El Perro Negro

Grumpy old mountain man living in Spain

Ups and Downs in the Tajos de Bermejales

Ups and Downs in the Tajos de Bermejales

It was a cold, clear morning as a large band of Nomads congregated at the car park at the town of Pantano de Bermejales. Today was a first for all of us, a trip down the river gorge of the Tajos de Bermejales, northwards towards the town of Cacin.

Walking, Nomads, Andalucia

Out of the Shadows and into the Sun - ascent of La Maroma, Sierra de Tejeda

Out of the Shadows and into the Sun - ascent of La Maroma, Sierra de Tejeda

Describes an ascent of La Moroma in the Sierra de Tejeda - We drove to La Robledal where we commenced our ascent. We knew this would be a tough day with over 1000m ascent. The initial forest tracks were easy enough, but shortly we left these behind and took to an ever steepening mountain track.

Walking, Nomads, Andalucia

Skiing with Rita in the Back Garden

Skiing with Rita in the Back Garden

A short ski touring video showing you one of the main reasons why I so love it here. Driving uphill on dirt tracks from my house I quickly reach some really beautiful and natural mountain environments. I enjoy a short ski tour with my dog, Rita. As you can see, she's very enthusiastic, bless her!

Video, Dogs

Walk the Canada del Senero, Sierra de Huetor

Walk the Canada del Senero, Sierra de Huetor

A nice 12km walk on a cloudy day through the lush forests along the Cañada del Sereno in the Parque Natural de la Sierra de Huetor. Not the most inspirational of walks given the overcast conditions an...

Walking, Andalucia, Nomads

Ascent of Peña de la Cruz, Sierra de Huetor

Ascent of Peña de la Cruz, Sierra de Huetor

We headed to the Sierra de Huetor just north of Granada. There was a peak there that I had seen many times from the A92 motorway during my years in Spain. It is called the Penon de la Cruz. I never climbed it before because, quite frankly, it looked a bit uninteresting and boring. How wrong was I?

Walking, Andalucia, Nomads

Swapping Life Stories with Kenton Cool

Swapping Life Stories with Kenton Cool

It's not often we meet celebrities here in our hidden away part of southern Spain. This week we welcomed a well known figure of the mountaineering world, Kenton Cool with 15 Everest ascents under his belt and various other big climbs since 1993

Miscellaneous

Tajos de Maro Coastal Walk

Tajos de Maro Coastal Walk

Describes a rather easy, relaxed coastal walk between La Herradura and Nerja on the Costa Tropical, Spain

Nomads, Walking, Andalucia

Puerto de Frigiliana & Mirador de Agua

Puerto de Frigiliana & Mirador de Agua

We discovered a superb circuit of the Puerto de Frigiliana and the Mirador de Agua. Great views and superb weather despite a cold start.

Nomads, Andalucia, Walking

The Dehesa de Camarate, Lugros

The Dehesa de Camarate, Lugros

Photos from yesterdays walk in the beautiful Dehesa de Camarate near Lugros. We were a bit early for the October explosion of autumnal colours but a nice walk nevertheless.

Walking, Andalucia, Nomads

Walk the Los Cahorros de Monachil Gorge, Granada

Walk the Los Cahorros de Monachil Gorge, Granada

There's something uniquely satisfying about reading the weather right. 10 minutes after finishing the walk today in the Monachil Gorge the heavens opened. Really good to be back enjoying Los Cahorros near Granada, 15 years since I was last there.

Walking, Nomads

Trekking the Northern Flanks of the Sierra Nevada

Trekking the Northern Flanks of the Sierra Nevada

The Veredon Inferior deserves to be known as the most spectacular path in the Sierra Nevada that nobody knows about! We now head down onto a vasar, a descending rake which rather cleverly circumvents the vertical cliffs above and below.

Sierra Nevada, Trekking, Nomads

Atom Packs Lightweight Trekking Backpacks

Atom Packs Lightweight Trekking Backpacks

My Atom Pack 40 weighs in at just 680 grams and is, in theory, perfect for multi day summer trips into the mountains. Saves me a whole 700 grams on my current Deuter pack.

Miscellaneous

Hiking at First Light in the Sierra Nevada

Hiking at First Light in the Sierra Nevada

There's something special about striking campsite pre dawn and hiking in the first daylight hours, whilst the rest of the world is seemingly still in bed.

Trekking, Sierra Nevada, Nomads

Lanjarón to Trevelez drive through the Alpujarras

Lanjarón to Trevelez drive through the Alpujarras

You just might consider this to be the most boring video in the world. Depending on your point of view you may well be correct. But, on my early morning journey to work in Trevelez a while ago I filmed the whole one hour journey through the Alpujarra with my dashcam.

Video, Alpujarras

The Class of 21. An Outdoor First Aid Course

The Class of 21. An Outdoor First Aid Course

An Outdoor First Aid Course giving us certification for another 3 years. A renewal of confidence by refreshing old skills and then learning new techniques, which we can apply in our daily lives to assist others in distress.

Miscellaneous

Trekking the Upper Lanjaron Valley

Trekking the Upper Lanjaron Valley

To the people of Lanjaron, their Shangri-La is the upper Lanjaron valley, it's lakes and it's rivers. It's the source of it's life giving waters. A special place that we were privileged to walk and spend the night in.

Trekking, Nomads, Sierra Nevada

Record Breaking High Temperatures today in Lanjaron

Record Breaking High Temperatures today in Lanjaron

The previous "high" was in July 2017 when we reached 41.7C. Today we have been closely watching the rise in temperature and late this afternoon we beat our record. Highest recorded temperature since 2006 is now officially 42.1C!

Miscellaneous, Alpujarras

Dogs Swimming Lesson

Dogs Swimming Lesson

Although I've had dogs that are supposedly "water dogs" such as Labradors and Leonbergers etc, none has really taken to the water. Of course, this is southern Spain so there isn't that much water anywhere, which hasn't helped.

Dogs, Video

The Vasar de Mulhacen, Sierra Nevada

The Vasar de Mulhacen, Sierra Nevada

The North Face of Mulhacen, Sierra Nevada. Its long been an ambition of mine to view the sunrise from Mulhacen's north face. This morning I got my wish and it didn't disappoint!

Sierra Nevada, Nomads, Trekking

An Alpine Start (nearly)

An Alpine Start (nearly)

It's a long time since I had a pre dawn start in the mountains and I had forgotten how wonderful an experience it was moving at first light.

Trekking, Sierra Nevada, Nomads