Grumpy old mountain man living in Spain
Since Dec 2022 we have been running our own Mastodon & GoToSocial servers. What a breath of fresh air the Fediverse has been. We have made many hundreds of new friends from around the world, mostly related to our mountain, tech and nature interests.
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I know this is a really poor shot but I was shattered and really couldn't be bothered to leave my tent 😀. So it's a shaky camera, hand held. Never mind, I'm not trying to win prizes, just want to show you just how many stars were showing in the sky that night. Always amazes me just how many there are.
Sierra Nevada, Spain
I'm tired. Stayed up to watch the Barcelona v Real Madrid football final. Very exciting but it went to extra time so didn't finish until nearly 1am 😵⚽
Just had to go on an old windows laptop to download some camera updates. First time on windows for over a year. Needless to say I'm now feeling a wide mix of emotions. Frustration mainly, but also relief that I never have to return for further camera updates 🤣
There’s nothing quite like dawn in the alpine cold, crisp air, the last stars fading, and the sun igniting the summits in gold. These close-ups capture the raw beauty of the peaks at daybreak.
Morning in the Sierra Nevada mountains is magic ⛰️✨
Descriptions of each image included.
I have been trying out a new (for me) mountain dehydrated meal from Radiz Nutrition, a New Zealand based operation. Maybe @Ali has used them?
I'm not a full on vegetarian but the Smokey BBQ plant based meal was excellent, really enjoyed it and even better, it was ready in only 5 minutes.
I can buy this amazing cheap and lightweight (26 grams) BRS-3000T camping stove here in Spain for a mere €8! Incredible value. Works well too.
BUT - it's not very durable. I accidentally put a boot on it a few days ago (just a light touch) and the titanium legs collapsed. Broken. My fault, but a warning to all that relying on this stove for a multi day trip might not be wise. Take a backup. It's not very durable and needs to be handled with great care.
I don't normally celebrate birthdays but I was quite happy, that at 70, I could still manage 25km and 1100 meters ascent/descent. Took it's toll though 😂 . Here's me at camp, absolutely wasted. Still, proves there's life in the old dog yet.
Been out in the wilds for a few days. The soul is restored. The classic "Vereda de Estrella", Sierra Nevada. No words needed
Just installed on an old laptop with Gnome DE, as I saw an article and quite a few people recommending it this morning. Bit of a learning curve but quite a different and exciting way of package management. Enjoying it so far.
Just read this mind-blowing article about someone summiting the UK’s highest mountain, Ben Nevis, wearing the Hypershell exoskeleton! 🤖✨Helps hikers tackle tough terrain with less fatigue—like having superhuman legs!
Personally, not sure about this, but could exoskeletons be the next big thing in outdoor adventures? 🧐 Whether you’re a gearhead or a purist, crazy to see how tech could change exploration.
Yesterday’s hike was a scenic loop from Cónchar down the Río Dúrcal & back over the hills. The valley was absolutely breathtaking - lush, quiet & full of untouched beauty.
Following a little-used path winding along the river, soaking in the peaceful vibes… until we hit a snag. The river, swollen with Sierra Nevada meltwater, was way too wild to cross safely. After a few failed attempts to find a good spot, we made the smart call to turn back.
Bad weather up high today so we went exploring instead and just 20 mins drive from home, we found this amazing valley. A "Shangri-La" sort of place ... peaceful, quiet and colorful. Never been here before nor knew of it's existence.
The day didn't quite turn out as planned but that's the detail for a later post. And, I guess that's the whole point of exploring?
A very spring like day today in the Alpujarra with sunshine and showers expected throughout the day. This is Lanjarón.
Been filling up an old gas cannister with gas from half empty ones and making sure weight compares well with a newly bought full one. The FlipFuel really does an excellent job at recycling gas and it is easy to accomplish.
One of the small waterfalls at Cascada de Prado Negro, Sierra de Huetor yesterday. Stunning!
Breathtaking hike through the Sierra de Huétor today 🌄☀️ Took a scenic loop via Fuente Los Potros, Las Mimbres, and Fuente Manuel Molinillo. Glorious sunshine and uninterrupted views of the Sierra Nevada the whole way. Pure magic.
Via Ferrata Lentegi. As soon as we heard about this new via ferrata near the village of Lentegi we just had to go and check it out.
This video is an hour and a half of adrenaline rush combined into 2 minutes.
The following music was used for this media project: Music: Summer Nights by WinnieTheMoog Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/6037-summer-nights License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license
Images from yesterday's ascent of La Concha 1215m. We got lucky with the weather in that we had no precipitation and superb views.
Not an easy hike. Involves 13km & 800m of ascent & descent from Refugio de Juanar. Track is well marked but there are a couple of sections, partly protected by chains, where head for heights is useful. Would be quite slippery in wet weather. Don't let this put you off though, it's a marvelous walk to a fine viewpoint.
The ridge leading to the peak of La Concha 1215m in Spain's Sierra Blanca mountains. The cloud kept drifting in and out but this made for some superb atmospheric conditions.
Doing something that I don't normally do today. Heading for the costas! 🏖️ Marbella on the Costa del Sol. Fully expect to feel like a fish out of water there. Until tomorrow that is, when I get to go up the wonderful peak of La Concha in the Sierra Blanca 🏔️