Please look after our mountain refuges in the Sierra Nevada
To all you mountaingoers out there who read this. A plea from the heart! When you stay at any unguarded refuge in the Sierra Nevada would you kindly:
Insights the mountains & wilderness have shown me this year
There were ups and downs, of course (it is the mountains after all.....ha ha!), but experiences in the Sierra Nevada and Patagonia have shown me some insights I thought I'd share with you.
Ideal newspaper article, Accion Sierra Nevada initiative
From the initiative we want to thank the interest shown by Alejandro Molina to Accion Sierra Nevada, author of the article reproduced and translated into english (as best I can!) below.
Oh, Patagonia, to leave you we shall weep!
Poem by Michelle Wakeley about her time spent with us on our recent Southern Patagonian Icecap Expedition
Best vantage point to view the North Faces, Sierra Nevada
From Granada, head east on good roads and pass by the town of Pinos Genil and on through the town of Guejar Sierra. On the eastern outskirts of Guejar Sierra take a left turn signposted "Camping Cortijo Balderas". This road is concreted but narrow. After 2km take a rough road right (marked with a No Entry sign!). Take this and drop down to a crossing of the Rio Maitena. Follow this concreted road as it winds upwards.
Mountain spirit alive with Accion Sierra Nevada initiative
In the past few months Acción Sierra Nevada has emerged as a credible independent platform for improving and conserving the Sierra Nevada mountain environment. The latest venture saw 26 people taking part in completing phase 2 of the restoration work on the Refugio de Caballo with the installation of a new door.
Debilitating effects of Snowblindness, a personal experience
This article relates my own personal experience on the Patagonian Icecap with this painful condition. I am not a medical expert and haven't read up on all the facts, so if you want the medical stuff then do a Google Search. I relate below only my own experience.
Snow wall construction to eliminate drifting on leeward side
Sometimes a basic snow wall is not sufficient to keep the elements at bay. The wind can drop spindrift on the leeward side thus burying the tents. Is there a solution in the way we can construct snow walls that would make them more efficient?
Walking from Sea 2 Sky in Andalucia
Ian Tupman describes a challenging walk from the coast at Salobrena to the lofty summit of Mulhacen, highest summit in Spain
Hike to Refugio de Cebollar above Puente Palo, Sierra Nevada
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.
Why restoring an old mountain refuge is good for the soul
It's been very hard work, but it has allowed us to give something back to the mountains that have given us so much over the years.
Climb Mulhacen in a day without covering same ground twice
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?