Lecrin Valley Limpers

This week, in an effort to escape the overbearing heat wave we are experiencing at the moment, we decided to head for the ski village of Pradollano. The circular walk starts at the 2000 metre line about 5 km outside of the village . There wasn’t a cloud in the sky and the temperature was perfect for walking. For the next 1½ hours the walk climbed gently across the hillside. This was a two sandwich walk and we stopped for our first break after we had completed all the climbing. I was just thinking it was time to move on when there was an enormous clap of thunder, it was definitely time to move. We set off for Pradollano at a good pace, only to look back later to see that half of the group were meandering across the hillside, oblivious to the brewing storm. We took our second break at the Museum Etnológico fuente alta, a great place we had discovered a few weeks ago. I don’t know when, or if it ever opens but it is a great place to go for a picnic. There are tables and

In an effort to try and stay cool, on what was forecast to be one of the hottest days of the year so far, we had a walk planned to Picacaho Alto, a 1771 metre high hill behind Dilar. Now we aren’t daft, we weren’t going to climb to the top in that heat. Instead we only went up to 1670 metres, saving over 100 metres of climbing, and this route also gives you a superb traverse along the hillside. The walk starts off from the carpark down by the river and it was already 23 degrees at 9.30 in the morning. For the next 2 ½ hours the only way was up, but it was noticeable that the higher we climbed the fresher the air got. By the time we reached the traverse the temperature was superb, well worth the effort and sweat of getting there This was a 2 sandwich walk, the first one we had whilst on the traverse with superb views over Travenque, the second one we had in the forest after we had lost some altitude. The way back follows a barranco down to the river, the crossing of wh