Exploring the ravines of the Gorafe Badlands
Hiking in the ravines of the Gorafe Desert whilst also filling in some blanks on the map and ascending "Barranco de los Nómadas"
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Featured Posts
- A Collection of My Favourite Mountaineering Quotes
- Trips to the wild and windswept Patagonian Icefield
- Swapping Life Stories with Kenton Cool
- Surviving Blizzards in Kamchatka
- Skiing with Rita in the Back Garden
- The Early Days in Andalucia
Latest Posts
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Endemic wild flowers living on the west face of MulhacenA compilation of the wild flowers that we encountered high up on the west flank of Mulhacen on a recent ascent
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Searching for the Lake With No NameA two day trip into the unknown to visit the "Lake with No Name", a magical and serene place. Returning having discovered both Lake Wallaby and Laguna de los Dos Dickys
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Underestimating difficulties on the BuitrerasDescribes a very tough and tiring but ultimately exciting and enjoyable romp around Las Buitreras del Durcal. Amazing, spectacular scenery and just 20 minutes drive from home.
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PHOTO ALBUM - A spectacular circular hike from the town of Moclin
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Traverse of Chullo from Puerta de la RaguaPHOTO ALBUM - Describes a traverse of Chullo in the eastern Sierra Nevada hills today from the Puerto de la Ragua
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Niguelas, Ruta Pavilla and FallaPHOTO ALBUM - A short walk around Niguelas taking in the Falla Natural Momument and the aerial walkway of the Sendero de Pavilla
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PHOTO ALBUM - Fuentes de Conchar. A beautiful, varied and constantly changing walk close to home and enjoyed by all.
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The lost refuge of Piedra de los PajarosPHOTO ALBUM - A tough, mainly pathless ascent yesterday over Cuna (2292m) to the old cave/refuge at Piedra de los Pajaros (2550m).
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Fun, frolics and gymnastics in the eastern SierraDescribes an eventful and enjoyable Nomads day out exploring the eastern Sierra Nevada hills, situated west of the Puerta de la Ragua
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Ruta Boabdil - Beznar, Izbor and Pinos de VallePHOTO ALBUM - Linear walk starting at the Beznar Dam and going down the Rio Izbor to Izbor before returning uphill to Pinos de Valle
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PHOTO ALBUM - A superb summit which we attained from the village of Prado Negro in the Sierra de Huetor
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PHOTO ALBUM - A circular walk in the Sierra de Contraviesa, starting at Sorvillan and going to Polopos before returning
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Just had to be my luck, didn't it? My first time hiking in the Gorafe Desert Badlands and temperatures were forecast to be below freezing. Now in my eyes, the words "Desert" and "Freezing" shouldn't go together. "Hot" and "Desert", that would surely be the norm, wouldn't it?
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Lolloping along the Lentegi Sky LineDescribes a linear walk along the intricate and quiet hill ridges lying between the villages of Lentegi and Albuñuelas in the Sierra de Almijara, south of Spain.
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Blondie, Tuco, Indiana and the Demented Desert Dragon TailsReport about a two day hiking trip into the Tabernas Deserts, Almeria, Spain
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Cold fingers in the ContraviesaThe "beast from the north" had arrived and the weather was turning colder. The high mountains were out, so we headed for the lower Sierra de Contraviesa hills.
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The Reluctant Pathbuilder and the Lentegi CircularDescribes a hike around the Lentegi Circular PR440 path in the Sierra de Almijara
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Circular around Puerto JubileyInteresting circular walk from the Puerto de Jubiley today. Some impassable obstacles en route involved either a change of plan or swimming!
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Rio Verde and the Petrified WaterfallA circular walk around the head of the Rio Verde on a cold and blustery day.
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Walking on the Island of La PalmaJust come back from a week long walking holiday to the island of La Palma. We completed 5 of the best hikes the island has to offer and seen some amazing scenery, especially of the volcanic kind.
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Nice to be back out with the walking group today. We headed to the autumnal forests of the Sierra de Huetor, north of Granada to explore some new tracks. Gentle hiking in glorious surroundings. Good to be back.
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Life on the edge! Today we've been climbing mountains again. This time the superb summit of Corazon de la Sandia (1885m) on the Alayos de Dilar ridge. Proves you don't always have to climb the highest mountains to get the best thrills!
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Photos from yesterdays ascent of El Fuerte outside Frigiliana. A tough ascent followed by a scrambling descent of it's SW ridge which at times involved combined "tarzan-like" tactics to overcome
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Even in August Nature and Beauty prevailWe decided to revisit the quiet and relatively unknown lake of Lagunillo Misterioso, an enchanting place. We would then drop down the streams to see possibly the highest waterfall in the Sierra Nevada, the Chorreras de Molinillo.
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Las Campanitas Ridge to VeletaThe ridge didn't let our expectations down. It is a magnificent scramble, probably Grade 3 in places. The highlight for me is the spiky pinnacle of Campario which soars like a needle up intto the sky. It is an impressive and intimidating sight.
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Yesterday in the heat of the afternoon we made our way uphill to a remote lake, rarely visited, that we had never been to before. Laguna de Peñón Negro.
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This was an interesting day. Interesting as it crossed some terrain I have never trodden before, threading the Raspones ridge.
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Wet and Windy in the San Juan ValleyA very unseasonal hiking day in Spain's Sierra Nevada which brought welcome relief from the heat of the lower villages
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Hard Going on the Tozal del Cartujo ridgeA tough return for me to high mountain scrambling on this mountaineering ascent of the north ridge of Tozal del Cartujo in Spain's Sierra Nevada
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Describes a walk up the quiet and relatively remote peak of Las Alegas above the Alpujarras in Spain's Sierra Nevada mountains
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After a recent period of inactivity, due to having a pacemaker fitted, it was good to get back out on the warm limestone rock of the Peñon de la Mata and feel the exposure.
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Walking into a surreal Martian LandcapeWe had an eventful, interesting and ultimately fulfilling day on the western slopes of the Cerro de Caballo a couple of days ago. The route is along the Acequia los Hechos and up to the remote and lonely, hidden lake of Laguna Puesta Cura.
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A chain across the dirt track halted our walking plan for the day. Instead we had to look for an alternative. As in many cases like this, the alternative turned out to be superb! The peak of Boca de la Pesca, located in the Cumbres Verdes just 15 minutes from Granada.
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The great thing about living in the foothills of the mountains is that you can take last minute advantage of snow conditions.
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Cadiar, Lobras and Tímar Circular
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Photos from the trip into the Sierra Mágina over the last couple of days. A lovely, compact and interesting mountain range largely overlooked by foreigners. We saw only 1 other hiker in 2 days of wandering here.
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Pico Lopera, a quality ascent of modest altitudeAfter nearly two months having a pacemaker implant and then recovering from it, I was finally able to get out with the walking group again. We chose Pico Lopera, a modest peak in the north of the Sierra de Almijara.
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First tracks in the Barranco de San JuanFirst time at mid altitude for a while and my first venture this winter into the winter snows. We've had a poor winter so far so the recent heavy snowfalls have been most welcomed. Poor visibility meant we opted for the Barranco de San Juan valley as our snowshoeing route for the day.
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Cerro Huenes group, an unknown gem in the Cumbres VerdesThe Cumbres Verdes range south of Granada is very accessible. Most people head for the deserved reigning peak of the range, the spectacular, Trevenque. However there is a really nice hike just as accessible. This is round the Cerro Huenes group.
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Prado Llano and Refugio PoqueiraOur route to the Refugio Poqueira started at the Hoya del Portillo and ascended through the pine forests to the viewpoint of Puerto Molina. Snow capped peaks surrounded us.
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Ruta de los Mineros, Sierra de LujarFor many years I have gazed south to the rather uninspiring lump of the Sierra de Lujar. This small mountain range nearly 2000m high has never inspired me to walk it's seemingly boring wooded hillsides. A day with the Nomads Walking Group there has changed my opinion
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Kiersten & the Pendulum - Via Ferrata John Hogbin, ZafarrayaWell, that day was different. A first visit for me to the Via Ferrata paradise that is found at John Hogbin, Zafarraya. Lots of steep ladders (some decidedly more wobbly than others), Tyrolean Traverses, rungs, zip wires and cable bridges to negotiate. All good, clean and exposed fun in the sun!
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Enjoying the First Snows of Winter - Cortijo Hornillo and Vereda de la EstrellaAs we ascended towards our goal at Cortijo Hornillo other mountains came into view, Mulhacen, Puntal de la Caldera and Veta Grande. The white mountains towered over us, ice glinting from their vertical slopes, as we reached the buildings at Cortijo Hornillo
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Ups and Downs in the Tajos de BermejalesIt was a cold, clear morning as a large band of Nomads congregated at the car park at the town of Pantano de Bermejales. Today was a first for all of us, a trip down the river gorge of the Tajos de Bermejales, northwards towards the town of Cacin.
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Out of the Shadows and into the Sun - ascent of La Maroma, Sierra de TejedaDescribes an ascent of La Moroma in the Sierra de Tejeda - We drove to La Robledal where we commenced our ascent. We knew this would be a tough day with over 1000m ascent. The initial forest tracks were easy enough, but shortly we left these behind and took to an ever steepening mountain track.
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Walk the Canada del Senero, Sierra de Huetor
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Ascent of Peña de la Cruz, Sierra de HuetorWe headed to the Sierra de Huetor just north of Granada. There was a peak there that I had seen many times from the A92 motorway during my years in Spain. It is called the Penon de la Cruz. I never climbed it before because, quite frankly, it looked a bit uninteresting and boring. How wrong was I?
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Describes a rather easy, relaxed coastal walk between La Herradura and Nerja on the Costa Tropical, Spain
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Puerto de Frigiliana & Mirador de AguaWe discovered a superb circuit of the Puerto de Frigiliana and the Mirador de Agua. Great views and superb weather despite a cold start.
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The Dehesa de Camarate, LugrosPhotos from yesterdays walk in the beautiful Dehesa de Camarate near Lugros. We were a bit early for the October explosion of autumnal colours but a nice walk nevertheless.
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Walk the Los Cahorros de Monachil Gorge, GranadaThere's something uniquely satisfying about reading the weather right. 10 minutes after finishing the walk today in the Monachil Gorge the heavens opened. Really good to be back enjoying Los Cahorros near Granada, 15 years since I was last there.
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Trekking the Northern Flanks of the Sierra NevadaThe Veredon Inferior deserves to be known as the most spectacular path in the Sierra Nevada that nobody knows about! We now head down onto a vasar, a descending rake which rather cleverly circumvents the vertical cliffs above and below.
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Hiking at First Light in the Sierra NevadaThere's something special about striking campsite pre dawn and hiking in the first daylight hours, whilst the rest of the world is seemingly still in bed.
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Trekking the Upper Lanjaron ValleyTo the people of Lanjaron, their Shangri-La is the upper Lanjaron valley, it's lakes and it's rivers. It's the source of it's life giving waters. A special place that we were privileged to walk and spend the night in.
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The Vasar de Mulhacen, Sierra NevadaThe North Face of Mulhacen, Sierra Nevada. Its long been an ambition of mine to view the sunrise from Mulhacen's north face. This morning I got my wish and it didn't disappoint!
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It's a long time since I had a pre dawn start in the mountains and I had forgotten how wonderful an experience it was moving at first light.
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Making a Splash - River walk at Albunuelas, Lecrin ValleyA superb way to spend a hot summers day! Walking up the river gorge outside The village of Albuñuelas in the Lecrin Valley near Granada, Spain.
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Cerro de los Machos, Sierra NevadaYesterday's trip into the dramatic Corral del Veleta. Still plenty of snow remaining. A steep climb up to the wonderful viewpoint of Cerro de los Machos.
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The Northern 3000m peaks of the Sierra NevadaAn amazing 2 day trek covering the northern 3000m peaks of the Sierra Nevada. Circular walk to camp at Lavaderos de la Reina and next day over the northern mountains
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Cerro de Caballo, Sierra NevadaYesterdays walk up Europe's most south westerly 3000m peak, the Cerro de Caballo. The old legs feel a bit tired today, my first time at altitude since the heart problems and definitely struggled getting enough oxygen circulating through the body. Must go even slower next time!
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Exploring Andalucia with the Nomads - the first 11 tripsDuring the onset of the Covid crisis in 2020, I decided to form a small local walking group. The objective was simple, weekly walking & meeting people once lock down restrictions were lifted. I named the group "Alpujarra Nomads". We go all over Andalucia in our search for nature & mountains!
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