An Epic Adventure!
Sunday, April 12th, 2015, was to be my fourth attempt to reach the summit of Lucero, the second highest mountain in the region. My first attempt never even managed to get off the ground; weather conditions meant we didn't even set out. The second and third attempts were thwarted by high winds funnelling through the pass just before the steep ascent to the peak.
Although the weather for a few days before the day of the climb hadn't looked good, the radar map for Sunday showed clouds around, although nowhere near as dense as the fog we'd been experiencing. Best of all, there was no wind forecast.
I awoke when it was still dark to clear skies and lights on the coast. Looking out the window a little later, I could see nothing; we were clouded in again. It had been forecast so I kept my fingers crossed that the rest of the forecast would follow through.
Getting out of my entrance was the first hurdle to negotiate. Fresh soil had been laid from excavations nearby. The wet, foggy conditions had not been conducive to any of it drying out and I slid sideways down the hill to meet with my neighbour who was also coming with me. Next stop was at a nearby town to meet Joost who would drive us in his jeep to a starting point higher up into the mountains. Missing out on this lift would add 5 hours to the trek which is daunting enough without the extra miles. Also hitching a lift was a Dutch couple who would leave us after about an hour's walking, at a point where we started to climb and they continued to walk to their overnight stay some 26kms further inland. Also accompanying us on the walk to Lucero, was Lindsey, a guy from Scotland now living locally.
As we climbed higher in the jeep, so we started to leave the cloud behind. We could see that it was mainly thick over the sea and then thinned out as it came inland.
We arrived and all piled out. Nell was all set to play as we climbed down from the jeep and immediately went looking for pine cones to be thrown for her.
The first half an hour is always difficult as it is a steep climb and the body hasn't adjusted to what is being asked of it and starts to protest! As we neared the pass separating the province of Malaga from that of Granada, so Joost spotted an Ibex goat standing on a rocky outcrop above us watching our approach. I lifted my camera and it was gone! It was the only one we were to see all day. There was no fog to be seen as we reached the pass and looked ahead.
Just after the pass there is an abandoned marble quarry, now protected as part of the natural park. The sun was just beginning to light up the marble slabs. We stopped by a natural spring to fill up water bottles and then said cheerio to the walkers and started our climb. The route is less steep than the first bit, however it didn't take long to start feeling the effects of the exertion and one by one we stopped to take off some of the layers of clothing we had needed lower down. I should have also eaten something at this stage because a bit further on I started to struggle. We were all free to walk at our own pace thank goodness and so I made sure I just kept going until I had second wind. I didn't remember it being as hard as that when walking that way previously. I had also been having a conversation with Lindsey rather than conserving my breath, big mistake!
We stopped at a point I'd been to before and looked up to the peak of Lucero an hour's climb away. We could see three people way up high ahead of us. Joost was keen to push on as we looked back down towards the coast and could see cloud beginning to drift further inland towards us.
I passed the furthest point I'd made it to in the past and was treading new ground. It was difficult not to stop and look around because the views were absolutely outstanding. The contrast between the magnificence of the rock formations and clouds had to be seen to be believed. We had to push on though and as there was a lot of loose rock as well as outcrops to climb over, care was needed. The higher we went, the steeper the terrain. There were sheer drops either side and the twists and turns towards the peak became more frequent as the area reduced. Joost was hungry and had gone on ahead closely followed by Lindsay. My neighbour and I weren't far behind though and as I stopped to take a photo, a shout of "we're here" rang out. The route to the top was across a narrow ridge with steep slopes either side. At the very top was a ruin of a former lookout point for the Guardia Civil to counter smuggling between the provinces both during and after the Civil War. Evidently any activity needing investigation was signalled to police down the mountain by use of a mirror! I guess the smugglers would've had plenty of opportunity to get through at times though as the peak was sure to have been often shrouded in cloud.
It was windy and cold at the top even in the sun. There had been a couple of areas on the way up where the little wind we'd experienced below, had turned into something stronger on high. I wouldn't like to be near to the peak in adverse conditions, that's for sure.
We had something to eat, took the obligatory photos of each other as well as our surrounds and then started to head back down the mountain. Much easier going this way that's for sure, although extra care had to be taken because of the loose stones. I resorted to sliding down on my bum a few times! Not long after we'd left the peak and crossed the ridge, I looked back and could see the peak disappearing in cloud; we'd picked the right time of day to get to the top and made the right decision not to hang around there.
On the way down, it was incredible the number of people we met. It was Sunday of course, however the shape and size of many of the walkers made me wonder how far they intended to reach. Once they arrived at the point where they could see just how much cloud was present then I'm sure many of them would have abandoned the attempt.
Retracing our steps back to the jeep, Joost said that we had taken an hour less than he usually allowed for the climb! Now that made me feel a whole lot better and perhaps not as unfit as I was beginning to think I might be!
A sense of euphoria started to seep in as we arrived back in civilisation. I was also in a state of disbelief that it had actually happened. I was so glad I had my photos to look at and be able to enjoy again each step of the adventure.
Sunday, April 12th, 2015, was to be my fourth attempt to reach the summit of Lucero, the second highest mountain in the region. My first attempt never even managed to get off the ground; weather conditions meant we didn't even set out. The second and third attempts were thwarted by high winds funnelling through the pass just before the steep ascent to the peak.
Although the weather for a few days before the day of the climb hadn't looked good, the radar map for Sunday showed clouds around, although nowhere near as dense as the fog we'd been experiencing. Best of all, there was no wind forecast.
I awoke when it was still dark to clear skies and lights on the coast. Looking out the window a little later, I could see nothing; we were clouded in again. It had been forecast so I kept my fingers crossed that the rest of the forecast would follow through.
Getting out of my entrance was the first hurdle to negotiate. Fresh soil had been laid from excavations nearby. The wet, foggy conditions had not been conducive to any of it drying out and I slid sideways down the hill to meet with my neighbour who was also coming with me. Next stop was at a nearby town to meet Joost who would drive us in his jeep to a starting point higher up into the mountains. Missing out on this lift would add 5 hours to the trek which is daunting enough without the extra miles. Also hitching a lift was a Dutch couple who would leave us after about an hour's walking, at a point where we started to climb and they continued to walk to their overnight stay some 26kms further inland. Also accompanying us on the walk to Lucero, was Lindsey, a guy from Scotland now living locally.
As we climbed higher in the jeep, so we started to leave the cloud behind. We could see that it was mainly thick over the sea and then thinned out as it came inland.
We arrived and all piled out. Nell was all set to play as we climbed down from the jeep and immediately went looking for pine cones to be thrown for her.
The first half an hour is always difficult as it is a steep climb and the body hasn't adjusted to what is being asked of it and starts to protest! As we neared the pass separating the province of Malaga from that of Granada, so Joost spotted an Ibex goat standing on a rocky outcrop above us watching our approach. I lifted my camera and it was gone! It was the only one we were to see all day. There was no fog to be seen as we reached the pass and looked ahead.
Just after the pass there is an abandoned marble quarry, now protected as part of the natural park. The sun was just beginning to light up the marble slabs. We stopped by a natural spring to fill up water bottles and then said cheerio to the walkers and started our climb. The route is less steep than the first bit, however it didn't take long to start feeling the effects of the exertion and one by one we stopped to take off some of the layers of clothing we had needed lower down. I should have also eaten something at this stage because a bit further on I started to struggle. We were all free to walk at our own pace thank goodness and so I made sure I just kept going until I had second wind. I didn't remember it being as hard as that when walking that way previously. I had also been having a conversation with Lindsey rather than conserving my breath, big mistake!
We stopped at a point I'd been to before and looked up to the peak of Lucero an hour's climb away. We could see three people way up high ahead of us. Joost was keen to push on as we looked back down towards the coast and could see cloud beginning to drift further inland towards us.
I passed the furthest point I'd made it to in the past and was treading new ground. It was difficult not to stop and look around because the views were absolutely outstanding. The contrast between the magnificence of the rock formations and clouds had to be seen to be believed. We had to push on though and as there was a lot of loose rock as well as outcrops to climb over, care was needed. The higher we went, the steeper the terrain. There were sheer drops either side and the twists and turns towards the peak became more frequent as the area reduced. Joost was hungry and had gone on ahead closely followed by Lindsay. My neighbour and I weren't far behind though and as I stopped to take a photo, a shout of "we're here" rang out. The route to the top was across a narrow ridge with steep slopes either side. At the very top was a ruin of a former lookout point for the Guardia Civil to counter smuggling between the provinces both during and after the Civil War. Evidently any activity needing investigation was signalled to police down the mountain by use of a mirror! I guess the smugglers would've had plenty of opportunity to get through at times though as the peak was sure to have been often shrouded in cloud.
It was windy and cold at the top even in the sun. There had been a couple of areas on the way up where the little wind we'd experienced below, had turned into something stronger on high. I wouldn't like to be near to the peak in adverse conditions, that's for sure.
We had something to eat, took the obligatory photos of each other as well as our surrounds and then started to head back down the mountain. Much easier going this way that's for sure, although extra care had to be taken because of the loose stones. I resorted to sliding down on my bum a few times! Not long after we'd left the peak and crossed the ridge, I looked back and could see the peak disappearing in cloud; we'd picked the right time of day to get to the top and made the right decision not to hang around there.
On the way down, it was incredible the number of people we met. It was Sunday of course, however the shape and size of many of the walkers made me wonder how far they intended to reach. Once they arrived at the point where they could see just how much cloud was present then I'm sure many of them would have abandoned the attempt.
Retracing our steps back to the jeep, Joost said that we had taken an hour less than he usually allowed for the climb! Now that made me feel a whole lot better and perhaps not as unfit as I was beginning to think I might be!
A sense of euphoria started to seep in as we arrived back in civilisation. I was also in a state of disbelief that it had actually happened. I was so glad I had my photos to look at and be able to enjoy again each step of the adventure.