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San Francisco - Las Palomas - Tasajo. Páramo de Sonsón.

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Photo ofSan Francisco - Las Palomas - Tasajo. Páramo de Sonsón. Photo ofSan Francisco - Las Palomas - Tasajo. Páramo de Sonsón. Photo ofSan Francisco - Las Palomas - Tasajo. Páramo de Sonsón.

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Trail stats

Distance
12.97 mi
Elevation gain
3,753 ft
Technical difficulty
Difficult
Elevation loss
3,904 ft
Max elevation
10,877 ft
TrailRank 
65
Min elevation
7,750 ft
Trail type
One Way
Moving time
7 hours 2 minutes
Time
one day 2 hours 23 minutes
Coordinates
2444
Uploaded
October 17, 2018
Recorded
October 2018
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near Sonsón, Departamento de Antioquia (Republic of Colombia)

Viewed 1837 times, downloaded 35 times

Trail photos

Photo ofSan Francisco - Las Palomas - Tasajo. Páramo de Sonsón. Photo ofSan Francisco - Las Palomas - Tasajo. Páramo de Sonsón. Photo ofSan Francisco - Las Palomas - Tasajo. Páramo de Sonsón.

Itinerary description

A somewhat difficult trail due to technical ascent and descent for a few kilometers, and most of the path not being marked/kept in any way. It's not particularly challenging physically; can probably be done in a single day if you're in good enough shape. My suggestions for this trail:
1. A portable water filter (or purification tablets).
2. An external charger for your phone (GPS/Navigation) wtih at least two charges.
3. A machete. The trail closes in several places and you may need to open the undergrowth to be able to pass through.
4. Read the information on the waypoints before you attempt this trail.

You can start the adventure from Sonsón and walk down the main road towards Nariño, but I chose to skip that part since I prefer to avoid main roads when hiking with my dogs. You can also walk back from Tasajo to Sonsón to close the loop.

Only twice I walked through private property. This can be avoided, but as long as you are respectful you should have no problem.

Waypoints

PictographPhoto Altitude 7,991 ft
Photo ofTurn right/a la derecha

Turn right/a la derecha

Turn right on the fork. Voltee a la derecha en la bifurcación.

PictographBridge Altitude 8,203 ft
Photo ofBridge/water source. Puente/fuente de agua.

Bridge/water source. Puente/fuente de agua.

A small bridge over a creek which provides a nice, refreshing water source. Un pequeño puente sobre una quebrada que provee agua refrescante.

PictographIntersection Altitude 8,321 ft
Photo ofLeave the road, turn right/Salga del camino, voltee a la derecha.

Leave the road, turn right/Salga del camino, voltee a la derecha.

PictographIntersection Altitude 8,338 ft
Photo ofTurn left, begin off-road ascent/Voltee a la izquierda, inicia ascenso fuera de carretera.

Turn left, begin off-road ascent/Voltee a la izquierda, inicia ascenso fuera de carretera.

Try to walk on the sides of the path (grass) to avoid muddy soil. Trate de caminar a los lados del sendero (hierba) para evitar terreno pantanoso.

PictographIntersection Altitude 8,531 ft
Photo ofLeave the trail, turn right/Deje el sendero, voltee a la derecha. Photo ofLeave the trail, turn right/Deje el sendero, voltee a la derecha. Photo ofLeave the trail, turn right/Deje el sendero, voltee a la derecha.

Leave the trail, turn right/Deje el sendero, voltee a la derecha.

This takes you into what I assume is private property. You can probably walk around it by following the road. Esto lo lleva a lo que asumo es propiedad privada. Probablemente se puede evitar siguiendo el camino.

PictographBridge Altitude 8,537 ft
Photo ofWooden bridge/Puente de madera

Wooden bridge/Puente de madera

Another water source/Otra fuente de agua.

PictographInformation point Altitude 8,544 ft
Photo ofFollow through the vines/Atraviese el viñedo.

Follow through the vines/Atraviese el viñedo.

PictographPhoto Altitude 8,567 ft
Photo ofTrail into woods/Sendero al bosque.

Trail into woods/Sendero al bosque.

PictographInformation point Altitude 8,579 ft
Photo ofNo proper trail/No hay sendero como tal.

No proper trail/No hay sendero como tal.

There isn't a properly marked path here. Just try to aim for the creek (next waypoint) or even for high ground (next waypoint after that). No hay un camino marcado acá. Intente caminar hacia la quebrada (próximo waypoint) o hacia terreno elevado (waypoint después de ese).

PictographPhoto Altitude 8,559 ft
Photo ofDescend into the creek/Descenso hasta la quebrada. Photo ofDescend into the creek/Descenso hasta la quebrada. Photo ofDescend into the creek/Descenso hasta la quebrada.

Descend into the creek/Descenso hasta la quebrada.

PictographInformation point Altitude 8,577 ft
Photo ofAscent, no trail/Ascenso, sin sendero.

Ascent, no trail/Ascenso, sin sendero.

You can see I was trying to find my way around here. Just aim for higher ground, straight up. Acá se nota que estaba buscando el sendero. Simplemente apunte a terreno elevado, derecho hasta arriba.

PictographPhoto Altitude 8,665 ft
Photo ofOpen field/Campo abierto.

Open field/Campo abierto.

PictographWaypoint Altitude 8,820 ft
Photo ofTrail at the top/Sendero en la parte alta. Photo ofTrail at the top/Sendero en la parte alta.

Trail at the top/Sendero en la parte alta.

PictographInformation point Altitude 9,167 ft
Photo ofWater source (creek)/Fuente de agua (quebrada).

Water source (creek)/Fuente de agua (quebrada).

PictographCampsite Altitude 9,221 ft
Photo ofCampsite/Campamento Photo ofCampsite/Campamento

Campsite/Campamento

Nice spot to pitch a tent or two. Someone set a campfire. Please be careful with open fires. Take your garbage with you, don't be a jerk. This is the last spot to get water before heading back down. There is no water at the summit. Buen sitio para montar una tienda o dos. Alguien hizo una fogata. Por favor tenga cuidado con el fuego. Llévese su basura, no sea un imbécil. Este es el último punto para encontraer agua antes de volver a bajar. No hay agua en la cima.

PictographPhoto Altitude 9,422 ft
Photo ofInto the forest/Entrando al bosque Photo ofInto the forest/Entrando al bosque

Into the forest/Entrando al bosque

Nice shaded canopy. This is a somewhat technical ascent. You will use your hands to grab onto roots probably. Please do not damage the trees. Agradable sombra de árboles. Esta es un ascenso parcialmente técnico. Probablemente usará las manos para agarrarse de raíces. Por favor no dañe lls árboles.

PictographIntersection Altitude 9,594 ft
Photo ofKeep right/Mantenerse a la derecha.

Keep right/Mantenerse a la derecha.

PictographWaypoint Altitude 9,845 ft
Photo ofKeep straight/siga derecho

Keep straight/siga derecho

PictographPhoto Altitude 9,984 ft
Photo ofVegetation change/Cambio de vegetacion.

Vegetation change/Cambio de vegetacion.

PictographPanorama Altitude 10,038 ft
Photo ofSmall opening in the trees/Pequeño claro entre los árboles.

Small opening in the trees/Pequeño claro entre los árboles.

PictographPanorama Altitude 10,210 ft
Photo ofClearing/Apertura

Clearing/Apertura

PictographPhoto Altitude 10,257 ft
Photo ofOut of the forest/Fuera del bosque.

Out of the forest/Fuera del bosque.

PictographCampsite Altitude 10,322 ft
Photo ofTiny campsite/Espacio diminuto para acampar.

Tiny campsite/Espacio diminuto para acampar.

Maybe for a tent with a tiny footprint or a bivy.

PictographPhoto Altitude 10,384 ft
Photo ofShort technical climb/Escalada técnica corta.

Short technical climb/Escalada técnica corta.

PictographCampsite Altitude 10,442 ft
Photo ofTiny campsite/Sitio de acampada diminuto. Photo ofTiny campsite/Sitio de acampada diminuto.

Tiny campsite/Sitio de acampada diminuto.

Tiny footprint tents or bivy only. I set up a 1P tent here and barely had space. Sólo para carpas pequeñas o bolsas de dormir externas. Monté una carpa de una persona y a duras penas tenía espacio.

PictographPhoto Altitude 10,611 ft
Photo ofNarrow pass/Paso estrecho.

Narrow pass/Paso estrecho.

PictographPhoto Altitude 10,658 ft
Photo ofTechnical climb/Escalada técnica.

Technical climb/Escalada técnica.

The wooden ladder was in acceptable shape in October 2018. You don't need ropes or equipment to climb, but it would make it safer. After the ladder you also have to grab onto some rocks and navigate upward through muddy terrain. Be careful. La escalera estaba en estado aceptable en Octubre del 2018. No se necesitan cuerdas o equipo para subir, pero haría es ascenso más seguro. Después de la escalera se deben usar algunas rocas para el ascenso y caminar por terreno pantanoso. Tenga cuidado.

PictographPhoto Altitude 10,684 ft
Photo ofFirst Frailejones/Primeros Frailejones.

First Frailejones/Primeros Frailejones.

PictographSummit Altitude 10,871 ft
Photo ofSummit/Cima. Photo ofSummit/Cima. Photo ofSummit/Cima.

Summit/Cima.

The view is just incredible from up here. There isn't much to do really except look around and walk for a bit more. There seems to be a water source about 1.5km due East, but I did not want to explore since we were running out of daylight. The terrain doesn't seem to lend itself well to trekking (highly irregular and not flat). Had I made it to the top earlier I would have loved to walk around more. You can probably camp here since it's mainly open space. La vista es simplemente increíble desde arriba. No hay mucho por hacer excepto mirar y caminar un poco. Aparentemente hay una fuente de agua a 1.5km hacia el Este pero no quise explorar más ya que nos quedaba poca luz de día. El terreno no se presta para senderismo (altamente irregular y no plano). De haber llegado a la cima más temprano me hubiera gustado caminar un poco más. Probablemente se puede acampar acá dado que es espacio abierto principalmente.

PictographIntersection Altitude 9,830 ft
Photo ofTurn right when coming back down/voltee a la derecha cuando baje de regreso.

Turn right when coming back down/voltee a la derecha cuando baje de regreso.

My GPS was all over the place on the way down. Just follow the same trail until you get to this spot. Mi GPS estaba mal calibrado en la bajada. Simplemente siga el mismo camino hasta este punto.

PictographCampsite Altitude 9,830 ft
Photo ofOpen space for small campsite/Espacio abierto para pequeño campamento.

Open space for small campsite/Espacio abierto para pequeño campamento.

This can also be used on the way up with a minor detour. It's the largest space available after entering the forest, excluding the summit itself. Este sitio también se puede usar de subida con una pequeña desviación. Es el espacio más grande disponible después de entrar al bosque, sin contar la cima como tal.

PictographWaypoint Altitude 9,722 ft
Photo ofLarge rock/Roca grande.

Large rock/Roca grande.

Turn left, continue down. There may be a water source under the rock. Voltee a la izquierda, continúe hacia abajo. Puede haber una fuente de agua bajo la roca.

PictographWaypoint Altitude 9,678 ft
Photo ofWater source/Fuente de agua.

Water source/Fuente de agua.

You brought a filter, right? Trajo filtro, cierto?

PictographWaypoint Altitude 9,538 ft
Photo ofWater source/Fuente de agua.

Water source/Fuente de agua.

PictographPhoto Altitude 9,442 ft
Photo ofForest clearing/Apertura del bosque.

Forest clearing/Apertura del bosque.

PictographPhoto Altitude 9,260 ft
Photo ofForest again/Bosque nuevamente.

Forest again/Bosque nuevamente.

PictographPhoto Altitude 9,157 ft
Photo ofCreek to the East/Quebrada al Este.

Creek to the East/Quebrada al Este.

PictographPhoto Altitude 9,066 ft
Photo ofWater soure, crossing/Fuente de agua, cruce. Photo ofWater soure, crossing/Fuente de agua, cruce.

Water soure, crossing/Fuente de agua, cruce.

PictographPhoto Altitude 9,070 ft
Photo ofEnd of forest/Termina el bosque.

End of forest/Termina el bosque.

PictographPhoto Altitude 9,030 ft
Photo ofOpen field, no trailhead/Campo abierto, no sendero.

Open field, no trailhead/Campo abierto, no sendero.

PictographPhoto Altitude 8,896 ft
Photo ofTrail found/Sendero encontrado.

Trail found/Sendero encontrado.

PictographPhoto Altitude 8,844 ft
Photo ofWater source, crossing/Fuente de agua, cruce. Photo ofWater source, crossing/Fuente de agua, cruce.

Water source, crossing/Fuente de agua, cruce.

PictographWaypoint Altitude 8,663 ft
Photo ofFence/Alambrado

Fence/Alambrado

PictographPhoto Altitude 8,621 ft
Photo ofOpen field, no trail/Campo abierto, no sendero.

Open field, no trail/Campo abierto, no sendero.

PictographPhoto Altitude 8,586 ft
Photo ofWater source/Fuente de agua. Photo ofWater source/Fuente de agua. Photo ofWater source/Fuente de agua.

Water source/Fuente de agua.

Shallow pool to maybe sit in. Piscina poco profunda para tal vez sentarse.

PictographWaypoint Altitude 8,516 ft
Photo ofForest/Bosque.

Forest/Bosque.

PictographPhoto Altitude 8,468 ft
Photo ofWater source/Fuente de agua.

Water source/Fuente de agua.

I got lost between this waypoint and the "trail found" one. Do not follow my trail but instead try to find your own. I lost my machete somewhere around here. Me perdí entre este waypoint y el de "Sendero encontrado". No siga mi ruta, trate de encontrar la suya. Perdí mi machete cerca a este punto.

PictographWaterfall Altitude 8,472 ft
Photo ofWaterfall/Cascada.

Waterfall/Cascada.

PictographPhoto Altitude 8,457 ft
Photo ofFound trail/Sendero encontrado.

Found trail/Sendero encontrado.

PictographPhoto Altitude 8,304 ft
Photo ofInto the creek/A la quebrada.

Into the creek/A la quebrada.

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