Sponsored by Iberdrola España, the 13th Andaina de Outono brings together in O Barco de Valdeorras more than 350 walkers from Galicia and other parts of Spain

• The route, organised by the Peña Trevinca Club in collaboration with the O Barco government, was sponsored by Iberdrola España, which has framed this initiative within its Convive Hidro programme.
• This year the event had a record number of participants and can be used for the 2nd Galician Hiking League and the Iberian Hiking League, Spanish Hiking Federation.

The 13th Outono 2024 O Barco de Valdeorras Walk, organized by the Peña Trevinca Club in collaboration with the O Barco government, gathered this morning more than 350 participants who enjoyed a day of exercise and fresh air in the incomparable setting of the municipality of O Barco.

Hikers from A Coruña, Pontevedra, Ourense, Lugo, Santander, Vizcaya, Madrid, Castellón and León, to name but a few, attended this new edition, which counts towards the 2nd Galician Hiking League and the Iberian Hiking League, Spanish Hiking Federation, 2024-2025 season, as the 7th and 8th round of that competition. The club president, Miguel de La Cal, highlighted the growth and success of the "andaina" which this year had a record number of registrations. The event was sponsored by the electricity company Iberdrola España, which includes this initiative in its Convive programme, among other business, local and regional organisations.

The participants could choose between two routes: a long 25 kilometre one and a climb of 1,096 metres, and a short 15 kilometre one with a climb of 651 metres, planned so that everyone could enjoy a morning outside without having to be in athletic shape. The Plaza del Concello was the starting and finishing point for the route for all the hikers who shared the first 12 kilometres, at which point the participants of the shorter route turned off towards Vilanova before returning to the Plaza del Concello.  

Local food and drink

The longer route had three ascents and three descents with outstanding points such as Mount Sierro, the Reporicelo area, the Mosteiro de Xagoaza, the Torre del Castro, the Pazo del Castro and Vegadecabo. There was no lack of assistance, monitoring or refreshment points during both hikes. The culture and landscapes of Valdeorras were the true stars once again on a day that brought together sport, culture and local gastronomy as the finishing touch on the 13th Andaina de Outono 2024, an event that has become a must for hikers from all over the autonomous community of Galicia and other parts of Spain. 

At the end of the day, the deputy mayor of O Barco, Aurentino Alonso, Henrique Freixeiro, the Galician Hiking League’s spokesperson, the presidents of the participating clubs, as well as Miguel De la Cal and his board of directors, accompanied the participants in a hearty meal of rice with pork, a traditional local dish, in the municipal pavilion. 

All participants received a commemorative T-shirt and a finisher's medal. Prizes were also awarded to the oldest and youngest participants in both categories: Dina Campazas García, 74 years old and native of O Barco, and Lucia Mourele Torrado, from Santa Comba and only 12 years old, who tackled the longest route, and Juan Ramón López Oviedo, an 81-year-old resident of Noia, and Manuel Martiño Rodríguez, a 10-year-old O Barco resident, finished the shortest hike. The finish area had an arch, a disco and a speaker to liven up the day, from start to finish.