El Perro Negro's Day to Day Ramblings
Dropping down into the hugely impressive amphitheater of the Corral del Veleta yesterday. I never fail to be impressed by the scale of these huge rock walls.
The Coral de Veleta was the site of the last glacier in Spain's Sierra Nevada range. In fact technically it is still a glacier, a "rock glacier" meaning permafrost lies below the surface.
Worth a visit!
You can't fight enshittification (Cory Doctorow)
https://pluralistic.net/2025/07/31/unsatisfying-answers/#systemic-problems
Anybody ask me for age verification and I'm outta there. Same as I delete accounts that ask me for facial ID (apart from my bank).
What a day! Trekked up the stunning Rio Durcal, navigated narrow acequias, and braved the refreshing plunge into the river to reach the breathtaking Cascadas de los Bolos—where some of us couldn’t resist a swim. This is magnificent gorge scenery!
I didn't enjoy my time on Aconcagua way back in the late 1990s. Far too crowded and commercial. Always had an inkling to go to Ojos de Salado instead, a few metres less high but much more remote and quiet. It never happened, unfortunately. Anyway, here's a film of a recent ascent by the very talented Harmen Hoek, which confirms that my assumptions about Ojos de Salado would have been correct. Looks a marvellous peak. Well worth watching for the stunning photography.
Huby Methodist Chapel, founded 1889, is on the corner of Strait Lane in the small Yorkshire hamlet of Huby. The chapel contains a stained glass window memorial dedicated to 7 soldiers who died during the First World War (1914–18) and a brass plaque memorial is dedicated to a further 6 soldiers from the Second World War (1939–1945)
I'm in the UK for a few days. Country walk today in the Washburn valley north of Leeds/Otley. Came across an old, somewhat neglected church at Huby with ancient, leaning headstones interspersed with overgrown vegetation. Thought it looked very gothic in black and white
Some more photos from yesterdays scrambling route on Tajos de la Virgen ridge, Sierra Nevada. Not especially difficult but utterly engaging and interesting high level hike/scramble
Classic Sierra Nevada adventure! 🏔️
Yesterday’s high-level romp along the Tajos de la Virgen ridge delivered everything you’d want from a mountain day - thrilling Grade 1 scrambling, breathtaking distant views, and that unbeatable alpine buzz. A true gem of a route! ⛰️✨
I started reading "Privacy is Power" by Carissa Véliz last night. Although I have been onboard with the concept for quite a few years now, the scale of the deception is still incredible. Looks to be a very well written and readable book for anyone interested and concerned about surveillance capitalism.
Wasps appear to be a lot more aggressive than normal at the moment. Went 20+ years living in Spain and not getting stung and then this year I've had about 15 stings in the past few months just wandering around our "campo" as normal.
Last weekend the BBC showed an all-day replay of the Live Aid concerts from London and Philadelphia. After 40 years it certainly made me feel old. But weren't we so lucky to have been born into a generation with so much innovative musical talent?
Highlights for me Queen, The Who, U2, Bowie etc. But many others. Some of these of course are sadly no longer with us.
It's also strange that I can't remember what I did last week but knew most of the words to songs from 40+ years ago! 🤣
8 years ago this pack of ours was a bit of a handful 🤣. Where did we sit? Two are still with us fortunately. Great memories of these fluff balls
Weekend not started great. No town water in our tanks so no house water until Monday when hopefully we can restore pressure. Until then it's visits to the spring to get drinking water and buckets of "campo" water to run everything else. Such is life sometimes in rural Spain. You just have to adapt and run with whatever life throws at you.
Traversing Spain's Sierra Nevada in under 4 minutes - short video of 2 day N to S crossing of the range from Pradollano to Lanjarón in July 2025.
During this hike we also visited the source of the Río Lanjarón which lies about 200 meters east of the Laguna de Lanjarón. The second day's descent of 1300 meters and 13 kilometers to the finish was tough as we descended pathless terrain into the heat of the day.
@hikingdude this is the stuff you should get Franz.
This week was the first hike I've done which really proved the usefulness and worth of the Six Moon Designs Sun Umbrella.
The sun was beating down as we reached the lake and bivvy site mid-afternoon. There was very little natural shade around but the umbrella really helped. The reflective outer and dark coated inner created a welcome cool space. Will be a regular item in my summer pack from now on.
https://www.sixmoondesigns.com/collections/hiking-umbrellas
This short video shows you what its like to disconnect. There's no fancy music nor AI gimmicks. We didn't see anybody for a couple of days, just wild flowers, running waters, birds, animals, high mountains and the sounds of nature. You get the drift.
Filmed in June 2025, above Acequia los Hechos on the western flanks of the Sierra Nevada range, Andalucia, Spain. Camp at Laguna Cabrero 2710m altitude.
Its Saturday morning and the veggie curry is already slow cooking. Have a great weekend everyone
Spending a night in a bivouac close to a mountain lake certainly allows you to see it's many changing faces. Here's some images of lake reflections from last 24 hours at Laguna Cabrero, Sierra Nevada
