On day one we made the ascent from the south passing the Refugio Poqueira and moving on to an overnight camp in the snows of the Rio Chico valley at the base of the ridge. The thaw of the last few days had unfortunately affected the thin early season snowpack and the Raspones looked like it was going to be mainly a rock route.

Some members enjoyed a dusk ascent of the nearby, Puntal de Terreras Azules (2,804m) which gave superb views over a cloud clad Mediterranean sea and allowed for some antics on the summit pillar.

Up early next morning to a superb blue sky and light winds, the lower easier broken ridge sections were quickly completed before arriving at the more technical lower third of the main ridge proper. This section is similar to the Cuillin of Skye, but the rock much less reliable and great care should be taken. 2 abseils over this section were necessary.

The crux is a rock face which we named the “Red Pillar” on account of it’s colored rock. Once surmounted the going gets steadily easier. We had a long walk out back to the cars so cut short the final sections to down climb a gully to the right before dropping back down to the campsite.

The Raspones is well worth doing and provides a good mountaineering route. It is graded alpine AD with some short rock sections of 4+. Most of it can be done moving together. We saw hardly another person in two days and nobody on the actual route itself. Hard to believe that such good climbing exists so far down in the south of Europe. The Sierra Nevada is a most underrated and quiet mountaineering destination.

We shall return when we get full winter conditions and when the jagged pinnacles of the razors edge will be covered in snow, ice and verglas. Then maybe it will provide yet another completely different experience for our group of amigos.

We emerged from the forest into a big wide snow bowl and then plodded our way up a shallow gully that seemed to hold the best line. Above us a juvenile golden eagle gave us a brief cursory inspection.

Arrival at the ruined Refugio Cebollar signalled the frantic start of lunch, traditional “jamon” and “queso”, washed down with a glass of rioja (or two!). This is a fine spot. In front of us lies a mountain ridge culminating in Pico de Tajos de los Machos (3085m). There are fantastic snowshoeing and ski touring excursions hereabouts, but it’s a shame the refugio is in such a state of disrepair as it is in a fine location to spend the night.

We continued over the minor peak of Las Alegas with it’s stupendous views over the higher parts of the Sierra Nevada. Our return was made down a steep forest break, heel plunging and sliding down the slope, whooping with delight. Our dogs love this too. The siberian husky of course feels at home swimming through the knee deep snows and our giant leonberger looks like a bear patrolling her patch!

I always enjoy that first seasonal venture into the winter hills. The cold, frosty air. The silence. Sometimes living here in the Alpujarras you have to pinch yourself to remember that the busy beaches of Marbella and the Costa del Sol are just two hours away!

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You can find a wide range of gear for climbing, hill walking, mountain biking and other activities.

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A huge line of seemingly impenetrable and jagged mountains separates civilisation from the cirque. For those of us not blessed with the necessary skills to climb over them we have to walk round them. This three day journey from either the north (via Paso Marconi) or south (via Paso del Viento) is not without it’s own hazards. It’s a tough trek and the outcome is never certain. Raging rivers, complex moraines, huge glaciers and of course the constant battering from the prevailing westerly winds provide the main obstacles.

The first time I ventured there was in 2006. Our GPS announced our arrival as we arrived at the cirque in thick mist. We made a mistake of heading too far into the cirque seeking comforting shelter and set up camp on a dodgy, crevasse ridden lateral moraine. The feeling of isolation was almost overwhelming. Next morning the mists started clearing and we were treated to the magical sight of the ring of peaks appearing out of the gloom. Awe inspiring. The Cirque de las Altares is a fitting name.

My next venture to the cirque was in 2011. This time we were better prepared as we sat below the Marconi Glacier awaiting a suitable weather window to climb up through the seracs to the icecap. This time we arrived at the cirque in perfect weather, clear skies and light winds. Now the full extent of the “altar” was revealed. The list of peaks sounds like a who’s who of mountain legends, including Cerro Standhart, Torre Egger and the magnificent, Cerro Torre.

This time we camped correctly at the entrance to the cirque. As the sun set over the great icecap we watched the changing light dancing across the granite faces.

By the light of my headtorch I read about Walter Bonatti and Carlo Mauri’s exploits here in 1958 on Cerro Torre’s unclimbed west face and their incredibly long traverse from Cerro Adela to Cerro Grande and Punta Luca. This is a magical and fearsome place and one day I will return again.

Information is hard to come by. There are some useful internet sites that give a general idea and the long distance GR140 also passes though here, but the ground is so intricate and complex that maps are virtually useless.

I found Google Earth gave the best indication of possible routes. The wide “Ramblas” (wide valleys) have 4 wheel drive tracks along them but linking them into a circular route is not always easy. The best and most interesting terrain is to be found by those who have an exploratory nature.

Starting near the Mini Hollywood theme studios at Tabernas we took a track heading NE which dropped down into a dry valley with steep, loose walls. Then it was on down the wide Rambla de Tabernas. Interest builds as we reached an area of table topped mesas. Although close to the motorway between Granada and Almeria, you feel strangely detached. On past a strange clump of palm trees (planted there for the oasis scene in Lawrence of Arabia). Funnily enough, there are also huge swathes of bamboo growing (in a desert?), proof that the water table is in fact not far below the surface. This wild scenery is just magnificent!

Happy to have some fun we turned west up a dry ravine. This led to a loose scramble into an adjoining gully, the walls of which narrowed until only wide enough for one person. Not a place to be in a flash flood! Breaking out onto open hillside we linked a further set of ravines and ramblas before arriving back at our start point.

For those who like their terrain and scenery rough and raw this place is magical. And my abiding memory? Standing above Rambla Alfaro in the same spot where Clint Eastwood and Eli Wallach divided the loot in the “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly”, with the chaotic badlands spread out below.

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You can find a wide range of gear for climbing, hill walking, mountain biking and other activities.

Choose from a range of cutting edge waterproof jackets, fleeces, trousers & more from Berghaus.

The 3 hour gentle walk in to the Refugio Peña Partida provided incredible views south to the peaks of Alcazaba (3371m), Mulhacén (3482m) and Veleta (3394m) whilst above us groups of Griffon vultures searched for the thermals. This northern section of the Sierra Nevada is very different from the busy Alpujarras foothills we are used to in the south of the range.

Due to it’s position along the long distance Sulayr path (GR240) the refuge is in a very good and clean state. It sleeps about 15 on it’s concrete floors. Sat on the rocks outside, we spent the rest of the afternoon toasting our friend’s birthday with cheap cava and whisky. The low valley cloud kept ebbing and flowing up and down the mountainsides and gave us atmospheric photo opportunities.

Good food, drink and companionship in an amazing mountain location. You just can’t beat it! We were the only ones around as the sun dropped down beyond the city of Granada. The hustle and bustle of normal life seemed far, far away. Sometimes it’s good to slow down, to stop charging up and down mountains, relax, enjoy nature at a leisurely pace and just take it all in!

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For outdoor clothing from Berghaus including men’s waterproof jackets, men’s rucksacks and more then please visit our online store.

You can find a wide range of gear for climbing, hill walking, mountain biking and other activities.

Choose from a range of cutting edge waterproof jackets, fleeces, trousers & more from Berghaus.

Here is Richard’s 100 word submission:

“My name is Richard Hartley and I have lived and worked full time in Spain’s Sierra Nevada mountains since 2002. I write regularly about our trips into the Spanish mountains on my blog. My aim is to give accurate, timely and useful information, providing an inspiration for the self guided adventurer. I also include regular updates and reports from our expeditions to the amazing Southern Patagonian Icecap, a place that has captured my heart! I love trying out and writing about new gear and web trends as well as experimenting with photography and video presentations.”

We’ll have blogs from Richard throughout November here.

Visit Berghaus Online Store

For outdoor clothing from Berghaus including men’s waterproof jackets, men’s rucksacks and more then please visit our online store.

You can find a wide range of gear for climbing, hill walking, mountain biking and other activities.

Choose from a range of cutting edge waterproof jackets, fleeces, trousers & more from Berghaus.