News from Sierra Nevada Guides

Latest news from the Sierra Nevada Mountains of Southern Spain

Wednesday 15 October 2014

Winter Skills Training in Spain’s Sierra Nevada


Winter Skills Training in Spain’s Sierra Nevada with Sierra Nevada Guides

Winter Skills Course - Mulhacen Summit, 3482m
The Sierra Nevada has the highest mountain in mainland Spain, Mulhacen 3482m. Although it is Europe’s most southerly major mountain chain, it usually has a good covering of snow from December through to March with winter mountaineering  and skiing possible from late November until early May.

This year Sierra Nevada Guides are running a week of winter mountain skills training from 31st January until 7th February. 3 nights spent in a hotel and 4 at the Refugio Poqueira at 2500m. The week is being led by Andy Say, Executive Secretary (Chief Officer) of Mountain Training England, assisted by Sierra Nevada Guides.


Winter Skills Course - Descending Steep Ground
Although weather dependent, the proposed itinerary is as follows:
Saturday 31st
Arrive at Malaga Airport
Depart for Lanjaron, optional lunch at Salobrenea (beach bar 10 Euro’s).
Arrive Hotel Alcadima, tour of Lanjaron.
Evening session: Safety and Equipment.

Sunday 1st
Depart hotel around 9am.
Puento Palo for introduction to walking with crampons, snow shoes and ice axe breaking techniques.
Back to hotel for debrief and session discussion re: ascending to Refugio Poqueira.

Winter Skills Course - Learning the ropes!
Monday 2nd
Depart hotel with gear and clothes for 4 nights, 9am.
Walk from Capileira to Refugio Poqueira.
Evening session: Navigation and Route Planning.

Tuesday 3rd
Navigation Practice,  Use of Avalanch Tranceivers,  Building Snow Shelters.
Evening session: Mountain Weather

Wednesday 4th
Putting it into Practice 1 – Rio Seco / Rio Mulhacen

Winter Skills Course - Near Mulhacen's summit
Thursday 5th
Putting it into Practice 2 – A winter ascent of Mulhacen 3482m.

Friday 6th
Walk out from Refugio to Capileira.  Hotel

Saturday 7th
Depart for Malaga Airport and Home.


The Cost £825 includes full board accommodation, airport pick up and drop off and tuition throughout the week. You will need your own ice axe and crampons (we have some spares) and winter clothing. We will provide helmets, ropes, snowshoes and tranceivers.  Oh yes, you will also need some beer money!


Full details of the course are on the Sierra Nevada Guides website.