A part walk to Istan

A short Linear walk from Refugio de Juanar on the path to Istan

Map of Route
There is car parking just past the entrance to Refugio de Juanar, plus more further up the track to where the gate is. The route of the path is marked by stakes with yellow and white bands. In some places, rocks are marked with yellow and white stripes .... apart. Crossed yellow and white stripes are placed at points where another path is come across but not to be followed. Well, that is the assumption I came to.
	Follow the vehicle track up the zigzag bends and pass through the side of the gates that close off the track to vehicles. The track passes through olive groves, with the prominent peak of Cruz de Juanar rising ahead. Continue on the track until reaching Cortijo de Juanar, an old derelict-looking white building on the right, which I believe, is the old Refugio de Juanar. (photo, left: First view of the pass to reach. Photo, right: The old Refugio de Juanar)
	Take the track to the right of the building, then right at the end of the building. Follow the track down for a 100 or so metres then left as it enters the pine forest. Shortly after entering the forest, a fingerpost is reached. Avoid the left turn to La Concha and continue straight on following the route to Istan. (Photo, left: Looking across the pine forest to Cruz de Juanar. Photo, right: The peak on the left of the pass)
	The wide track now leaves the pine forest, turning north to head to the foot of the rocky peak. The pass can be seen to the east between two peaks. The path now zigzags up the right side of the mountain, rising steadily through gorse bushes. (Photo, left: Looking back along the path as it levels out. Photo, left: View ahead through the pass to Cerro de la Fulaneja)
	Eventually, turning left head towards the pass between two un-named peaks. There are splendid views across to Cruz de Juanar and the valley ahead. We continued along the path as if descended gently to the left side of Cerro de la Fulaneja. The path became rocky in places as it followed the contours down to the left. (Photo, left: The route to Istan is on the left of the photo. Photo, right: Further along just before we turned back.)
	We decided to turn back at the start of the Rio Molinos as we didn't have sufficient time to make Istan and return to the Refuigio. We stopped on the way back to the pass and found a sheltered spot in the sun for lunch. (Photo, left: I decided on a little scrambling at the lunch stop. Photo, right: Clare as we set of back to the Refugio )
	Lunch over, we retraced the route back to the Refugio de Juanar.
	We shall do the full walk next Christmas, making sure we allocate a full day.