Adventure Walkabout

Sunday, 30 Mar 2025

Near the Barranco de Maro we discovered a path about 1km long that I didn't know yet. It led us to this mountain ridge.

Now we are in the Río Chillar. I've been to this beautiful waterfall several times. This time it has a lot of water as it has been raining a lot recently. And this time there is only one rope to help us climb ―►point 5 in the map

OK Sven, thank you for the photos, now it's your turn.

This waterfall is usually dry (photo from Aug 2021) and the water flows underground. (I remember seeing water here many years ago on a hike that is not listed in this blog). Now you might be wondering, do we climb up here too? No, we go back about 100 metres, climb up the slope on the west side of the valley and come across a small path that leads us into the riverbed above the waterfall ―►point 6 in the map

Here the river soon becomes impassable without climbing equipment. Sven doesn't realise this, climbs on and slides into the water. His equipment gets a little wet, but fortunately the damage is limited ―►point 7 in the map

Monday

On previous hikes, we have walked back along the river. This time, however, we want to find a way to get further. We went back about 100 metres, walked up the slope on the east side and went to sleep. You can see Sven lying in his hammock in the picture on the right ―►point 8 in the map

Before we continue the hike, I go down to the river and take a few more photos for you. There are beautiful pools here with crystal-clear water.

On the left on the rock is the place where Sven slipped into the water yesterday.

The water has changed the landscape. It is still beautiful, but in August 2021 it was even more beautiful (photo).

Here is the place where we climb up the slope.

Sven and I set off to get somewhere. Here in the valley is the beautiful river where we couldn't go any further.

We come across a former path that is now very overgrown. I walked here with Jean Claude back in 2015 ―►point 9 in the map

Down there we see a riverbed that I discovered on the satellite image during the preparations. We go down...

...to walk up the riverbed without any bushes in the way.

On the north side, we discover a small cave where one or two people could spend the night.

Sven climbs like a champion...

...So as not to keep him waiting too long, I usually wear sandals on this hike. But every now and then I stop to take a deep breath, to see where we are or to take photos.

The river bed now becomes steeper.

Some water comes out of the rock here. We catch it to drink.

We leave the riverbed and head up to the right. We want to go up to Nava Chica (1830m). The slope looks doable, but we have to climb more often. Here I am walking on the rocky slope.

Here is a particularly large step...

...I carefully check every movement and get up safely.

You also have to be careful here. I take all the time I need.

You see a boulder on a mountain top. It is called ‘Piedra Sillada’ (stone block). We will pass it later.

We are on the Nava Chica (1830m), the highest point of the hike. In the background you can see the snow-covered Sierra Nevada with the Mulhacén (3480m), the highest mountain on the Spanish mainland ―►point 21 in the map

Once again the Sierra Nevada in the background in the evening sun, photographed at Piedra Sillada ―►point 23 in the map

This mountain range (‘Cadena’) provides us with the next adventure: a ridge with sometimes steep slopes. You can find Sven on the ridge if you click on the photo and then zoom in.

Just before dark, the mountain becomes more pleasant to walk on again and we soon come across a path.

Tuesday

My sleeping place. So that it doesn't get too cold, I chose a spot close to the rock and put on everything I've got... 

But the night is windless and slightly cloudy and therefore warmer than the previous night, even though we are much higher ―►point 25 in the map

Nearby we discover this cave, where we could probably have slept even warmer.

Now we want to try to go back over this ridge. We are not sure whether we can succeed.

At first it is quite simple for a while ―►point 28 in the map

We need to be more careful here ―►point 31 in the map

Sometimes it's a balancing act.

Sven does it with ease.

‘It's quite easy up here’, says Sven, “only the first rock is a bit difficult, but I can help you with a rope”. But I prefer a different route down to the left. Once again, Sven has to wait for me.

In the background you can see the peak of Cerro Cisne (1490m ―►point 34 in the map; see photo from the Lucero Walkabout, Nov 2022), which we climbed without luggage.

View into the valley of the Río Higuerón, into which we now descend.

There are rustic rock pillars along the way.

My sandals come apart, but I can simply press them back together again.

In the Río Higuerón, Sven and I walk separately, and I walk barefoot. As there is a lot of water in the river at the moment, we often have to walk through the water―►point 35 in the map

Suddenly I see a 4 metre deep waterfall below me. I can't get down, so I go back and find a path that goes round the waterfall. 

There are impressive views of the valley from the path.

I always marvel at the effort that once went into creating these paths. Some of the paths date back to Roman times, says Sven.

Wednesday

My sleeping place 6km before Frigiliana, 14km before my home. The white stones are part of the riverbed ―►point 36 in the map

I have 2 summer sleeping bags. As it wasn't cloudy and the night felt quite cool, I slept in both sleeping bags, as I had done on the two previous nights. It was a good decision, the night was comfortable.

Continue down the riverbed

A concrete tank, and further down, water flows out of the gravel. The gravel is brown in colour and covered in algae. That is suspicious... I won't be drinking any more river water for a while.

On the right you can see the hoses through which waste water is probably fed into the concrete tank.

Now I walk along this concrete channel (acequia), which runs parallel above the riverbed to Frigiliana.

An attendant explains to me that the water in the acequia goes to agriculture, and the thick hose is the water for the houses.

After breakfast, my food reserves are used up. I only have three cocoa beans left.

There is another waterfall below Frigiliana. The path is recognisable: There are more tourists here.

The river goes through another narrow gorge, then the valley widens. There I meet Sven again by chance and we walk home together.