News from Sierra Nevada Guides

Latest news from the Sierra Nevada Mountains of Southern Spain
Showing posts with label Snowshoeing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Snowshoeing. Show all posts

Tuesday, 7 January 2014

Snowshoeing in Spain’s Sierra Nevada Mountains


Snowshoeing in Spain’s Sierra Nevada Mountains

Although this is Southern Spain, close to the Mediterranean and Africa, The Sierra Nevada boasts Europe’s most southerly ski resort and mainland Spain’s highest mountain, Mulhacen 3482m above sea level. As an indication, the ski season usually starts here at the end of November and finishes in May with a celebration of skiing in the morning and swimming in the sea in the afternoon! However there are sometimes during the season when the snow starts to get a bit thin though we can usually find somewhere to snowshoe.

Sally learning to move on snowshoes

The joy of exploring the Sierra Nevada on snowshoes is that the area is mainly undeveloped, so unlike alpine ski resorts you can get a real feel of wilderness away from crowds, ski lifts and prepared snow slopes. Our snowshoeing days start from one of the pretty high villages (usually with coffee) before heading up dirt track roads as high as possible into the snow. Occasionally we have to walk a bit before putting on snowshoes but often we can snowshoe from the car.




The way to Pico de los Machos 3088m
Our routes usually start up through the forests before gaining the open slopes above the tree line. On the majority of days we enjoy blue skies and sunshine which is a distinct advantage over the traditional alpine resorts, though if the weather is poor we can always walk the spectacular paths in the Alpujarra (the lower southern slopes of the Sierra Nevada).






On our snowshoeing holidays we like to spend a night up at the Poqueira Refuge (2500m) which although bunk accommodation has a good dining room, bar and made all the better by the log fire.

The Poqueira Refuge, superb snow and blue skies!

Snowshoeing is a little more strenuous than normal walking, but we are often walking over terrain where it would be impossible to walk without either snow shoes or touring skis. That said the normal snowshoeing day is around 10am until 4pm though shorter if conditions dictate.



In short, snowshoeing is good fun; sociable and takes you to places not normally visited in the winter months. Sierra Nevada Guides are all International Mountain Leaders, the qualification recognized in Spain (and internationally) for being a snowshoeing Guide.


Sierra Nevada Guides are offering guided snowshoe hikes from 50 Euro’s per person including the hire of snowshoes.



Tuesday, 12 March 2013

Winter Hill Skills Training


Winter Hill Skills Training

Sierra Nevada Guides run a range of hill skills and navigation training throughout the year.  For the past two weeks we have been enjoying (?) some snowy conditions which give a different slant to walking and navigating in the hills.

The group practising some "re-location" techniques

Yesterdays “Intermediate” Navigation Course went ahead albeit with an altered itinerary. Just walking in deep snow takes substantially more effort which is compounded when walking off path and through steep terrain.  There was further heavy snowfall through the night before the course and only half the students booked on managed to attend.




One of the good points about a day led by two qualified International Mountain Leaders in the snow was the quality of instruction and the range of topics covered.  Not only was the day about navigation but discussions ensued about snow, avalanche equipment for winter conditions and a range of other related topics.

 Because the day didn’t cover all the topics we have normally hoped to on our standard intermediate course, we’ve offered everyone the opportunity to book back on to another Intermediate Navigation Course once the snow melts!

Some comments about the course have come in already:
Dear Mike and Jane,
Many thanks for an excellent day today. I enjoyed the day, learnt a lot with a very affable group and the scenery was excellent – can’t ask for more really!
Best wishes
Ian

Hi Jane and Mike
Just to say thanks again for a great day out yesterday - suffice to say I slept well last night! I will probably try and join the course again sometimes soon in non-Winter conditions, but I did feel like I learned plenty yesterday. Look forward to seeing you in March.
Best wishes...
Alex

Sierra Nevada Guides are all qualified International Mountain Leaders and provide guiding and training in: mountain walking, navigation,  hill skills, scrambling and snowshoeing. In addition we can provide rock climbing tuition on single pitch rock climbs.

Monday, 23 January 2012

Snow to low levels closes roads around Granada and the Sierra Nevada

Snow last week closed several roads around the Sierra Nevada. Even the road to the main ski resort was closed for a while!  The cross country ski resort, Puerto de la Ragua remains closed.

Time to join Sierra Nevada Mountain Guides for a day out on snowshoes!

http://sierranevadaguides.co.uk/