Lecrin Valley Limpers

This week we had a wet walk, not like our lovely summer wet walks in the river, but a true mountain wet walk. When the walk was planned the weather forecast  was predicting a warm sunny day, but as the week progressed it was looking likely we would have to cancel the walk due to heavy rain and thunder storms. By Saturday night the forecast was for the rain to arrive late Sunday afternoon, there was just enough time to complete our 22 km walk and get back to the cars before the rain arrived. The walk was in the Sierra Huetor on the south side of the motorway, We had discovered the walk last year and it offered good views over the Sierra Nevada. 23 of us set off for the the walk, the conditions were good, the sun was shining, there were a few clouds in the sky but no sign of any storms. The route was a good one because it offered various ways back if we needed to shorten the route. Our first stop was at some abandoned buildings what had once housed a drug rehabilitation

This week we welcomed Graham back to the group after an 18 month absence, we chose a easy walk for him around Monachil. We needed to pressure test his new plumbing work before taking him into the high mountains. I am pleased to report that after our initial testing his recently serviced pump appears to be running well. The walk started from the centre of Monachil and crossed the river before heading uphill on roads, tracks and paths. At the top there are superb views down into the Monachil gorge. After many years of walking up the incredible gorge route I have now decided I prefer this route, especially this week when there appeared to be thousands of people scurrying  around down there while we travelled in tranquility on our high level route. We stopped for lunch overlooking the valley before continuing along the path under the goat farm back to Monachil. I have never seen so many people on this walk, there were even coaches in the carpark. With time pressing some

This week we were able to do a longer walk as we did not have a tapas arranged. The walk started from the Sevilla carpark above Cumbres Verde. We had arranged to meet the Granadino contingent up here and we were a bit surprised when two of our friends were missing. We could not contact them because there is no phone signal. So, after waiting a few minutes, we set off on the path towards the hydro station. After walking about 15 minutes Antonia and Fernando were spotted running to catch us up. They had been waiting for us at the wrong carpark. We continued the path down to the hydro station where we stopped for refreshment before crossing the Rio Dilar for the first time and starting the climb up to Fuente Hervidero, Don’t ask me where it is, we have never found a Fuente, but that is what the walk is called. Most of the climbing is done on this section and it is in a thick pine forest. We had a lot of strong winds in the Autumn and the forest was littered with fallen trees.

Hi This week our walk started from Dilar and climbed up the Sierra Manar and Silleta. The route sets off from the edge of the village on a gently raising path, a perfect way to get the body warmed up for the real climb. The only problem was it was already warm and humid, the last thing we needed was warming up. The climb up on to the plateau of Sierra Manar is a superb path in a steep sided wooded gully, it’s well graded and you are soon at the top. We had a short break before the final ascent of Silleta. Normally at this time of the year the hillside is full of Orchids but sadly this year there were none. At the top you can look down into the Lecrin valley, what a miserable day they were having. Whilst we were bathed in glorious sunshine looking up to the peaks of the snow covered Sierra Nevada the valley people were cloaked in thick cloud. Were we smug or not? After lunch we set off back on tracks and paths that took us in a roundabout way back to the cars. We did