Walk 20 August 2017 Los Machos

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This week the conditions were perfect for our walk to the summit of los Machos. There was no wind, unlike last time when they had to close the ski lift. We didn’t see a cloud in the sky all day and the temperature was around 23 degrees. What more could we ask for?
We started the day with coffee in Pradollano before catching the ski lift up the side of Veleta. The lift drops you off at 3000 metres, so saving you quite a bit of climbing but leaving you breathless when you hit the first slope.
 This side of Veleta looks a bit tatty in the summer with all the detritus of the ski resort littering the hillside but, within 10 minutes, you move into a different world as you drop down into the Guarnón valley under the north face of Veleta. There were a number of climbers making their way up this sheer rock face, it’s not for me, even attached to a rope.
 Our ascent of Los Machos started from the valley floor, it’s still a steep ascent but it is walkable and only 280 meters and we were not in a hurry. We stopped for a short break at the top  to take in the views and to watch a vole scurrying around looking for bits of food. What it finds to eat when there are no visitors is a mystery as the summit is all rocks.
At 3329 metres Los Machos is not not the highest hill in the area but it is in a superb position, and is one of my favorite mountain tops. Long may the hordes pass it by, as they make their way on the old road between Veleta and Mulhacen.
 After descending to the road it was time to make a big decision. Who was going on the Brass balls walk and who was going to follow the road up the Carihuela refugio where we planned to stop for lunch? In the end it was a gender split, with the boys going one route and the girls the other. The first time I saw this path, a few years ago, I thought to myself, no way, only an idiot would go across there. But then I thought, I am that idiot. So across we went. This time we awarded the Brass Balls plaque to two more idiots. Well done Fernando and Stewart, you join an exclusive club. Can I add that the club is not an exclusively male preserve. There are ladies in the group who are also swinging their Brass Balls.
 After lunch we had planned to go up Veleta but folk were swarming all over the summit like ants so we decided to give it a miss. There is always another day.
 We made our way back to the ski lift and down to Pradollano where we stopped for refreshments.
A fabulous day out.
We walked 7.2 km and climbed 468 metres.

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