2/ And what a place to sit and eat ones lunch!
Upper Lanjaron Valley, Sierra Nevada,
Notes (1046)
1/ Tough hike but what a day, still buzzing! Sometimes I don't think we fully appreciate just how much raw, untamed beauty and wildness we have so close to our homes. Saw nobody all day. Gotta go back soon, maybe for an overnight-er.
Upper Lanjaron Valley, Sierra Nevada,
The savage beauty of a mountain river in the springtime. Contrast with the summer months when it's simple to cross using stepping stones.
Just one of the many spectacular waterfalls we passed on yesterdays hike up into the upper Lanjarón valley, Sierra Nevada, Spain
Really pleased and proud that my eldest daughter, Emma, has become a qualified cave leader (in addition to her mountain leader). She only started doing outdoor activities in her 40s, despite all my previous efforts.
My other daughter Claire was her assistant in the assessment making sure clients were clipped on properly for belays. Well done to her too.
Shows if you put your mind to something and enjoy it, anything is possible. Inspiring!
Oh what a tangled web we weave. Spiders web covered in droplets of morning dew
A local road winding it's way through the lush woods. A gray day in Lanjaron, Alpujarras today
Thought I had our 3 week trip to the Central Pyrenees in June all sketched out. Then I came across "Le Chemin de Liberté" (Freedom trail) that escapees and evaders used in WW2 to escape south over the mountains from France into Spain. I read up on some of the fascinating stories involved.
Le Chemin de la Liberte is one hardest of many escape routes. This particular route is about 60km with 3500m ascent/descent. Must say, I'm very tempted.
Sulayr 2025, the new cable car project to Sierra Nevada that supports the Granada business community
Forgive me for being a bit wary of this ambitious project. Access controls to the mountains?
Sulayr 2025, el nuevo proyecto de teleférico a Sierra Nevada que respalda el empresariado granadino
Perdónenme por desconfiar un poco de este ambicioso proyecto. Controles de acceso a las montañas?
Our local "acequia" has now been repaired and for the first time in 3 months we have flowing channels and irrigation water.
The hillsides are now full of life again and wonderful places to go for a local hike.
The, not very imposing, immigration office in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, capital city of Kamchatka. Had to go here as I had lost my entry permit to the Russian Republic and without it I probably couldn't have left. Some interesting memories from a wild place!
Thought all you lightweight fanatics out there might like this tool, especially as we are all getting older and the knees creakier 🤣
"#Ultralight Gear Research - Browse and compare by weight. Search for a gear category or browse below to find the lightest options with detailed specs."
13 years ago to the day ... caught in a blizzard in deepest, darkest Kamchatka. Fortunately the relative safety of base camp wasn't far away
Shout out to https://gpx.studio who I use to plan and trips into the mountains. Been using this site for over 12 months now. Free to use, but do consider contributing what you can afford to developers of software that you find really useful.
Out hiking today with a Solos group from the UK who were enjoying the warm sun and stunning scenery of the Taha del Pitres. Hiked from Fondales to Ferrierola and onwards to Busquistar, and Portugos. A cold beer at Pitres to finish.
Street scenes from the "Pueblos Blancos" of Capileira and Bubión in the Alpujarras a few days ago.
The stunning waterfall of the Tajo de Cortés, Rio Bermejo above the town of Pitres in the Alpujarras
Just had my kids over for a few days from the UK. Hahaha I say "kids" but they are both in their 40s! You always see them as your "kids" don't you? Anyway, great to see them both and to chat about what ridiculous things we are each getting up to next 😂
Really enjoyed watching the movie "I Swear". Great acting performances all round but especially from Robert Aramayo as John Davidson, who was diagnosed with Tourette's syndrome at a young age. This alienated him from his friends and family. A stark and eye opening account of Johns life, his struggles, his wins, and the joy and grief in between.
Now reading the book.
Images from our Tabernas desert hike last Friday. I never fail to be inspired by this landscape and can see why it is used so much by the movie industry, set only some 25km inland from Almeria city.
