El Perro Negro

Annual service today of my Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD). Still amazes me how a consultant can bluetooth into this, tweak settings, give me info about it's performance. Only 4 small interventions in the past year (down from 10). Still 12 years battery left too before they need to recharge me! 🤣

Down in the dumps. Life is so fickle at times. Last weekend I lost a friend, hiking pal and all round nice guy. Can't comprehend him producing his weekly YouTube video one minute and succumbing in just two days to a sudden and severe infection, pericarditis, possibly leading to sepsis/septic shock. Mid 60s. You just never know quite what's round the corner. So sad for him and his family

Practice, practice, practice

Came across this photo memory today. November 2014 - for 9 days/14 hours a day, my life was the inside of a tent. Spent most of that watching the whole 5 seasons of Breaking Bad on a 1.8" display. Expedition life eh?

This is Sooty and Sweep. Adorable. Until they ain't 🤣

Ran a short rope protection and security course for some hill walking and scrambling friends of mine today. Included improvised harnesses, Italian hitch, clove hitch, assisted hoist, anchors, rappelling, classic belay, belays, prusicks, basic rescue and more. Hopefully everyone came away more confident about having to deal with an emergency situation. Anyway, it was a lot of fun and laughs in the strong winds.

Our two aren't looking too bad for 10 & 12 years of age.

Daily dog walk through the olive groves. The slopes of the Cerro de Caballo 3009m in the Sierra Nevada rising ahead.

Really looking forward to this. On Friday I am running a short course for hiking buddies recapping how to use a rope for basic protection & security in emergency situations. Came about as a friend always carries a short rope in his pack but admitted he has absolutely no real idea how to use it. Includes: No harness? - Swiss Seat Harness Anchors Lowering on a rope Ascending using assisted hoist Ascending using prusiks Rapelling - Dulfersitz - basic - Prusik backup Protecting scrambles

Our first frosts of the winter last night but sunshine and clear skies meant an early morning hike up the Rio Lanjarón. Lots of water coming down from the Sierra Nevada. Beautiful colours

Morning dog walk. Lanjarón, Alpujarras

Looking at this photo, now I realise that it's about time I got off my rear end and headed up into those lovely white snows. It's the best early season snowfall for quite some time, maybe 5+ years?

Got to take advantage whilst I can. Better get my head together and sharpen my mountaineering gear.

Sat on the summit of Morrón de Enmedio 1080 metres eating our sandwiches and looking at the stunning Sierra Nevada rising above Granada. Stunning views, no wind, warm air (even the volcanic vent variety!) meant lightweight gear. A celebratory drop of anise at the top (traditional evidently) topped off a super day. Hard to believe that we are in the depths of winter.

@saarmuller not quite the same spot but similar and later in the day when the inversion dissipated

Here's a strange image from today's hike in the Sierra Elvira. No filters, no manipulation, nada! Shows a temperature inversion with the city of Granada appearing out of the gloom in the lower half of the image.

Above the inversion layer the Sierra Nevada mountains rise 3000 metres above the city and are in clear haze free air.

The 3 main summits of (L to R) Alcazaba, Mulhacén & Veleta are prominent.

Just love those mountain days when the early morning cloud starts to dissipate and the light constantly changes thereafter. These are the Cumbres Verdes mountains just outside Granada

I'm looking back today and find I'm missing the tranquility of those unknown hiking trails in Patagonia we frequented. The twisted and torn forests of lenga and birch. The not knowing quite what was round the next corner. A fitting tribute to I think

Morning Adam. We are passing your way Tuesday, taking our LoRa radios for a walk 🤣 . From the Sierra Elvira we will have line of sight to Granada. Do you have a LoRa radio by any chance?

I am at the final stages of writing a book and am now looking for suggestions and recommendations for self publishing.

Preference is for smaller, more simple personal solutions rather than complex big tech ones, but at this stage I just need some ideas.

Post Christmas morning walk with the dogs. Arko looking quite pleased with himself, for some reason!