The Mountain Rescue Service (Sereim) of the Guardia Civil began searching for a mountaineer of English origin who had left his hotel in Pradollano ski area on Sunday at 5am intending to summit Mulhacen and return by noon. By Sunday night he had not returned and his wife alerted the rescue services. She said her husband was 44 years old and experienced in the mountains, but that he had no crampons or equipment for a night out in the snow.
The rescue services began their search, but bad weather, with blizzard conditions, snow and poor visibility forced them to take shelter in the Poqueira Refugio and continue when weather improves.
Those who know the Sierra Nevada know that to access Mulhacen from Pradollano in full winter conditions involves much traversing over difficult terrain. It is believed that the lost mountaineer will have probably had difficulties between the Paso de los Machos and the refugio de Caldera, where the route crosses steep avalanche prone terrain and icy slopes. The normal, safer route to Mulhacen in winter is generally from the south via Capileira.
It is now Tuesday. Let us hope that he has found his way back to safety, or that the rescuers find him in time!
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Update. 18:30 Tuesday 5th. Good news. The guy has been located. He suffered a broken leg but managed to make a remarkable journey down the Barranco de San Juan to a bar near Guejar Sierra area. Should be a good tale to tell in years to come?
Thanks to the combined rescue services for their efforts over the past few days too! Good to know they are out there and willing to put there own lives on the line.
Update Wednesday am. Report from the SEREIM rescue services today say that the englishman, Sean Moore, made it to the Caldera but abandoned Mulhacen west flank due to transparent ice. He spent Sunday night in the Caldera. On his return on Monday morning he met high winds at the Cariguela that prevented him from going back to Pradollano. He returned to the crossover point on the Crestones de Rio Seco and headed north steeply down into the Valdeinfiernos valley. It is here lower down that he slipped on ice and fell some 50m, fracturing his left kneecap.
Throughout that night he walked, using poles for assistance. He made it down to Cueva Secreta and along the considerable length of the Verada Estrella back to the Bar Chiquito and the trailhead.
An amazing feat of survival in poor and difficult mountain conditions!
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