El Perro Negro

Grumpy old mountain man living in Spain

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El Perro Negro (@elperronegro) on Khumbu

There's nothing quite like fireside dreaming on a winters day. This last week my wife & I have been doing a lot of this & are delighted to announce that as a result, we have booked flights so we can attempt the long distance "Alta Via 2" trail in the Italian Dolomites in July.

It's 10,000m ascent/descent +150km of tough mountain scenery to negotiate. Staying in refuges so we can travel light. I shall be 69 years old by then, so will be a tough enough challenge!

Snow and ice on the highest peaks of Spain's Sierra Nevada yesterday. Mulhacén 3482m, Veleta 3394m and Alcazaba 3350m

Veleta peak on Spain's Sierra Nevada. Snow and ice from 2700m upwards. The lower slopes a mix of open hillsides and lush pine forests

Northern faces of Alcazaba and Mulhacen in the shade. In the middle ground are open hillsides and at the bottom of the image are pine forests

I can't remember seeing almond blossom appearing pre Christmas. Just shows how warm and dry it's been this December.

Pink and white almond blossom leaves appear from a tree with some smaller buds attached. Some yellow stems come from the centre of the blossom

Lots of fun had by our weekly hiking group on the new Via Ferrata at Cadiar. Thanks to Felipe for helping me out and making sure we were doing things in a safe manner. Recommended if you are in the area and have the correct equipment and, more importantly, know how to use it!

Some people are climbing up or rock wall equipped with ladders and are using cables for protection

A person is climbing up or rock wall equipped with ladders and using cables for protection. A persons foot (mine!) is at the bottom left of the photo standing on a ladder rung

A person swings from a tyrolean traverse zip line whilst others climb steep ladders up the rock wall opposite

Some people are climbing up or rock wall equipped with ladders and are using cables for protection

Strange winter so far. We have had 25c+ temps last few days and last night a fire ignited on the next hillside to us. This meant a long night monitoring the situation in case the wind changed direction. Fire stabilised this morning. We have only just been given permission to have burning fires and suspect the culprit didn't hose down and eliminate his burn before the high winds started in the afternoon. Anyway all ok now, thanks to the overnight firefighters!

A car passes along the road bottom right. Above, a wildfire burns yellow and orange on the mountainside

Amazing what can be done these days. The doctor today connecting via Bluetooth to my pacemaker/defibrillator and making small adjustments, some of which I could instantly feel the change. Although I'm very active, hike, climb mountains etc I am so very, very lucky to have this back up "system" in place. No idea why he rolled his trouser leg up though :sablobsmilehappy:

A doctor sits at a table looking at a computer screen while a patient's head is on a bed to the right

Arko, our husky/malmute cross, just about to take off 😂

A black and white husky cross about to take off and jump over a fast flowing stream

A nice sight to see. Water flowing down the "acequias" (irrigation channel) this morning, illuminated by the morning sun.

A cascade of water tumbling down a mountain side.The sun illuminates the water at the top. To the left and right are green banks of shrub

I've read a lot about the early polar explorers, Scott, Amundsen, Shackleton etc. One that passed me by until recently was Douglas Mawson. "This Accursed Land" tells how Mawson declined to join Scott's ill-fated British expedition & instead lead a team to explore the far eastern coastline of the Antarctic continent. A gripping and well told story of his lone struggle for survival, starving, poisoned, exhausted and indescribably cold. Recommended reading.

A book cover which shows a figure pulling a sled across a snow filled white landscape

It may be cold and dark early but we do continue to get some wonderful sunset shows. Got to be quick though because they don't last long

The sky is covered with orange cloud tinged with yellow by the setting sun. Patches of blue sky still show through. Outline of some trees and to the bottom right the lights of a town are seen

3 Dec 2010. Patagonian Icecap. Probably my most difficult mountain day ever. I remember well the exhaustion and tiredness and also the relief when we were able to retreat the following day, albeit a touch snow blind.

"Blizzards, snowdrifts, gales, frostbite, snow-blindness, buried tents, floods, hardship, cold, sleepless nights. It must be summer then in deepest Patagonia 😀 "

Sad to hear of Shane's passing. Some lyrics from one of my favs

[Pre-Chorus] We walked him to the station in the rain We kissed him as we put him on the train And we sang him a song of times long gone Though we knew that we'd be seeing him again (Far away!)

[Chorus] I'm sad to say I must be on my way So buy me beer or whiskey, 'cause I'm going far away (Far away!) I'd like to think of me returning when I can To the greatest little boozer and to Sally MacLennane

Yesterdays walk. Acequia Mezquerina - Tello - Acequia Nueva - Bordaila - Lanjaron - BAR! 15km, 650m ascent, 6 very tranquilo hours!

Hikers walk along a narrow trail with an irrigation channel flowing with water alongside. Lots of green shrub and trees to the left, rock walls to the right

Hikers walk along a narrow trail with an irrigation channel flowing with water alongside. Lots of green shrub and trees to the left, rock walls to the right

A long distance view to the Mediterranean coast. A V shaped valley with a prominent craggy outcrop on the right. Wispy clouds over the sea

2 hikers make their way down through a beautiful enclosed tree lined avenue