Naranjo de Bulnes

Naranjo de Bulnes
Naranjo de Bulnes.
Highest point
Elevation	2,519 m (8,264 ft)
Prominence	500 m (1,600 ft)
Naming
Translation	Picu Urriellu (Asturian)
Geography
Location	Asturias, Spain
Parent range	Cantabrian Mountains - Picos de Europa
Climbing
First ascent	August 5, 1904, Pedro Pidal
Easiest route	from Refugio Vega d'Urriellu.

The Naranjo de Bulnes (known as Picu Urriellu in Asturian) is a limestone peak dating from the paleozoic era, located in the Macizo Central region of the Picos de Europa, Asturias (Spain). Its name Picu Urriellu is believed to be derived from the term Los Urrieles which is used to describe the Macizo Central. Naranjo de Bulnes is part of the Cabrales region of Asturias, and lies within the Picos de Europa National Park.

The first written reference to "Picu Urriellu" as "Naranjo de Bulnes" is credited to the German geologist and engineer, Wilhelm Schulz, who, in 1855, published the first topographic and geological map of Asturias. As far as is known the etymology of this name is not clear, because, historically, the local inhabitants always referred to the mountain as "Picu Urriellu". It has been suggested that the name can be attributed to the orange hue of the limestone from which the peak is formed. The local residents of Bulnes have a saying concerning the contentious name: "No me llameis Naranjo, pues fruto no puedo dar, llamadme Picu Urriellu que es mi nombre natural". (Don't call me Orange tree, because fruit I cannot bear, call me Picu Urriellu which is my natural name).

It has an altitude of 2,529 metres and although it is by no means the highest peak of the Cantabrian mountain range, it can be considered the best-known summit in the world of Spanish mountaineering, especially the 550m high vertical wall of the west face. At its foot lies Vega Urriellu, a glacial valley from the quaternary period.

The mountain was first scaled from the north face (by the route now known as the Vía Pidal) on 5 August 1904 by Pedro Pidal y Bernaldo de Quirós, marqués de Villaviciosa de Asturias, accompanied by the shepherd Gregorio Perez, called "El Cainejo" from his place of birth, Caín in León.

The German geology professor and expert mountain climber Gustav Schulze made the second ascent of Urriellu on 1 October 1906 also from the north face, making him the first man to make the climb solo. He was also the first to use climbing pins to rappel down the south face. Used to the large cliffs of the Alps and the Dolomites he described the climb as short and difficult.