for you. And that’s exactly what happened. As soon as I arrived in León and saw the snow-covered peaks of the Cantabrian Mountains, I simply couldn’t resist. After a quick technical stop in the city, I hopped onto the Ruta de la Plata highway and headed straight for Puerto de Pajares.
As I drove up the mountains, the snow became increasingly present, deepening every few kilometers. The day was spectacular, and the road conditions were excellent, making the drive to Puerto de Pajares an absolute delight both visually and behind the wheel. Upon reaching the mountain pass, what surprised me most was the lively atmosphere. It was bustling with skiers who seemed to be having a fantastic time. Encouraged by their enthusiasm, I wanted to join the experience, but of course, they were perfectly geared up, while I wore my old sneakers, jeans, a cotton sweater, and a thin jacket, basically, perfectly equipped to avoid snow.
But since they say attitude is what counts the most, I had plenty of it and didn’t hesitate to dive into the snow, embracing whatever came next. And yes, I really dove in, while exploring the slopes and surroundings, I ended up buried up to my waist in certain areas. Perhaps because I’m slightly masochistic, the truth is I had a blast: the deeper I sank, the harder I laughed. And if I lost my balance and fell flat on my backside? Well, even better!
I ended the day sweating, because walking through snow is genuinely exhausting, and completely soaked. As I retreated downhill toward the car, my frozen heels felt as if I were stepping on rocks. I had to crank up the heater to maximum and drive many, many kilometers before warming up. But none of that mattered at all. I had an incredible time, and the experience was wonderful. Maybe next time I’ll bring an extra pair of socks, but apart from that small, damp detail, I wouldn’t change a single thing about that day. It was honestly fantastic.
