While driving the A92 from Granada to Almeria/Murcia, some 20 KM before Almeria lays the Tabernas - Europe's one and only recognized desert. With a dimension of 288 square kilometers it spans all the way to the Mediterranean sea, giving parts of the nearby Cabo de Gata Nature Reserve a unique landscape no where else to be found in Europe. Being Europe's only Desert a whole lot of Films have been shot in the unique setup of the Tabernas. From Lawrence of Arabia to The good, the bad and the ugly to name just a few.
Today there a 3 wild western theme parks/towns left. You can find a real western fort, shows, zoos, saloons and what not. But ... there is also one western town which has been abandoned many years ago to decay in the reckless temperatures of the Tabernas. The oldest one "el condor" is accessible back doors when taking the exit to all the western towns and then off to "Western Leone" or "Mini Hollywood. Just half a kilometer after the entrance to "Western Leone" you can park you car and walk down into the Arroyo to find the old town. Its a 1-2 hours walk - just be careful with snakes, take enough water and remember you are not supposed to go there :)
Monday, February 27, 2012
Deepmining in Orgiva
Its 2012 and time for new adventures.
One thing i dont not encourage people to do but nevertheless wanted to share are the mines de carriles of Orgiva. I posted a trip last year (see here) which is a trip in the Sierra de Lujar around the area of the mines. Being one of the biggest and oldest mines in spain i wanted to share some photo impression from inside. the mines are supposed be a system of almost 700KM! The whole mountain is like a swiss cheese. The mines were operated more then thousand of years and in the were shut down only in the 70ties. The walk in/outside the mines is adventure pure because of all the remains, hidden entries, spectacular views and curiosities to be found around the mountain.
I DONT ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO GO INSIDE!!!
If you are experienced enough and have considered all appropriate security measures a stop over when going or leaving from Orgiva is worthwhile a stop.
One thing i dont not encourage people to do but nevertheless wanted to share are the mines de carriles of Orgiva. I posted a trip last year (see here) which is a trip in the Sierra de Lujar around the area of the mines. Being one of the biggest and oldest mines in spain i wanted to share some photo impression from inside. the mines are supposed be a system of almost 700KM! The whole mountain is like a swiss cheese. The mines were operated more then thousand of years and in the were shut down only in the 70ties. The walk in/outside the mines is adventure pure because of all the remains, hidden entries, spectacular views and curiosities to be found around the mountain.
I DONT ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO GO INSIDE!!!
If you are experienced enough and have considered all appropriate security measures a stop over when going or leaving from Orgiva is worthwhile a stop.
Saturday, October 1, 2011
Pradollano - Veleta - Mulhacen - Trevelez (one-way)
Another one-way route starting from Pradollano, Granadas ski resort in the sierra nevada. This route is perfect for all of who want to see it all, who bring enough time and energy, but rely completly on public transport.
The trail takes you all the way to Trevelez on the other side of the mountains. You will climb Spains 2nd and 3rd highest mountains, the Veleta and Mulhacen, pass the beautiful valley of the Siete Lagunas to walk all the way down to the famous Pueblo of Trevelez, in a almost 26 KM high altitude walk with more then 2.4 KM altitude difference.
Stunning views, tamed mountain goats, crystal clear water, rocks over rocks is what you will get for the 2.4 KM and soar feet!
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Climbing & more at the Embalse de Quentar (Granada)
Just a 30 minutes drive away from Granada Town, the Embalse de Quentar, a artificial water reservoir, is a very welcome afternoon trip in the hot Andalusian summer days. If you feel like swimming, rock climbing, fishing or walking the Quentar water reservoir could be your option. Rarely visited by locals and tourist you find always a tranquil spot to rest, though there is no path or whatsoever going around the water. In case you want to cross over to other places on the shore you have to either swim or bring a dingy which is fun enough.
The rocky slopes are perfect for climbing and the big cave is a climbers paradise as you can jump into water once you slip. Just bring you climbing shoes and water and you ready to go. there are no hooks or whatsoever - its freeclimbing in various degrees. Best time to visit is between July and September.
If you bring a dingy you can explorer the few sidearms of the lake with small sandy beaches and fresh water flowing into the lake. if you aim for fishing there is loads of fish waiting to be hauled in. In fact i find the non-endemic prominent grayling type fish a bit of a ecologic disaster for local species.
The rocky slopes are perfect for climbing and the big cave is a climbers paradise as you can jump into water once you slip. Just bring you climbing shoes and water and you ready to go. there are no hooks or whatsoever - its freeclimbing in various degrees. Best time to visit is between July and September.
If you bring a dingy you can explorer the few sidearms of the lake with small sandy beaches and fresh water flowing into the lake. if you aim for fishing there is loads of fish waiting to be hauled in. In fact i find the non-endemic prominent grayling type fish a bit of a ecologic disaster for local species.
Summerbreak in Corsica (GR20)
During the hot summer in Andalucia there are always ways to escape the tremendous heat. The month of august is the worst of them all. +40 Degrees makes it nearly impossible to walk around, even in the high mountains.
The GR20 in corsica is such a welcome escape! Its rated unter the TOP 10 of the world most diverse and beautiful long distance trails in the world and is the only one in europe in that category. The 200 something KM across the Island can be done in everything between 7-16 Days i believe. I read somewhere the there are records under 48 hours which, after having walked more then 120 KM of the same, i find it very hard to believe! Usually people take between 12-15 days for the 15 Stages or so.
During peak seasons there are lot of people on the trail and so walking without tent is not advisable. I heard you can also book in advance in some places but that seems to take the fun out of walking without knowing where to end up. The most funniest thing i found is that every single one of the refugees has propers menues, beer, wind, chocolate, whatever you can imaging for sale. Its extremely funny if you watch people walk a stage (in average 5-7 hours), arrive at 13:00 PM to start to have beers until the evening.
Corsicas interior, the mountains and the forests are amazing and you could well say that Corse is one of the most beautiful places in Europe. If you havent been you should go. For all information on the GR20 i found helpful please refer to this sites:
http://www.le-gr20.com
http://corsica.forhikers.com
The GR20 in corsica is such a welcome escape! Its rated unter the TOP 10 of the world most diverse and beautiful long distance trails in the world and is the only one in europe in that category. The 200 something KM across the Island can be done in everything between 7-16 Days i believe. I read somewhere the there are records under 48 hours which, after having walked more then 120 KM of the same, i find it very hard to believe! Usually people take between 12-15 days for the 15 Stages or so.During peak seasons there are lot of people on the trail and so walking without tent is not advisable. I heard you can also book in advance in some places but that seems to take the fun out of walking without knowing where to end up. The most funniest thing i found is that every single one of the refugees has propers menues, beer, wind, chocolate, whatever you can imaging for sale. Its extremely funny if you watch people walk a stage (in average 5-7 hours), arrive at 13:00 PM to start to have beers until the evening.
Corsicas interior, the mountains and the forests are amazing and you could well say that Corse is one of the most beautiful places in Europe. If you havent been you should go. For all information on the GR20 i found helpful please refer to this sites:
http://www.le-gr20.com
http://corsica.forhikers.com
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Sierra Nevada (Pradollano) - La Zubia
This trip is one of the many choices when taking the bus up to the sierra nevada ski station (pradollano) from granada to walk back the same day. The ski resort is not the most beautiful sight during summer but it remains a perfect starting point for many trips. Dont be surprised to see a bunch of hikers up there in summer - its quite common for people around to tackle the peaks of Veleta and Mulhacen from there. i remember once counting almost 50 people going up. even more surprising, or as you wish, there is also a mini bus going up from the public bus stop at 2.400m all the way to the base of the Pico de Veleta at 3200m.
This walk is basically one of the fastest ways to get back top Granada. The walk should take about 7-9 hours. There are many options if you feel like going into the Valle del Rio Monachil or the Trevenque. This one goes right through the middle of both. Another option is when you enter the Valle de Rio Dilar at its very beginning. In spring and summer you will see one of the biggest waterfalls in the whole Sierra Nevada. Even crossing over to the other side (Alpujarras) and going to Capileira or Orgiva is a good choice and doable in one Day. (The last bus leaves around 17 pm).
In Summer there is only one bus from Granada and it leaves at 9 am every morning from the central bus station. The same bus stays up there until 17 pm (yes no joke) and goes back again. In summer and on weekends nowadays the main telecabina is open! So you can go up first from pradollano with the gondola and then change to chairlift or however you call these things. funnily the guy working there had no clue what it costs to go up - spain i tell you. india for beginners :)
Photos:
https://picasaweb.google.com/105726765340731413642/PradollanoLaZubia?authuser=0&feat=directlink
EveryTrail - Find the best hikes in California and beyond
 |
| From Pradollano - La Zubia |
This walk is basically one of the fastest ways to get back top Granada. The walk should take about 7-9 hours. There are many options if you feel like going into the Valle del Rio Monachil or the Trevenque. This one goes right through the middle of both. Another option is when you enter the Valle de Rio Dilar at its very beginning. In spring and summer you will see one of the biggest waterfalls in the whole Sierra Nevada. Even crossing over to the other side (Alpujarras) and going to Capileira or Orgiva is a good choice and doable in one Day. (The last bus leaves around 17 pm).
 |
| From Pradollano - La Zubia |
In Summer there is only one bus from Granada and it leaves at 9 am every morning from the central bus station. The same bus stays up there until 17 pm (yes no joke) and goes back again. In summer and on weekends nowadays the main telecabina is open! So you can go up first from pradollano with the gondola and then change to chairlift or however you call these things. funnily the guy working there had no clue what it costs to go up - spain i tell you. india for beginners :)
Photos:
https://picasaweb.google.com/105726765340731413642/PradollanoLaZubia?authuser=0&feat=directlink
Sierra Nevada (Pradollano) - La Zubia
EveryTrail - Find the best hikes in California and beyond
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Rio Verde (one-way)
If you ever go during summer to the south of spain you think that hiking out in the campo is impossible due to the extensive heat. For the majority of places this could be said as true. The Valle of Rio Verde is an exception from the rule. Not only is the valley descending directly into the Mediterranean Sea but also carries all year around plenty of water. As the name Rio Verde suggests the water is really green! .. really really green due to the geological structures/rocks chalk, launa.
Back in the medieval days the river was used for transporting wood down to the settlements on the coast and they kept doing this until mid of last century leaving not many trees standing. You can still see the marks on the rocks from the centuries of transport. The pathis going all the way from the coast up over the Sierra de Guajar/Cazulas/Almijara to Granada and was used to bring sea fruits on mules to Granada in a daytrip.
Nowadays the Valle del Rio Verde is known to some people for canoying which is quite fun but also a little sad, because of damages to the delicate structure of the riverbed. There are really enough deep and big pools to jump in and the the largest one is about 5 meters deep and has at least an radius of 8 meters. The base for jumping another 10 meters up. What could you want more in summer.
If you are thinking that you can walk the valley down without getting wet - its almost impossible! You have to cross the river at least 2-3 times and there may be no bridge or whatever. The river can really swell up in spring and take everything with it.
This trip is the perfect crowded beach or city summer getaway. There a two options:
1) One-way
On this option you start from the top and walk all the way down and in the end up to the road to either hitchhike or have somebody pick you up (or with 2 cars). walking the road up again would take at least 3-4 hours. There is also a Bus coming up from Almunecar which goes twice a day. Check out the time at http://www.alsa.es. It should be doable as the Bus back to Granada leaves at around 5/6.
2) Round-way
There is actually only one round trip option which i tried before (without gps) and for that you will stay in the upper part of the rio verde and take a diversion in direction of the small embalse (see google map/earth). This option will carry you only half kilometer along the Rio itself though.
Photos:
https://picasaweb.google.com/105726765340731413642/RioVerde?feat=directlink
Back in the medieval days the river was used for transporting wood down to the settlements on the coast and they kept doing this until mid of last century leaving not many trees standing. You can still see the marks on the rocks from the centuries of transport. The pathis going all the way from the coast up over the Sierra de Guajar/Cazulas/Almijara to Granada and was used to bring sea fruits on mules to Granada in a daytrip.
Nowadays the Valle del Rio Verde is known to some people for canoying which is quite fun but also a little sad, because of damages to the delicate structure of the riverbed. There are really enough deep and big pools to jump in and the the largest one is about 5 meters deep and has at least an radius of 8 meters. The base for jumping another 10 meters up. What could you want more in summer.
If you are thinking that you can walk the valley down without getting wet - its almost impossible! You have to cross the river at least 2-3 times and there may be no bridge or whatever. The river can really swell up in spring and take everything with it.
This trip is the perfect crowded beach or city summer getaway. There a two options:
1) One-way
On this option you start from the top and walk all the way down and in the end up to the road to either hitchhike or have somebody pick you up (or with 2 cars). walking the road up again would take at least 3-4 hours. There is also a Bus coming up from Almunecar which goes twice a day. Check out the time at http://www.alsa.es. It should be doable as the Bus back to Granada leaves at around 5/6.
2) Round-way
There is actually only one round trip option which i tried before (without gps) and for that you will stay in the upper part of the rio verde and take a diversion in direction of the small embalse (see google map/earth). This option will carry you only half kilometer along the Rio itself though.
https://picasaweb.google.com/105726765340731413642/RioVerde?feat=directlink
Rio Verde (one-way)
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