Wind speed, Wind gusts, Wind direction, Wind chill (°C), Temperature (°C), Cloud cover (%), Pressure (hPa) and expected Precipitation (mm/3h) are all interesting and useful indicators if you are heading for the high Sierras.

More info, maps, details

Spindrift blows across the Cerro de Caballo

Temperatures – nothing too different on the maximums and minimums, but interesting to note that 2011 was far more extreme overall than in  2010. The number of times the temperatures exceeded 30 or were less than 10 were much more than in 2010.

Rainfall much higher in 2010, but that was an exceptional year.

View all the Alpujarras climate data since 2006

Temperatures

• Max High 36.3 (2010 38.2)
• Min Low 0.3 (2010 0.0)
• Average temp 15.8 (2010 16.0)
• Average max 27.6 (2010 26.7)
• Average min 7.1 (2010 7.1)
• Max temperature over 30 degrees on – 48 days (2010 – 26 days)
• Min temperature under 10 degrees on – 154 days (2010 – 114 days)

Rainfall

• Total precipitation 442mm (2010 720mm)
• Days when precipitation over 2.5mm – 37 days (2010 – 42 days)

Wind

• Maximum gust 61 km/hr (2010 61 km/hr)
• Average maximum gust throughout the year 22.6 km/hr (2010 – 26.3 km/hr)
• Average speed 2.4 km/hr (2010 3.2 km/hr)
• Average wind direction – 265

Click to load Climate Data 2011 in larger window

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.

Chilling out by the Laguna Cuadrada

How did this come about?

We live in Lanjaron in the Alpujarras. For many local people the mountain lakes of the upper Lanjaron valley are the “Shangri-La”, a mystical place that provides year round water to the lower levels of the Alpujarras. For them to visit it becomes almost a pilgrimage. I have been privileged to accompany local people many times on their annual trip to the “source”.

Cool running waters!

Our walks are designed to take in the best these lakes have to offer. Much of the walking is above 3000m on rough but well tracked paths. Some steep sections are met but generally the trekking is relaxed and easy. We allow plenty of opportunity to swim or relax by the lakes. The upper Rio Lanjaron valley is lush and green and has the delightful rio constantly sending it’s waters south towards the populated Alpujarras. It is a special place!

We believe we are the first to offer such walking here in the Sierra Nevada. We have 3 tours of differing difficulty so that families as well as hardened trekking types can visit these lovely lakes

(1) Easiest.

Hoya de la Mora (2500m), above ski centre above Granada. From here we have a 7/8 hour return trip climbing 800m. During July and August we can make use of ski lift access to give a shorter day (5-6 hours / 400m ascent). Chill out by the Laguna de Lanjaron and enjoy the cool waters! Visting….. Embalse de Las Yeguas (2900m), Lagunillas de la Virgen (2960m), Laguna de Lanjaron (2980m)

(2) Medium.

The upper Rio Lanjaron

Ski lift access in July and August followed by a walk up to the Elorietta hut and a long descent of the gentle Rio Lanjaron to waiting 4WD transport by the Ventura hut (8 hours / 500m ascent). The upper Lanjaron valley is stunning! Visiting….. Embalse de Las Yeguas (2900m), Lagunillas de la Virgen(2960m), Laguna de Lanjaron (2980m), Laguna Charca Pala (2950m)

(3) Hardest.

By taking 4WD transport to the Ventua trailhead in the south we can walk up towards the Cerro de Caballo. From the Cerro de Caballo refugio by the Laguna de Caballo we head north along the “Verada Cortada”, passing the Laguna Cuadrada before reaching the Laguna de Lanjaron. Then its back down the valley and out via an acequia to the waiting transport. A beautiful walk! (10 hours / 1000m ascent). Visiting….. Laguina de Caballo (2850m),Laguna Cuadrada (2930m), Laguna Charca Pala (2950m), Laguna de Lanjaron (2980m).

More information and reservations

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Upper Rio Lanjaron in mid summer

The waters gather at high lakes at the head of the Rio Lanjaron, just below the Elorietta refugio. The Laguna de Lanjaron, Laguna Cuadrada and countless smaller lakes are buried under winter snows for over 6 months of the year and this provides the key. Much water is filtered through the mountainsides on its long journey downhill before finally appearing as natural springs.

The Rio gathers water from the slopes of  Tajos de los Machos and the long western mountain limb culminating in the Cerro de Caballo. At times, especially in early winter, there is a raging torrent that threatens bridges and fields. In late summer the Rio can become a simple trickle of water.

Local man, Pepe Badaje, has installed the webcam at his cortijo alongside the river. Visit his website.

Watch live video from pepebadaje on Justin.tv

Late summer at the Laguna Cuadrada

The upper Rio Lanjaron in May 2010!

Cerrillo Redondo above the forest

We enjoy Cerrillo Redondo and Tajos de los Machos.  They form our “back garden! Both are accessible from dirt tracks above the spa town of Lanjaron in the Alpujarras and give good winter mountaineering and ski touring. Puente Palo at 1700m is the normal start point but we have found a higher access this year that usually gets us to the snows in under 30 minutes.

Leaving the car and kitted up with skis and boots strapped to our sacks we headed for the top of the forest. I had to admit it didn’t look good. Lots of greens and very little white. Maybe I had miscalculated the retreat of the snows.

After 45 minutes traversing and then steeply up a forest break we arrived at our very own shangri-la at 1900m. A shallow valley above the forest edge with a beautiful babbling brook running alongside.

Skiing up the shallow gullies

Overhead we spotted the usual Bonellis and Golden Eagles. Above is the snow clad peak of Cerrillo Redondo. It is an idyllic place. We have been here many occasions throughout the winter running winter mountaineering courses or back country skiing tours.

And there at the left hand edge was a shallow series of gullies filled with snow and providing our access route to the heights. We geared up, donned skins and started uphill. The day was warm and the skies blue as we skinned uphill. On a couple of places we met broken ground and had to remove skis for a few metres.

After two hours of almost continuous snow ascent we arrived at a sub summit south of the reigning peak. A sharp breeze sprang up as we ate our sandwiches. Over to the east we could see las Alegas and the long south ridge of Mulhacen. Then it was time to set off down.

It is always a testing moment on the top of a remote mountain when one sets off downhill. What would the snow be like? Were we to have a nightmare descent in soft slush or a rapid one in perfect piste-like conditions.

Approaching the ridgeline

The reality was that we had a combination of both. The 25cm upper surface was soft spring snow. This resided on a hard and compacted base. It was also consistent all the way down. Once you had got a few turns in and got used to the snow resistance it provided a magnificent run down.

Towards the bottom the narrow gullies added interest to the run. Within 20 minutes of leaving the top we were back at the forest edge. A short walk back to the car and we were heading down for a welcoming beer. One of my favourite ski touring days out this. Recommended!

Video from the day below. I shot the helmet cam stuff with our new €40 Muvi cam. James Jackson did the static stuff with a Flip Video. James shot the static photos.

Records for the month of March 2011

alpujarras-weather-records-march-2011

You may also be interested in:
Visit the Lanjaron weather station live datafeed
View past weather records
Sierra Nevada Mountain Weather Forecasts

Gerald Brenan

I have been fascinated with Gerald Brenan’s adventure and indeed his life story for some time. Immortalized in the famous book “South from Granada” which describes his arrival and adventures in the Alpujarra, Andalucia in the 1920′s. It is a great travel book that perfectly captures the essence, feel  and attractiveness of the early Alpujarras.

In the book he describes the route he took from Granada to Yegen. From the description in the book we can determine the following:

Get the book

(1) He walked it in September (possibly 1921?)
(2) He set off from Granada at 3am (doesn’t say exactly where)
(3) Reached Guejar Sierra at dawn
(4) Ascent to the col at Laguna de Vacares
(5) Descent to El Horcajo at the head of the Trevelez valley
(6) Reached Bercules at 6pm (presumably via the Trevelez valley rather than the high ridge of Loma del Piedra Ventana?)
(7) Reached main road by nightfall
(8) Arrived Yegen at 10pm
(9) He estimated the distance of at least 60 miles and 8000 feet of ascent
(10) It took him 19 hours

South From Granada (Penguin Modern Classics)

The distance of 60 miles (I have actually measured it at somewhat less than that) and 3000m ascent mean this is a considerable challenge for all, whether weekend rambler, committed trekker or hardened mountaineer.

When we apply “Naismiths Rule” to the distance and height estimations we get a time of 25 hours (the basic rule is as follows: allow 1 hour for every 3 miles (5 km) forward, plus ½ hour for every 1000 feet (300 metres) of ascent) for the trip. There are variations to this rule to allow for fitness levels but what is clear is that Mr Brenan was a very fit lad indeed!

On Saturday 17th September 2011 we are going to replicate this walk as much as we can in aid of Cancer Research. Our trainee guide James Jackson will lead the walk with the rest of Spanish Highs Mountain Guides supporting with help, advice, transport, accommodation and safety. We shall meet and start the walk at the Alhambra Palace car parks on the outskirts of Granada city. Transport shall be provided from the finishing point in Yegen back to Lanjaron.

All are welcome to join in and come along and celebrate this walk in a good cause. Who knows it may become a regular fixture?

Contact Spanish Highs Mountain Guides for more information or if you wish to join in. Any further information would be gratefully received.

Photos from the archives…………..

Looking down on the Col de Vacares and Laguna de Vacares

Dawn breaking at the col de Vacares looking to Granada

The village of Trevelez

Ski Touring Loma de San Juan

The winter so far hasn’t been anything like as bad as the past one. Sure, we have had good snowfalls, but have had periods of settled weather in between. In these situations providing one accesses correctly the avalanche dangers and chooses your route wisely, then good mountain days can be had. Ascents of all the major peaks, excepting Alcazaba, have been achieved often by some interesting and new (for us) routes.

We have completed many days winter skills mountaineering and alpine instruction courses. There is always a call to climb Mulhacen and we have delivered on many occasions.  Ski touring weeks have been completed often in difficult snow conditions. On some poor days up high we have managed some interesting scrambling and rock climbing instead.

Highlights I think have been…………………..
Crossing Puntal de la Caldera and Tajos de la Virgen
Ski descents from Mulhacen
Ski Touring Veleta and San Juan
Finding new areas to enjoy winter mountaineering

Jens Foell

Most of the tougher stuff has fallen to Jens Foell, who has had some outstanding guiding days. We have also been ably assisted at times with the capable David Thomas, the experience of Jane Fields and the enthusiasm of mountaineering apprentice James Jackson.

Behind the guiding effort Kiersten Rowland and James Jackson have provided much needed admin backup.

Thanks to all for their help and efforts! Me? I’ve done my bit, especially on the instructional and ski touring stuff, but seem to have been office boy for much of the winter!

Now for the second half of the winter. This is the most fun, especially for an “oldie” like me! Sunnier. Warmer. Bivouacking comes more into play, enabling us a wider scope and opportunity. I am looking forward to long ski touring days on the Cerro de Caballo, Tajos de los Machos and the Tajos de Cartujo. Long mountaineering routes on the Raspones ridges and gullies and Snowshoeing in the forests of the Alpujarras.

All this is to come. Can’t wait.

We bought a pair of these to try out from our friend Guillermo of Deportes Nomadas in Durcal. Retail price is a reasonable €115. Stated use is for general snow touring. We have tended to concentrate on the more well known makes of TSL and Tubbs in the past, so were eager to get to grips with these newly acquired ” raquetas de nieve“.

inook snowshoes odyssey

First the technical blurb………………..

• Colour blue night
• Size (l x w) 62 x 21 cm
• Frame 1020 g the pair
• Adjustable Binding and heelstep
• Weight 1120 g the pair
• Users weight 50 to 110 kg
• Shoesize 35 to 47
• 6 steel side crampon points
• 2 front teeth
• Carrying case

Design – Looking under the snowshoe, the frame shows a definite arch, that give stability, especially by hill crossings.

Frame – The three dimensional and profiled shape of the frame offers very little friction with the snow. The front nose is slightly bent upwards so that the deep snow does not break the forward movement. The lower part of the frame is open in the back to leave the compressed snow.

Climbing Step – Its technology is very simple and does not need you to bend down. You can use our poles. As you push the pole on the front or rear part of the heel step, you let it glide between the neutral and the up-hill positions.

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Our findings on a 2 day snowshoe trip in the Sierra Nevada

We gave them a good going over on a recent trip into the forests of the upper Alpujarras in southern Spain. Snow was generally very soft and deep.

Bindings – getting and out of the snowshoe is very easy once the rather complex looking binding is acquainted with and the boot set up for the binding. The release can be operated with finger and forefinger.

Heel lift system –  excellent. 5 stars for this. “Heel down” mode, “heel lift” mode and “climbing” mode can all be operated by using a ski pole in similar fashion to a pair of ski bindings.

Ascent – Flotation was good and on harder snow surfaces grip was adequate as provided for by the small front toe crampon points.

Descent – The small dual crampon teeth that give adequate ascent capabilities were not aggressive enough for a powder surface and hard base underneath. The snowshoes didn’t always grip and I found myself being thrown off balance. Similarly I felt the show could have been more stable in deep snow by having a slightly wider base frame.

Traversing – awful. But this applies to most snowshoes I have ever worn. None of them have been particularly good at traverses, so don’t let this feature put you off investing in a pair.

Conclusion

Pros – lightweight, binding system, heel lift, weight, price

Cons – crampon points too small, frame a bit narrow

A good result despite a few negatives to report. We shall be investing in another pair shortly to bolster our snowshoe rental hire store in Lanjaron.

Nearing the cebollar hut