Origins of the Refugio Caballo Restoration Project
In August 2011 Refugio Caballo at 3000m in the Sierra Nevada. The aim was to clean the refuge and repair the door and window
Celebrate your birthday in the high Sierra Nevada mountains!
Last week we tried it out in the Sierra Nevada mountains of southern Spain. Our friend David Thomas wanted a 50th birthday party with a difference so we headed up to a high trailhead above the town of Güéjar Sierra, just east of Granada.
State of the mountain refugios & shelters, Sierra Nevada
This post was first published in March 2009. It has now been updated to give the definitive state of the mountain huts and shelters.
The Elorrieta Virgin
"This summer, Acción Sierra Nevada intends to undertake significant repairs to the Elorrieta refuge to render parts of it secure and weathertight so that it can be used more by the mountain community here. Having read and heard so much about this place over recent months, I thought it was about time I went to see why it has been singled out for attention.
Trapped for 3 days in the Refugio de Caballo, Sierra Nevada
On Friday the Sierra Nevada looked stunning. Javier and Jim set out from the Ventura trailhead above Lanjarón to ascend to the Refugio de Caballo.
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:
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.
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.
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.
Villavientos refuge provides a high class mountain refuge
It lies between the jagged ridge of the Raspones del Rio Seco and Mulhacen. Useful as a base for mountaineering, trekking or when the Caldera hut is full.
A cold night out in the ruined Refugio Cebollar
We spent a cold night in the ruins of the relatively unknown Cebollar Refugio 2500m in the heart of the Sierra Nevada. High in the Rio Chico valley above Orgiva in the Alpujarras lies the ruins of the Refugio Cebollar. Access is normally via either the forest area at Puente Palo (1700m) or via the high track to La Pluca above the western side of Capileira.
Mountain hut construction in the Rio Lanjaron, Sierra Nevada
Construction of mountain shelters on the slopes of Sierra Nevada was begun in the sixteenth century after a slow but progressive deforestation, which lasted until the early twentieth century. This situation was regrettable.