Climb the Alpine Ridges of Spain's Sierra Nevada mountains

The 4 classic alpine ridges of the Sierra Nevada in 5 days!

From the end of April until the end November we offer a 5 day high mountain tour that takes in some of the finest ridges of the Sierra Nevada. Wild camping or unguarded refuges. In early or late season the exact route will depend on prevailing snow and weather condtions.

Some of the best scrambles in the Sierra Nevada mountains for those in search of adventure or an adrenaline rush. We take you on the five high mountain scrambles as detailed in Richard Hartley's Cicerone Guide to the Sierra Nevada. In all, three on ridges and two up buttresses.

We can supply equipment to those who don't have or wish to save weight on the airlines

Itinerary

• Day 1 - Ascend to Refugio Poqueira (guarded)

• Day 2 - Los Raspones de Rio Seco or Espolon de Alcazaba. Winter Alpine AD+. Summer Diff. Rock 3. Camp Laguna Galbata or Laguna Mosca.

• Day 3 - NW Espolon Puntal de la Caldera/Traverse of Puntal de la Caldera. Winter Alpine PD+. Summer grade 3S scramble. Camp Rio Seco

• Day 4 - Arista de las Campanitas - Cerro de los Machos to Veleta. Winter Alpine AD. Summer Diff. Rock 3. Camp Laguna Misterioso

• Day 5 - NW ridge of Tozal de Cartujo. Winter Alpine AD. Summer grade 2 scramble (1 abseil and 1 section rock 3). Out to Capileira

Grade

Helmet, harness and rope are essential for security on all of these scrambles and all become major winter mountaineering routes under snow and ice (PD+ to AD+).

Gallery - Alpine Ridges

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Seasonal Notes - Winter

From January to May each year. Minimum 2 persons. Full on multi-day winter climbing and as such a certain amount of hardship will have to be be endured and weight carried.

Participants must have been on our Winter Skills or Alpine Courses or at least a course of similar standard

Evening Day 1 - Refugio Poqueira (guarded)

Evening Day 2, 3 - Refugio Villavientos (unguarded)

Evening Day 4 - Refugio Carihuela (unguarded)

Alternatives include - Tajos de la Virgen ridge. Grade Alpine PD+ with a couple of exposed sections. Long "alpine" type ridge with extensive views

Seasonal Notes - Summer

From June to October each year. Minimum 2 persons. Most days you will travel lightweight, returning to base camp overnight. Generally high quality scrambling with long exposed sections. Maybe some simple abseils.

Participants must be able to feel confident rope handling while moving together and essential to have a good head for heights! Our summer scrambling courses are an ideal to learn the basics

Evening Day 1, 2 ,3 - Wild camp in upper valley Rio Seco

Evening Day 4 - Wild camp Laguna Misterioso

Alternatives include - Tajos de la Virgen ridge. Grade 1 with a couple of exposed sections. Long "alpine" type ridge with extensive views

Routes and itineraries may have to change (especially in winter) should snow, ice or weather conditions dictate!

Alpine ridges of the Sierra Nevada

When?

Prices

Mountaineering Courses and PD routes

Group size (per booking): (prices are per person per day)

• 1 person - cost €150
• 2 persons - cost €95
• 3 persons - cost €85
• 4 persons - cost €75

Classic Winter Mountaineering Routes (AD and above) (1:2 ratio)

• 1 person - cost €220
• 2 persons - cost €140

Definition of "Group" - if you are booking a trip for 2 persons the 2 person rate applies, 3 persons - 3 person rate etc (not dependent on eventual total group size!).

Price includes:

• Guiding
• Backup vehicles
• Gear hire - helmet, harness, crampons, ice axe
• We have a limited number of boots and sizes available for guest use

N.B Guiding ratio for high mountain activities - no more than 4 to a guide.

Enquire via email or contact form

Transport (effective for all bookings after 1st July 2022)

The guiding price above does not include transport. Due to rising energy and fuel prices we do not want to be constantly changing guiding prices to reflect transport costs. We want to be honest and open about our price structure.

Clients have two options:

NO COST OPTION - Pick up/drop off our guide in Lanjaron or a venue to be agreed. Use your own transport to and from the start/end of activity.

COST OF FUEL OPTION - Our guide will drive you to/from start/end of activity in one our own vehicles. Applicable costs are:

• Capileira, White Villages, Taha del Pitres €15
• Hoya del Portillo €20
• Sierra Nevada ski area €25
• Granada area, Cumbres Verdes €15
• Peñon de la Mata €20
• Lecrin Valley €10
• Jerez de Marquesado, Eastern Sierra Nevada €35

N.B For destinations not listed above we can easily work out a fuel cost