Micro Blog

Hiking at first light is such a wonderful time to be alive. Here in , waking up at 2700m is amazing. The air is cool and the light is sharp. The mountains stand out, not the normal summer heat haze blanket. From our perch we saw in great outline the mountains of the Alayos del Dilar range, the Cumbres Verdes and the Sierra de Elvira north of Granada.A pleasure to walk the hills at this time of day.

Last nights sunset bivouac at Laguna Cabrero 2710m, nacimentos del Río Durcal, Sierra Nevada

As it's here are a few spectacular falls seen on my recent trip to the Hautes Pyrenees on the Spanish/French border.

We have a trip planned to Marrakesh, Morocco this week. 20+ years living here within an hours flying time and I have never had the good fortune nor opportunity to visit before. But, with the world on a knife edge and escalation the likely outcome we are giving serious thought to postponing.

Field of olive trees in the morning sun. Quesada area, Sierra de Cazorla

I wrote a blog post about our recent backpacking adventures in the Spanish and French Pyrenees.

Not many english speakers have heard of the 3000 Ibónes. Ibon is the Aragon word for mountain lake. It was this that first attracted me to the area which lies west of the Ordessa/Vignamale range. The idea of camping by lakes and rivers and skipping over the border passes between Spain and France held an appeal.

https://elperronegro.com/posts/2025-06-08-backpacking-pyrenees/

We had some river crossings to deal with during our recent trip to the Pyrenees mountains. This is where we found another use for our Zpacks Ultralight Camp Shoes.

Yes, apart from being a lightweight camp shoe (only 59g) they are also quite proficient crossing stony river beds with fast flowing water.

Approaching the Spanish/French border at the Puerto de Marcadeau 2541m in the Pyrenees mountain range. No passports needed to be stamped here though. In fact nobody within miles!

There is something that stirs the blood when you cross a mountain range between countries. As we reached the pass, saw the mountains and green valleys of France I spontaneously burst into an extremely bad rendition of "La Marseillaise".

   #Outdoors

I do love my adopted homeland, but rural Spain still can't seem to get it's head around those strange beings called "Vegetarians". A conversation that I had this week when there was nothing on a menu that didn't include meat or fish

Me: My wife is a vegetarian can she have just egg and chips?

Waiter: Oh no, does she have an allergy to meat?

Me: Er yes, sort of

Waiter: OK, certainly we could do that. Would she like some chorizo with the egg and chips?

Just returned from an amazing week in the including a 3 day backpacking trip. After getting our asses kicked by storms on the first night we crossed over the Haute Pyrenees from Spain to France via 2541m pass, spent a wonderfully tranquil night enjoying the "Sleep of the Gods" in a grassy meadow alongside a flowing river and returning next day. Memories that will last for ever. With @khusky

I've arrived in the Pyrenees. As you can see there are some stunning sights. Heading up into the mountains tomorrow

With @khusky

Big country Spain, 10 hours drive north starting today, heading for the High Pyrenees (Pirineo Aragonés, 3000 Ibones) and a weeks backpacking.

Looking forward to some splendid isolation, camping by lakes, crossing high passes between Spain/France and hopefully climbing some snowy peaks.

Today I've had a tough day lying asleep in a field of daisies, under the sun, surrounded by high mountains. It was hell, I tell you, but somebody has to do it.

T-Deck Plus update ...

Only downside to the T-Deck is internal antenna is a bit naff. I am not a natural dabbler & hate getting hands dirty but had no other choice. Took the radio apart, detached internal antenna, attached better one & put it all back together somehow.

It works! Although, just like an IKEA wardrobe, a couple of bits came off and I have absolutely no idea how or where to re-attach them 🤣 🤣

Thanks to "Ray J" for helpful video https://youtu.be/llg40EWJ_R8?feature=shared

Just set my new T-Deck Plus on my local network. Looks a bit like an old Blackberry eh?

Working well on existing home . Will be testing it on the hiking trails next week.

Still plenty of snow around still in Spain's Sierra Nevada. May need micro spikes or crampons to cross snow slopes pre-midday but after that it becomes soft very quickly.

This is @khusky traversing some well trodden slopes near Lavaderos de la Reina

@cutting This is today's webcam shot of part of our route that crosses over a 2700m pass. The route over marked in red

It's a week before we head off to the Pyrenees for a week long trek. Seems there is more snow than normal for June so will have to take crampons and ice axes to cross the high passes and maybe summit some stuff.

Bummer, as adds to the weight. In an effort to lessen the impact on my ageing body I have bought a pair of these. Petzl Leopard Flexlock crampons, very light, only 385 grams/pair (similar to my existing micro spikes).

Anybody used them?

The magical world of the snow tunnel

Lavaderos de la Reina, Sierra Nevada, España 27th May

Don't normally do selfies but does show you my new super duper "Ranger" camera bag from https://www.leichtmut.de/product/the-ranger-ultralight-camera-bag/

Can be worn on chest but I prefer as a waist holster bag rather than across the chest. Only 94g! The bag fitted perfectly onto my rucksack waist belt making it accessible & very easy to open/close. Fully waterproof & offers just the right amount of protection.

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