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Helmet cam from Via Ferrata at Comares, Malaga

Sun, 27 May 2012 10:22:21 +0100

Ian Tupmans latest headcam video from the via ferrata we did at Comares north of Velez Malaga last week. Short but steep route.

First climbing rope

Mon, 21 May 2012 14:04:07 +0100

I am looking to buy my first rope for year-round scrambling and winter use and the Beal Joker 9.1 appears to tick all the boxes (http://bealplanet.com/sport/anglais/corde-joker.php)
Does anyone have any thoughts on this particular rope or any other recommendations?
Thanks.

Caballo and Elorrieta this week

Tue, 15 May 2012 12:33:50 +0100

Last December, bad weather forced an abandonment of this trip at Refugio del Caballo so, with good weather forecast for the next three days, my plan is;
Wednesday - park at Ventura trailhead, ascend Cerro del Caballo via SW ridge and overnight at Caballo hut.
Thursday - Tajos Altos, Pico del Cartujo and overnight at Elorrieta hut.
Friday - return to car via Verea Corte, Caballo hut and lower path to Ventura.
Spanish reports say patches of snow along ridges but knee deep in places on leeward slopes so I will be taking crampons and ice axe. As I haven't been further than the Caballo hut, I would appreciate any thoughts/comments on proposed route, sources of water etc. Many thanks.

Video of scrambling trip to Peñón de la Mata

Tue, 01 May 2012 12:00:20 +0100

Another scrambling trip to Peñón de la Mata . Ascent via the west ridge followed by lunch and then a short and sweet scramble on 'Dexter'.

Video from Tuppers

Pacerpoles? Are these trekking poles any good?

Sat, 21 Apr 2012 11:30:57 +0100

First time Ive heard of them but they have had some good reviews. Has anybody any experience of using these?

Website at http://www.pacerpole.com/

Long scrambles on the Peñon de Mata, Sierra de Huetor

Wed, 18 Apr 2012 18:11:25 +0100

This neglected area has a wealth of untapped scrambling potential. Check out the videos below from our recent trip of discovery!

Avalanche in Sierra Nevada hits group of 6, 1 injured.

Wed, 18 Apr 2012 14:31:40 +0100

A group of seven people have been caught by a snow avalanche today in the Sierra Nevada. The avalanche swept away the whole group, although only one of them was half buried by snow. They were doing a winter walk in the area of the Tajos de la Virgin close to the Laguna de las Yeguas, head of the Rio Dílar. She was only injured at it was not life threatening. She was transferred by helicopter to a hospital in Granada.

It may be April but the dangers are still there. Maybe more snow in the next few days

Full report from Ideal newspaper in spanish at
http://www.ideal.es/granada/20120418/loc...81348.html

Alcazaba next week?

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 15:36:36 +0100

With the recent snowfall I'm thinking of trying for Alcazaba next week, weather permitting.
Leave the car below Hoya del Portillo and take acequia alta to Poquiera refuge and continue to Caldera hut for overnight. From the Caldera hut is there a feasible route below/across the north face of Mulhacen to bring me up to Alcazaba?
From Alcazaba, return to Poquiera hut via Siete Lagunas, Chorreras Negras and across south ridge of Mulhacen. Overnight at Poquiera and back to the car the next morning.
Thoughts on likely conditions and possible routes greatly appreciated.

Sierra Nevada ski centre shutting down 15th April.

Mon, 02 Apr 2012 15:12:06 +0100

It has just been announced that the ski centre will close in the Sierra Nevada on 15th April. This is the earliest I can remember it closing and I have lived here for 10 winters.

It is hardly surprising after the poor winter we have had. There is 52km of piste still open. Me? I shall be heading up doing a bit of ski touring on perfect snow as soon as I can after the 15th.

See link at http://sierranevada.ideal.es/actualidad/...abril.html

Hot feet and boot care

Sun, 01 Apr 2012 13:41:16 +0100

I offer the following to anyone who may have had a similar experience.
Even in cold weather, my feet become hot in walking boots and over the years I have tried all sorts of combinations of boot material and socks to avoid heat build-up, hotspots and blisters. I eventually settled on all-leather boots (Meindl Borneo) and Thorlo Light Hiking Socks and I was so pleased with the boots that I bought a second pair to spread the wear.
Recently though, the problem of heat build-up returned and I spoke with one of the boot experts at Fishers in Keswick for advice. It transpired that, although I have been meticulous in cleaning and treating the outsides of my boots, I had been neglecting the insides. Sweat and dirt had blocked the pores in the leather, preventing it from ‘breathing’ properly and causing heat and moisture to be retained.
The solution has been simple and cheap. Firstly, I replaced the Meindl footbeds with Zamberlan footbeds which are perforated and so help dissipate the heat from the soles of my feet. Secondly, I remove and wash the insoles after every trip and after every 28 days or so of use, I clean the insides of the boots with a warm solution of Nikwax Techwash and a soft brush followed by thorough rinsing with cold water and leave the boots to dry slowly in a warm place.
Problem solved!

Advice needed: The Far Eastern Sierras

Tue, 20 Mar 2012 13:34:47 +0000

I'm thinking about a hastily arranged Easter trip to the mountains.

Have you much knowledge of a trekking route that would start out (accessing from Guadix) from the camp site in Jerez del Marquesado up to Puerto de Trevelez then heading out along the main crest EAST towards San Juan, Morron, Chullo and onwards. We have several days to travel nice and slowly and enjoy the wild camps.

I've been as far as San Juan in March and April before. No water problems then with snow and/or melt streams.

My map finishes at Chullo so the rest of the trip eastwards is a bit unknown at the moment!

The thinking here is to avoid full on winter conditions on the big mountains and enjoy trekking away from the Fox zone (or do you think we could face Fox issues in the east)?

I've often gazed along the ridge crest towards the east and wondered about it.

All the best
Dave Porter

Snow in the Sierras! Webcam view from Poqueira hut

Tue, 20 Mar 2012 08:09:50 +0000

About 20cm snow fell in parts of the Sierra Nevada overnight. Some more expected this afternoon.

This is the view from the Refugio de Poqueira webcam this morning.

Visit their site at http://refugiopoqueira.com/

Mountain conditions in the Sierra Nevada this weekend

Sat, 10 Mar 2012 09:15:25 +0000

All areas
Very irregular distribution of the snow, hard snow areas / frost / ice, bare ground (rock). Lower areas no snow.

Hoya de la Mora – Veleta
Access Road A-395 is clear.
Snow level: first snows at approx. 2500m.
Carihuela bivouac: in good condition.

Poqueira
Recommended access to Poqueira Refuge: Central Electric Cebadilla or Acequia Alta
Refugio Caldera from Refugio Poqueira: Rio Mulhacén
Carihuela bivouac: in good condition.
Villavientos bivouac: in good condition

Caballo
Access: From Niguelas to Fuentefría in bad condition.
Snow level: approx. 2700m

Genil
Snow level: approx. 1900m. Some ice and bad tracks

Postero Alto – Alhorí
Snow level: approx. 2100m.
Difficult access to the Postero Alto Refugio. Some ice early and mud later in the day. 4WD essential from Jerez.

Ragua
GR-337 access road and Puerto de la Ragua (2000m.) is clear
Snow level: approx 2000

ME karakorum pants

Thu, 08 Mar 2012 01:52:34 +0000

I needed a new pair of ski pants that I could also use for winter mountaineering and the Mountain Equipment Karakorum pants have been just the job. They are well made, waterproof and windproof and weigh a lot less than my old ski trousers. They have elasticated cuffs which can be tied under your boots to form gaiters but the elastic alone keeps them snug enough for snowshoeing without letting any snow into your boots. The full length side zips make them easy to get on and off over boots and crampons. Highly recommended and at around £160, it's cheaper than buying ski pants and mountain trousers.

Short-toed Eagles are back

Mon, 05 Mar 2012 13:14:22 +0000

Short-toed Eagles are back in the Alpujarras, a magnificent eagle to see and great to see that the spring migration has started. This is a shot I took yesterday.