Trip Reports, News & Mountain Conditions for the Sierra Nevada » Walking

Video showing a weeks walking in the Alpujarras

admin — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 13:17:47 +0000

We have just completed a varied weeks hiking in the Alpujarras and wanted to show you some of the walks and scenery this wonderful area has to offer. We produced a short video shown below. During the week we managed to complete the following walking itineraries:

GR7 Trevelez to Busquistar
Pampaneira to Pitres via Bubion
GR7 Soportujar to Lanjarón via Cañar
Walk round the wetlands of Padul
La Taha, Mecina Fondales to Busquistar
Mulhacén (3482m) from the Mirador de Trevelez
Round of the Poqueira Gorge

Walking in the Alpujarras

Hiking to the Refugio de Cebollar above Puente Palo in the Sierra Nevada

admin — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 09:56:41 +0000

The delapidated Refugio de Cebollar makes an interesting days hiking destination above Puente Palo in the Alpujarras region of southern Spain.

Park the car at the forestry recreation site at Puente Palo above the towns of Lanjaron, Soportujar and Cañar. Head left up the main forest track. After some 45 minutes take the second main track leading right which crosses a stream after 200m. The trees begin to thin out and we emerge on open hillside on the west side and above the Rio Chico. The path winds it’s way around and up the hillside before levelling out. A slight downhill leads to the Rio Chico itself. Care is required in crossing here, especially after rains.

Cross the river and follow an indistinct path trending rightwards to avoid forest and steep ground. The path then heads back into the upper forest. Much of the path hereabouts is blocked by fallen trees so some diversionary tactics will have to be employed. Below the large prominent outcrop of rock a left turn is made (north) and the track levels. Now it is 10 minutes to the hut along a gentle track. Total 3hrs.

The hut is perched on a lovely shelf on the western slopes of Las Alegas at some 2600m height. It has seen better days. The doors are hanging off although some efforts have been made to put windows in. Maybe this will be a site for our next refugio restoration effort for “Acción Sierra Nevada”? It is a superb situation however, and makes for a fine night in the mountains, especially with spectacular sunsets over the Mediterranean sea.

To visit the summit of Las Alegas (worth it for the fantastic views NE to Mulhacen and the main Sierra Nevada ridge line) climb the slopes behind the hut, easier to the right (45 mins)

For a longer round, leave the hut and trend upwards in a northerly direction following the line of Rio Chico. This brings you to a col where it is easy to ascend to the wonderful summits of Cerrillo Redondo or Tajos de los Machos (2hrs). A return can be made south along the ridge and then via the forest breaks to the start point of the walk (10hrs).

The Cebollar hut

Inside the Cebollar hut

Anna with Las Alegas and the white speck of the hut behind

David at the hut with Tajos de los Machos behind

How to climb Mulhacen in a day without covering the same ground twice

admin — Sun, 21 Aug 2011 10:23:45 +0000

From the Alpujarras to the south the ascent of Mulhacen, highest peak in mainland Spain can be done in a long day in the summer. But how can you make the round trip more interesting by traversing the mountain and not covering the same ground twice?

Access

Through the town of Lanjaron to Orgiva. Turn left before Orgiva towards Capileira and Trevelez. After 20 mins you will enter a big gorge with 3 white villages high above the end of the valley. These villages are Pampaneira, Bubion and Capileira. Head round and up the gorge following the main road, passing through Pampaneira. Just 5 mins more and just before a petrol station turn left to Capileira.

Keep following the road through Capileira and on up the hillside. 5 mins – you will pass horse riding stables. Immediately after take the right when the road forks. Follow this rough track for 15 mins. Park at the Forestry Station barrier and car park (1hr from Lanjaron).

Mulhacen ascent

Perched precariously on Mulhacen summit point!

There is a well signposted track going up left of the forestry station. Head straight uphill through the forest on a marked and good track. This zig-zags uphill. When you leave the top end of the forest the path nearly meets a forest break (with a signpost beyond signalling the way to the Poqueira Hut) before zig zagging back right and upwards to reach the old road. Follow this.

2hrs after starting you will arrive at the Mirador de Trevelez (a nice place for a breakfast stop will be found 30m to the right by some rocks overlooking the town of Trevelez). Continuing on the old road for 400m, a faint track leaves the road heading rightwards. This is the main south ridge access track. Follow to the south summit and hence to the main summit of Mulhacen (2.5 to 3hrs from Mirador de Trevelez).

The ascent of Mulhacen (3481m) in a day not covering same ground twice
Find more Hikes in Capileira, Spain

Mulhacen descent

From the summit drop 50m south to a point where 2 adjacent cairns mark the start of the west flank path. Follow the track west. This steepens until the full extent of the west flank is seen below. Great views to the Caldera and Veleta areas. This is an unrelenting descent of 500m in a series of steep zig-zags. But it is quick! You should be down at the old road in 40 minutes.

Turn left (south) on the old road which passes over the “Paso de los Franceses” and eventually nears the Alto de Chorillo and the ascent route. Some 400m before the Alto de Chorrillo bear right down over pathless terrain to meet the road that goes from the Poqueira hut to the Alto de Chorrillo. Then, at the first left hand bend in the track take the traverse path south. Follow this along the mountainside. It passes through a forested area before arriving at the forest break above the Hoya del Portillo.

Follow the firebreak down. It is a bit rough, but no rougher than the Mulhacen slopes tackled previously. After 10 minutes you will see a small cairn on the left (looking down) that signifies a small path that enters the forest. Take this path. It is very faint in places but if you generally head a a descending traverse you are bound to reach the forest road or visitor car parks at the Hoya del Portillo.

And that’s it! A 24km walk up and down Mulhacen without ever having crossed the same tracks twice. It will take you between 7 and 9 hours with nearly 1200m of ascent. The Map and Google Earth Tour below will show you the route to be taken. There are links to altitude profiles and more mapping data.

The ascent of Mulhacen (3481m) in a day not covering same ground twice and more hikes in Capileira, Spain on MapMyHIKE. Find hike

A night under the stars with my husky friend, Khumbu

admin — Sun, 07 Aug 2011 12:46:31 +0000

It’s always great when your mountain adventures can be accompanied by a four legged friend. I took my husky, Khumbu on a trek into the Sierra Nevada, camping in the upper Lanjaron valley by streams and under a spectacular night sky.

This was to be his first overnight trip. My lightweight summer backpack felt strangely heavy, weighed down by the additional items such as dog food, extra water and a various assortment of chains, leads, slings and karabiners, in a vain attempt to control a huskies instincts for freedom.

Khumbu by the Laguna de Caballo

The Verea Corta trail

After leaving the Ventura trailhead above Lanjaron in the Alpujarras we headed uphill and gained the southern crest above the old Ventura hut. We were en route to the Cerro de Caballo and the upper Lanjaron valley. The ridge is broad and gentle and there are many large herds of Cabra Monteses (mountain goats) around here. Khumbu was strangely well behaved among all these fascinating creatures. I had no doubt a slip on my part and he would have been heading north across Spain chasing them, never to return. Such is the way of the husky!

After the Cerro de Caballo we dropped down to the Laguna de Caballo and along the incredible Verea Corta path that winds it’s way in and out of rock faces across the western flank of the Lanjaron valley.

Swimming in Laguna Cuadrada

We stop at Laguna Cuadrada for a welcome swim and then come to the crux, well for a husky, certainly. A short gully has to be crossed assisted by chains. Simple enough for the 2 legged variety but not for Khumbu. He is a strong willed dog and if he doesn’t want to do something then no amount of pulling, persuasion or tempting will work.

In the end two of us scaled the walls above the chains and organised an elaborate system whereby we could mavouver (pull), Khumbu across safely. As huskies are also not the bravest dogs in the world, this was accompanied by load squeals and cries. It was all over in a few seconds and we continued on our way non the worse for wear.

The way passed many glorious small mountain lakes nestling in deep craggy corries. A perfect way to laze the afternoon. We continued onto the head of the Rio Lanjaron and found a nice bivvy spot by some babbling brooks.

Khumbu on guard duty!

As the sun set and the stars came out, Khumbu delighted in watching the returning mountain ibex descending from the hills. He stayed on guard all throughout the night and kept the foxes at bay. Moon, Saturn, Shooting Stars, the Milky Way and the odd airliner filled the night sky. I tucked myself deeper into my sleeping bag as the temperature dropped to 3 or 4 deg C.

Fantastic mountain scenery, sun, running water and of course, a faithful friend. What more could one ask? Short video below.

Sunrise from the highest mountain in Spain

admin — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 11:48:08 +0000

A one am start from Lanjaron, an hours drive to the trailhead, followed by 5 hours trudge uphill through the night might not seem the best way to climb a mountain. But when we approached the summit and the sun broke through the horizon, all the hard effort and discomfort seemed well worthwhile. We were at the highest point in mainland Spain, Mulhacen, 3482m.

Night ascents of Mulhacen, Spain

Sunrise from the summit of Mulhacen

Fantastic colours on the eastern bowl

The Eastern Sierras

The summiteers

Veleta (R) and it's shadow (L) across the Vega de Granada

Veleta

Trekking North to South across the Sierra Nevada

admin — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 11:31:15 +0000

Report of a two day high level July trek in Spain’s Sierra Nevada, from the ski centre in the north to Lanjaron in the south camping by a high mountain lake overnight and returning down a lush green river valley.

Max and the Cerro de Caballo

The high (2500m) access point at the Hoya de la Mora makes a convenient starting point for this two day trek. Unfortunately one has to spend the first hour passing through the summer debris of the ski resort pistes, but thereafter this is a wonderful high level trek. From the Hoya de la Mora car parks follow the road past the Virgen de las Nieves until a junction just before a chairlift station. Turn right here and proceed for 200m before taking a track off to the left. This leads above the ski restaurants at Borreguiles and onto the Collado de Las Yeguas (1hr).

From the Collado head SE past the Embalse de las Yeguas and enter the enchanting area known as Lagunillas de las Virgen. A series of small lakes provide water and superb scenery. From the last lagunilla follow the gently rising track below the Tajos de la Virgen ridge. The path curves round in a sweep round the bowl. Easy but care should be taken at the end of this traverse path (until well into the summer) as it crosses steep snow or ice. We took crampons for security and were very glad we did so.

Camp by Laguna Cuadrada

After this traverse you rise gently to the Elorrieta refugio, perfectly situated for widespread views of the Sierras (3hrs). Still full of surplus energy we then climbed the Tozal de Cartujo (3152m) via it’s interesting NE ridge and hence onto the superb summit of Tajos Altos (5hrs). The aim was to drop down to Laguna Cuadrada, one of the finest places to camp in the Sierras. A way through the band of intervening crags can be found after dropping some 50m in height south from the summit. At the first leveling out of the ridge look east and you will see a steep but easy scree slope running initially straight down and then curving right. This led to the overnight camp at the delightful Laguna Cuadrada.

Abundant water, sun and relaxing resting places aside the lake. A perfect situation for an overnight camp. BUT….. there are problems with Foxes as we have reported on this site many, many times. They are desperate for food and know what plastic bags and rucksacks mean ie food. We took our own fox deterrent, our dog, Max. The couple camping across the lake from us didn’t have a Max. They were pestered all night long by foxes intent on eating. We slumbered on oblivious, thanks to Max, who they evidently can smell from quite a distance. Read more about the fox attacks…..

Breakfast at the Refugio de Caballo

At first light we packed up and continued our journey. This time on an ingenious path south and some 200m below the ridge crest. Within an hour we had arrived at the Laguna de Caballo. Leaving our gear we summited the 3009m Cerro de Caballo before returning for breakfast (1hr round trip) by the refugio. Here we met my spanish friend Pepe Badaje who had arrived to help us inspect the Refugio de Caballo with a view to restoring the door and window later this summer.

Rather than take the short way south to our waiting car, we dropped down the Lavedero de la Reina, passed left of the peak of Morrón and hence down into the lush green valley of the upper Rio Lanjaron. What a place. Beautiful pools, waterfalls and streams. A Shangri-La! Then it is on down the faint track to the overflow dam and pick up the restored Acequia de Prados Colorados.

It’s a long way out especially as, due to the poor state of the track to the Ventura trailhead, we had arranged for a pickup at the ridge line below Peña Caballera. The hot afternoon sun took it’s toll but we eventually arrived at the truck and 45 minutes later was enjoying a beer at Bar Flower in Lanjarón.

This is an enjoyable two day trek with differing and beautiful scenery. Contact me if you wish more information or you can join us on one of our frequent treks across the Sierra Nevada.

The Rio Lanjaron with Cerro de Caballo behind

Full photo gallery from the trip…………..

Video from Pepe Badaje showing the Rio Lanjaron Valley…………

Valle del Río Lanjarón, S. Nevada, Julio 2011. por pepebadaje

Our new walking grades for this summers trekking season in Andalucia

admin — Mon, 23 May 2011 13:59:38 +0000

Our walking and trekking trips in Andalucia are designed to be accessible to all who are in good health and enjoy the outdoors, but fitness levels are important and you should consider carefully which trip is right for you.

Andalucia, Spain's most varied and interesting walking destination

Our grading system is there to help you choose a trip appropriate to your ability and requirements. For harder trips the correct preparation can vastly enhance your enjoyment; stamina building aerobic activities such as regular cycling, swimming, jogging and walking beforehand will make a noticeable difference.

There is no need to worry about not walking fast enough or holding back the group. All you need to focus on is your ability to complete the route. Everyone has his or her own comfortable pace and we always strive to accommodate this. All Walking & Trekking holidays present physical demands, so expect to feel some tiredness even after a leisurely, days walking. Grades are only a guide.

Experience is not necessary; anyone fit and healthy enough to complete a weekend walk can manage a Leisurely grade.

Length of walking day – Short, often optional walks of between four and five hours duration
Conditions underfoot – Good, well maintained paths or tracks
Altitude – Low altitude, with little daily variation
Weather and temperature – Generally good with no extremes
Remoteness and comfort – Comfortable with easy access to local amenities