New from Montañas Vacías route creator Ernesto Pastor is “A Soundscape Reserve,” a triple album of field recordings that capture the unique sounds along the remote 420-mile track through Spain’s interior. Learn more and immerse yourself in the recordings here…

Adding yet another dimension to his comprehensive documentation of the award-winning Montañas Vacías route, Ernesto Pastor’s latest project is a downloadable triple album with an accompanying 55-page handwritten booklet featuring descriptions of the tracks, illustrations, and photographs. A Soundscape Reserve (Reserva de Paisajes Sonoros in Spanish) is an ambitious undertaking inspired by rider reports of hearing nothing but the birds and the wind out on the route. Reflecting on his conversations with riders who commented on the unique absence of auditory input while pedaling the track, Ernesto wrote, “It didn’t take me long to realise that silence wasn’t just the absence of noise, but a value in itself. Something that deserved to be heard, protected, and shared.”

  • A Soundscape Reserve
  • A Soundscape Reserve
  • A Soundscape Reserve
  • A Soundscape Reserve
  • A Soundscape Reserve

Framing the project, he continued, “The idea that Montañas Vacías was not just a place for bikepacking, but a sanctuary for natural sound, slowly took root until I understood that its protection had to become part of the philosophy of this project.” This realization inspired him to head out with a basic second-hand recorder and begin capturing sounds during his rides. The resulting audio journey spans years of recordings and is a compilation of many of the most iconic soundscapes found throughout the region traversed by Montañas Vacías. Ernesto hopes it will encourage listeners to reflect on the true value of what’s right on their doorstep.

A Soundscape Reserve
  • A Soundscape Reserve
  • A Soundscape Reserve

As always, the level of care and attention Ernesto put into this project should be celebrated. Referring to silence as “the most valuable, most unknown, and most mistreated natural resource in this area,” his work to elevate it as something to protect is inspiring and thought-provoking. A Soundscape Reserve is a unique and fascinating project that’s worth slowing down to appreciate, and Ernesto makes it easy to do so through his website.

You can take a deep dive into the audio recordings in various formats and download the companion guide as a PDF over at MontanasVacias.com.

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