With the early closure of the Sierra Nevada ski lifts, we were presented with a sparkling opportunity for a grand ski tour on deserted pistes!
Sometimes an opportunity presents itself. After a poor snow year with little quality ski touring the ski lifts at the Sierra Nevada decided it was time to close. Bad decision in hindsight, as the weekend of the closure brought a metre of fresh snowfall to the pistes.
Ski tour to Veleta, Sierra Nevada
So Monday morning we met early in Lanjarón and took the horu long drive to the Hoya de la Mora above the ski town of Pradallano int he Sierra Nevada.
A relaxed 3 hour long skin up the broad northern ridges of Veleta saw us well above the ski pistes below us. A very hot sun and not a breath of wind made it seem like summer as we chewed on our bocadillos. The sun glinted off the snows.
Then it was a mad dash, crazy descent of some 1300m down the deserted ski pistes to the base station where we had a second car waiting. The pistes were a bit lumpy and made for some tricky but interesting skiing. A great day out.
There may be more skiing available for the next few weeks. More Details
Video of the tour from Ian Tupman below