Ideas, information, trip reports, photos, videos for the guided and self guided adventurer
We visit all the major peaks and areas of the Sierra Nevada regularly including, Mulhacen, Alcazaba, Veleta, Caballo, Cartujo, Caldera and Los Tres Miles
We try to write up as many of our trips into the summer and winter Sierra Nevada as we can.
Mountain and snow condition reports, gear reviews, videos, web tech stuff and travel news
Mountaineering, Trekking, Hiking, Rock Climbing, Scrambling, Ski Touring and Snowshoeing are all covered during our busy year.
An expedition encircling the Fitzroy and Cerro Torre massifs on the icecap in perfect weather conditions. Starting at El Chalten and going via Rio Electrico, La Playita, Glacier Marconi, Paso Marconi, Cirque de los Altares and coming off at the Paso del Viento and down the Tunel valley.
This is the reporting website for Spanish Highs Mountain Guides based in Lanjarón at the foot of the Sierra Nevada. We write about our travels in both the Sierra Nevada, Andalucia and also our expeditions to the Patagonian Icecap.
We have over 600 posts from our own mountain ventures and trips since 2007, together with information on access, weather, gear and routes. We hope you use them as an inspiration for your own adventures!
Of course if you are looking to join a guided tour, Spanish Highs offer walking, trekking, scrambling, snowshoeing, backcountry ski touring tours, mountaineering courses and of course guided ascents of Mulhacén.
Although this is southern Spain the Sierra Nevada should never be underestimated. We supported Australians Ryan and Emma as they did a self guided 5 day trip in the Sierra Nevada, intending starting at Guejar Sierra, crossing Mulhacén and dropping down to the Alpujarras. They sent us in this interesting report of their experiences. As [...]
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During April 2013, members of the Spanish Highs team joined a Berghaus sponsored expedition led Berghaus athlete, Julia Pickering, attempting to make the first ski and snowboard climb and descent of the highest active volcano in Kamchatka, Klyutchevskoy Sopka (4750m). Richard Hartley and Kiersten Rowland of Spanish Highs, Sierra Nevada were invited to join this Berghaus [...]
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Mulhacen is a technically straightforward peak but high altitude (3482m) and bad weather sometimes catch people out. The fact that is the highest mountain in mainland Spain provides a big attraction. There have been accidents though especially in the changeable seasons of spring and autumn. If in doubt a mountain guide should always be taken, especially when [...]
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Join us on one of our winter skills mountaineering courses in the high, snow sure Sierra Nevada mountains of Spain. Learn ice axe, crampon, winter belaying and alpine skills in a superb mountain environment. We have been running these winter skills mountaineering courses here in Spain for over 12 years. In that time we have [...]
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In April 2013, Richard Hartley and Kiersten Rowland of Spanish Highs Mountain Guides are to join a team led by British snowboarder/mountaineer Julia Pickering attempting to become the first people to climb and snowboard down the largest active volcano in the Northern Hemisphere, Kamchatka in far eastern Russia. The team’s main sponsor is outdoor clothing and [...]
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Nothing beats ski touring up and down a mountain (skijoring) with man’s best friend, in my case our husky, named “Khumbu”! Spain’s Sierra Nevada mountains offer many opportunities for backcountry skiing with or without our four legged friends. The mountain side above Puente Palo looked bare. The thaw had devastated the snowpack. But we know [...]
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Snow affected access tracks meant we only had a thin ribbon of snow in the gully to ascend and descend the mountain but it turned out to be a superb ski tour in wild and quiet surroundings in a little known area of the Sierra Nevada. Not sure it has ever been skied before either? [...]
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It sounded good on paper. Approach using skis, climb some simple gullies and then ski out again. But a blocked road meant a longer ski in. Combined with the additional weight for mountaineering kit gave a very long hard day in the Sierra Nevada. We are always on the look out to do something different. After [...]
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Take a remote refuge with superlative mountain views, a few good friends, tasty food, a wee dram (or two) and a reason to celebrate and you have the makings of a birthday to remember. Last week we tried it out in the Sierra Nevada mountains of southern Spain. Our friend David Thomas wanted a 50th birthday [...]
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