Too Hot to Walk in the Alpujarra

Too hot to walk in The Alpujarra!

We had a client this week complaining that it was too hot to walk in the Alpujarra.  Yes, it is very hot at the moment but you can escape the heat by getting up high for a walk.

A Cool Walk!

One of our favourite walks starts from Hoya del Portillo at 2160m by driving up the forest track above Capileira. Taking the path up through the forest to Puerto Molina 2380m (about 30 minutes) brings you to cooler air with spectacular views of the high mountains including Mulhacen which at 3482m is mainland Spain’s highest. Here the Sierra Nevada National Park Service have placed “interpretation” boards pointing out the history of the area and which mountains can be seen in the range.  There is another board about 50m away detailing the view south over the Contravesia and the mountains of North Africa that can be seen on a clear day.

If you have 4 hours to spare, there is a great circuit from Puerto Molina.  Follow a faint path which ascends keeping just right of the ridge to Prado Llano 2577m. Eventually this brings you back to the driveable dirt track road which is followed to Mirador de Trevelez (great views of Trevelez). 500m beyond, take the turning down to the left signed Refugio Poqueira.  Keep an eye open for a path on the left which starts after about 10 minutes from the junction.  This is followed back to the fire break just under Puerto Molina.

This is a great walk usually with good views (though it sometimes gets misty in the mountains).  If contemplating this walk, check it out on the map first and if you don’t feel confident, hire a QUALIFIED guide to lead you.

Sierra Nevada Guides are always happy to advise you on routes and conditions.

Which Trekking Poles

Which Trekking / Walking Poles

As an International Mountain Leader working in Spain’s Sierra Nevada and Alpujarra I get the chance to lead many people in these beautiful hills and mountains. For me poles offer many advantages especially on rough and steep ground.

“A 2010 study by UK-based Northumbria University shows that using trekking poles reduce muscle damage and soreness in the days following a hike. The combined benefits of using trekking poles in reducing load to the lower limbs, increasing stability and reducing muscle damage also helps avoid injury on subsequent days of trekking, according to Dr Glyn Howatson. Trekking poles can also reduce the compressive force on the knees by up to 25%, according to The Journal of Sports Medicine in a 1999 study.”

The trekking poles in this picture described from top to bottom:

i. Exped Quads.  These collapse smaller than standard poles and have a longer hand grip. They are standard twist locking.

ii. Leki Makalu twist lock with standard hand grips.

iii. Leki Makalu with external locking making them a little longer when collapsed.

For me the advantages of using trekking poles are:

1.            Extra stability  on difficult or loose terrain

If you walk off path or in the mountains where there is scree and steep slopes to negotiate, poles come into their own acting as a 2^nd pair of legs.

2.            Take the weight off of knees and ankles

There is no doubt that poles reduce the weight and forces placed onto the legs with every stride. The lessening of the pounding on the knees is significant when poles are used properly.

3.            More power, especially up hill

Making ascents of hills or mountains becomes much easier if you are able add extra push with your arms. I find that without poles I loose traction on steep slopes and often take smaller strides.  With poles you tackle hills quicker and more efficiently, especially if carrying a heavy rucksack.

Things to consider when choosing poles:

Cheaper poles are likely to be less well made and heavier than those from the “specialist” manufacturers.  I wouldn’t want to favour one make over another but the better brands include: Black Diamond, Leki and Exped. Cheaper poles will in general be heavier, need more care to keep the locking systems working and may not be robust (i.e. tips falling off).

i.            The weight of the poles

Obviously the lighter the poles, the less energy you’ll expend using them or carrying them on your rucksack. Most poles are made from aluminium though some use lighter aluminium or mixtures of carbon and titanium.

ii.            Locking Systems

There are 2 categories, twist lock internal locking or external clamp style locking. Both have their good points, advantages and disadvantages.  The twist locking style is more common. Black Diamond have always made poles with external locking, Leki introduced this into their range in 2010. Exponents of the external locking will cite that the twist locking versions loosen through the day and collapse.  I have also witnessed external locking poles collapsing too. At the end of the day consider if you’ll be out in winter and want to be able to adjust and secure your poles keeping your gloves on and find a pole you can manage to adjust wearing gloves.  It is really personal choice and the other factors listed here may be more important, coupled with cost. (External locking is usually more expensive).

iii.            Handle

Poles come with either a standard handle or an elongated handle. If you are only like to walk on the flat then a standard handle is probably the best (cheapest) option. Walking through gullies or traversing hillsides often requires you to raise an arm or adjust pole length.  Having a longer handle means you can hold the pole lower down so you don’t have to stop and adjust pole length. Definitely a better option for hills and mountains.

iv.            Normal or Anti Shock

Poles can be bought as a rigid unit or with an anti-shock system. His really is personal preference. A good idea would be to borrow poles from friends and form your own opinion before buying.  Most anti-shock systems can be turned off if you don’t get on with it, but remember that anti-shock is an addition to the weight of the pole.  I use my poles for testing the ground (river crossings, depth of snow, etc) so prefer not to use anti-shock.

v.            Fold down size and length of poles

If you are very tall or very short, you can buy poles especially to suit you. If you are short then this will give a weight reduction to your advantage over standard poles adjusted to a small person.

Most poles come with 3 segments, though it is possible to buy poles with 4 segments that fold down smaller (Exped Quad 4 part trekking poles).

Sierra Nevada Guides are always happy to advise you to plan your trip here and make the most of your visit.

Mountain Skills Training Course

Mountain Skills Courses
Sierra Nevada Guides are keen to promote mountain safety and enable people to enjoy the mountains safely. Our mountain skills training course is available both for those new to mountaineering and as a "refresher" for the more experienced.
The courses includes:
Mountain Safety, Weather and Equipment; Navigation, using a map and compass, route choice and using a GPS;  Scrambling and using a rope.
This 7 day course is both valley based and hut based (1 or 2 nights) and includes ascents of Mulhacen and Alcazaba. Cost from £550 depending on your choice of accommodation and includes your pick up from malaga Airport and final drop off.  Further details can be found on our website

Sierra Nevada Guides are qualified International Mountain Leaders.  We also run 4 day "Hill skills" training courses in The Peak District. with Peak Navigation Courses.

If you are planning a trip to Spain's Sierra Nevada or Alpujarra check out our website for information and walking itineraries.  Sierra Nevada Guides are always happy for you to contact us and to answer your questions.

Which GPS?

Which GPS?

A friend recently asked me this question as someone involved in organising GPS training courses that can be trusted to give an unbiased view. However, even being objective and unbiased I could only provide an answer within my experience (being confined to Garmin, SatMap and ViewRanger).

The Smart Phone / View Ranger.

I’ve had View Ranger on my Phone and smart phone for 5 years and though I find its functions as good or better than any proper GPS device (easier to use and better functions) I’d never rely on it for when the chips are down. Phones have poor battery life and don’t run View Ranger for more than 8 hours. Phone’s are not usually shock proof, dust proof or water resistant. Great in good conditions.  Keep your phone in tact with the batteries fully charged in case you need to summon help!

GPS Devices.

You need to make a choice: firstly do you want one that has OS mapping installed or one with out? Secondly if you have chosen to opt for one with OS mapping, do you want one that is touch screen or one that you work by pressing buttons?

If you are a competent navigator perhaps you only need a device in your rucksack for emergencies. If this is the case and you only want a grid reference to confirm where you are and the ability to do a “take me to” function then you only need to go for a bottom of the range model.  For this choice I’d go for the new Garmin Etrex10. A fantastic device at entry level and so much better than the EtrexH that it replaced.

If you want a device with OS mapping, you now need to decide whether you want a touch screen model or one that requires you to press buttons to make it work. I can definitely use the whole Garmin range using winter gloves though it takes a bit of getting used to so don’t be put off using a touch screen for this reason.

For me the there is no real difference in what either the Garmin Oregon touch screen can do over the cheaper Etrex 20. At the time of writing the Oregon 450 with full UK OS mapping at 1:50 is retailing on Amazon at £350 whilst the Etrex 20 with the same mapping is around £320.

The Oregon has a bigger screen, 50% bigger than the ETrex.

The Etrex battery life is 25 hours whilst the Oregon is 15 hours.

The Etrex weighs 140 grams whilst the Oregon weighs 190 grams.

The Garmin 62 is a button controlled model with a screen roughly the same size as the Oregon but this is a big clumpy machine (I have one).

The Garmin Montanna is a bigger touch screen model than the Oregon.  Big and Clumpy.

In the non Garmin range, the SatMap 10 has a great reputation though I find the logic difficult to get to grips with after the Garmin. It is also rather big. Jane (of Peak Navigation) uses this by choice. The SatMap has a bigger screen than the Oregon.

                                    Etrex 10                      Etrex 20                 Oregon 450            SatMap10           

Overall Size                  5.4 x 10.3 x             5.4 x 10.3 x            5.8 x 11.4 x             7.5 x 13.0 x

3.3 cm                      3.3 cm                     3.5 cm                      3.5 cm

Screen Size                   3.6 x 4.3 cm            3.5 x 4.4 cm            3.8 x 6.3 cm            5.3 x 7.1 cm

Battery Life                     25 hours                  25 hours                16 hours            approx 20 hours

Weight

With batteries               141.7 g                     141.7 g                    192.7 g                  175 g

OS Mapping                        No                        Yes                             Yes                        Yes

Cost  of Unit                   £109.99                  £179.99                    £329.99               £299.00

Cost of full U.K.               N/A                        £175.00                    £175.00               £200.00

OS Mapping 1:50k

Total Cost                        £109.99                  £354.99                    £404.99            £499.00

These are manufacturers RRP’s you will always find them cheaper online!

From left to right: Garmin Etrex 10,  Garmin Oregon 450,  SatMap Active 10.

In the end it’s a matter of personal choice.  Any of these models will do the job. Read the manufacturers specifications, which are available online. Once you have decided whether you want mapping or not, either come on one of our courses to try them out or go to a reputable retailer and try them out.  Don’t be swayed by pushy sales staff expressing an opinion, go for the one that you find easy or straightforward to use.

My Choice                 Etrex 10

Jane’s Choice            SatMap

Written by Michael Hunt of  Peak Navigation Courses and Sierra Nevada Guides

Both Sierra Nevada Guides and Peak Navigation courses run training in traditional and GPS navigation.

Wildlife in Spain’s Sierra Nevada Mountains

Spring Birds and Wildlife in Spain’s Sierra Nevada Mountains

We have just returned from a three week break at our mountain smallholding high on the southern slopes of the Sierra Nevada. Although we had several forays out mountaineering, rock climbing and walking, much of the time was spent working on the land. Which inevitably brings you close to nature.  Spring in this part of Spain sees the return or just passing of many birds returning to Europe from Africa where they spent the winter and this trip was to reward us with sightings of several birds including the Wheatear visiting our garden daily and an Egyptian Vulture circling overhead on several occasions.

The other daily sight is the local goatherd passing beside our land as they forage and browse their way around the mountainside.  It’s always been obvious to us that when we are not around the farmer is not so careful about keeping them off our land because of the nibbled trees and plants. Whilst we are there the farmer tends to keep the goats in order by shouting at them and throwing rocks towards them (his dogs being useless at rounding them up). 

The one in the picture here has snuck around the back of our house where there are new almonds growing. Proof if it were needed that goats will do there own thing and without fencing we will always loose a proportion of our plants.

Mind you, it’s not just the goats causing damage.  On our land we have rabbits, wild boar and “Cabra de Monte” (Iberian Ibex).  Because we have plenty of water running through a barranco that borders our land and we have let a fair portion of this land go over to briar and willow, we have a great habitat not just for birds but somewhere safe for the cabra and boar to hold up during the day.  

On this last trip we were visited each evening by a young fox. The water channels that we have dug across the land distributing our excess water attract frogs and toads and we saw the fox stalking them on several occasions.

International Mountain Leaders are trained not only to lead and keep you safe in the mountains, but also in environmental interpretation. The guides at Sierra Nevada Guides are all qualified International Mountain Leaders.  Never book with a guide who claims to be "experienced" make sure they are fully qualified, your life may depend on it!

Tajo de los Cuchillos ridge

In the north of the Sierra de Huetor range this limestone ridge offers great potential for scrambles and airy ridge walks.

Via Ferrata route , El Torcal

For those who want to a bit more excitement from their day out there are a number of via ferrata routes in Andalucia, perhaps one of the best is just N of El Torcal Parque Nacional