It sounded good on paper. Approach using skis, climb some simple gullies and then ski out again. But a blocked road meant a longer ski in. Combined with the additional weight for mountaineering kit gave a very long hard day in the Sierra Nevada.
Heading up some steepening snow slopes
We are always on the look out to do something different. After the heavy snows of the previous week we knew the snow level was low and we might be able to combine some nice ski touring terrain with the ascent and exploration of some easy gullies on some small crags we knew.
Unfortunately our normal access to Refugio Forestal La Piuca on the western side of the Barranco de Poqueira, high above Capileira, was restricted due to a snowblocked road. This added another 4km each way to our daily distance. We started out carrying over 20kg in gear including, skis, skins, ski crampons, ski boots, mountaineering gear, ice axes, crampons, ice screws etc in addition to normal winter hill gear.
After the first 300m of road walking we were able to change into our ski touring set ups and skin the rest of the route in. Skinning along a road is not as easy as it seems. Ski touring gear is generally made for going uphill, not for on the flat. Consequently boots started to rub and hot spots on the heels were developing.
On entering the forested areas we took the second valley system to the left. As soon as we started the uphill proper things improved. Superb skinning on good snows up a tree clad valley. We made the only tracks as we silently moved up the snowfields. On breaking out above the treeline we had a further 30 minutes of skiing before the snows gave way to a windswept broad ridge. Here we left the skis and continued onto the Refugio Cebollar on the west side of the peak of Las Alegas.
Skiing down through the forests to La Piuca
This is one of our favourite spots for lunch. A superb location with views across the Rio Chico valley to Cerrillo Redondo and Tajos de los Machos. We spied out the line of the barrancos of the Hondo and Cortes opposite, targets for future ski tours.
After lunch we geared up for what we thought would be some good icy slopes behind the refuge. Unfortunately and unknown to us, the windy conditions of the past few days had cleared much of the snow from within the short gully lines, and only a few short pitches were completed.
From the summit of Las Alegas we made a rapid running descent back to the skis, hoping to catch the run back before the sun had softened the snow too much. The descent down the valley was delightful but care had to be taken with the alternating icy and soft snow stretches. It is easy to adjust ones balance to changing conditions when skiing on the piste. Much less so with a heavy pack trying to unsettle you!
Then it was a quick descent on narrow snow lines running alongside the road. Within 30 minutes of starting the descent we were back at the car, thirsty and dehydrated, but ready for a beer or two in Lanjarón!
Moral of the story? Yes, you can combine the two mountain activities quite successfully BUT be prepared for a certain amount of hardship along the way especially if unforeseen circumstances arise.