Nevada Walk

10 - 18 July 2019

We climbed the second highest mountain in Spain: the Mulhacén, 3.482 m high, in the Sierra Nevada. (The highest one is on the Canary Island Tenerife.)  The Mulhacén "is named after Abu l-Hasan Ali, known as Muley Hacén in Spanish, the penultimate Muslim King of Granada in the 15th century who, according to legend, was buried on the summit of the mountain" (Wikipedia). 

However, we did not drive in a car or bus almost to the top, as most people do.  We started at the foot of the mountains in Granada and followed the Rio Genil up to 2,800 m.  There the river rises in a small lake, a lagoon. And even in the middle of the summer, we passed some fields of snow!  At this altitude, we noticed the thinner air, we had to breathe more...

Wednesday, 10 July, 2019:

4 people started with me in Granada.

First night at olive trees.

Thursday:

Güejar Sierra, the last village on our way, and the valley of Rio Genil.

Bathing with clothes because it's hot.

The cherries on the ground are often the best ones.

Friday:

The Mulhacén is in view: in the background the right mountain.

Explanations about the Mulhacén and it's surroundings.

Impressive walls, made only from stones of the surroundings.

We followed a former tram line, constructed with much effort.

Intrance of a mine tunnel.

I went in. After 120 m it ends.

This they took out of the mine.

The life of the mine workers was hard.

Bridge over a side river.

We were bathing often...

... and resting as well of course.

In this night, it rained a little. We were lucky.

Saturday:

Rio Genil from upside.

Even in an altitude of 2,600 m it was not cold at all...

... but just wonderful !

The lagoon where the Rio Genil springs, 2,800 m high.

In this altitude we found still tasty plants to eat, here the bellflower.

More beautiful flowers.

Close by: a bigger lagoon. Over it: snow !

We passed a snow field, with a free upper body !

The Mulhacén is close !

Yeah, we are on the peak! But very windy...

... and the view is not the best. We'll come back some time !

Sunday:

Trevélez in view.

Pablo's house, selfmade from the stones and wood around.

Monday:

Cherries in abundance !

Bridge over Rio Trevélez. First a wooden construction, then stones, finally concret.

Strange tunnel.

Cástaras in view.

Tuesday:

We found this place for the Retreat from 31 Aug 2019.

Oranges in abundance.

Beautiful mountain villages, here Busquistar.

We found another mine tunel... with many spiders.

Wednesday:

We leave the last mountains of the Walkabout...

... and walk along the Río Guadalfeo to Órgiva.