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The walk into Siete Lagunas involved passing two small hidden lakes, rarely visited by other humans. Laguna Prado Negro and another further north which doesn't have a name on no map. It should, it's stunning! The wonderful wild side of the Sierra Nevada that few others get to see
We never camp at Laguna Hondera at Siete Lagunas. It's too popular. There is noise and is frequented in the early hours by hungry foxes. Head a little uphill however and there are some delectable places to camp or bivouac (making sure you don't camp on the fragile "borreguiles", green areas adjacent to the lakes).
We found some pre prepared bivouac spots near Laguna de Borreguil where we watched the sun set, cooked evening meals and had an impromptu wine tasting session. When we all turned out our rucksacks and compared notes we had plastic bottles of Merlot (Consumo), Malbec (El Campo) and a Don Simon (dia equivalent). Seemed a shame not to compare notes on the nose, balance, aromas and complexity
Then laid back to watch the stars and milky way passing overhead. Life is simple, but good.
Alcazaba 3369m is the 3rd highest peak in the Sierra Nevada and yet, in my opinion, it is undoubtedly the finest. Mulhacen, being the highest, is very popular and has a refuge close by. Veleta is easily accessible so has many people visiting it's summit. Alcazaba though, needs a bit more thought.
It's a more remote peak so you have either a very long and ardous day or you have to wild camp. I would always choose to wild camp, usually at the upper lakes of Siete Lagunas or Laguna de las Calderetas to the north.
Alcazaba, "The Fortress", is well named. It is guarded on 3 sides by cliffs, although there are trekking ways through those defences. A few days ago we started from Laguna de Borreguil (Siete Lagunas) and reached the Alcazaba summit plateau via a steep scree gully named "El Colaero", which brought us out at the col between Puntal de la Cornisa 3316m and Peñon del Globo 3296m. It's a short stroll from there to Alcazaba summit.
For something different we came back to Siete Lagunas via Peñon del Globo and the rough, mainly pathless ridge heading south east. We had taken our time, savouring the situations, but this meant we had missed the bus connection from Alto de Chorillo, adding another hour and a half walk in the hot sun down the dirt track.
Smugmug Photo Album
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