Yesterday’s walk up one of our favourite Sierra Nevada mountains, the Cerro de Caballo (3009m) turned out to be the least eventful. There was no snow, no dramas and few views as the clouds came in as we neared the summit. The summit was more reminiscent of Scafell Pike on a bad day than the Sierra Nevada. But we had a good day nevertheless!
On the summit of Cerro de Caballo
We started and ended the walk at the Ventura hut as normal. The road up from Lanjaron is deteriorating and is almost inaccessible without 4WD vehicles or a lack of respect for the underside of ones car. We did the traversing ascent in a slowish 3.5 hrs, returning down the south ridge before dropping down to the car in 2 hrs. Water is still to be found in a stream in the bowl below the ruins and our grateful dogs sat in it for half an hour.
Few birds were seen, in contrast to the last venture up here when we managed to get close up photos of about 15 Griffon Vultures. Presumably the bird migration is well under way? Cabra Monteses (mountain goats) are around in abundance much to the delight of our husky and leonberger dogs.
Cabra Montes
There is still snow in the Rio Lanjaron. The photo below was taken from the summit during a brief clearing of the cloud. Amazing to think that there is some perennial snow this year at 2700m!
Remains of 2008/2009 snows still remaining mid-October 2009
The Cerro de Caballo is a fine peak, but I am waiting for the return of winter before I head up there again. The crags S and E of the summit may provide some good winter sport?
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