Mulhacén

[halfaseesaw]

Mulhacén is the highest top on the Iberian Peninsula. It's a straight forward day out and easily done in a day. My family and I were going to be in the area on holiday so it was a wee day out for myself. I used Alpujarras Tour & Trail Super-Durable Map ISBN-13: 978-1904946885 from Amazon. Similar concept to the Harvey 1:40000 printed on some sort of plastic/polythene water proof/sweat proof and very clear.
You may not require special travel insurance to cover this type of route. I was surprised to discover that my standard travel insurance policy covered trekking up to 4000 meters so check before you go.

Sierra Nevada

We were staying in Durcal so I planned to climb Mulhacén from the south. I headed for the very picturesque village of Capileira then continued on through the village following the nice new tarmac road until it runs out and you're onto dirt track. I'm not sure if your car hire insurance would cover this so just don't have an accident. The road is signed - just look out for the Hoya del Portillo.

Zoomed in a bit

The car park is at about 2200m so you get a good head start.

Car Park

I should point out that there is a bus service if you don't want to drive this part. It leaves Capileira at 08:30 prompt and deposits you at Alto del Chorillo. This is run by the local authority and must be booked in advance. http://www.magrama.gob.es/es/red-parques-nacionales/nuestros-parques/sierra-nevada/guia-visitante/interpretacion-altas-cumbres.aspx I had expected a people carrier or a land rover but it was a full size bus .

Start of the path

The path starts just in front of the National Park cabin and winds up through a pine wood

Pine trees

till it pops out at the track junction for the Refuge Poqueira

Track junction

Take a right up the hill to get to the viewpoint.

View point

From the viewpoint a lovely wee path winds up over the ridge

Single track

This path winds it's way between a few tops and seems to link some old mining sites.

up up up but very gently

Mulhacen

Ruined building

It brings you back to the main path/road at spot height 2574. From there it's a bit of a trudge to get to the bus terminus/car park and the start of the footpath up the final 700 meters of ascent.

Handy signage

How anyone could cycle up here I don't know - i could feel the air starting to get a bit thinner.

No bikes allowed.

Starting to make some progress now at about 3000 meters. The route is well cairned and very easy to follow.

Many old shelters on either side of the route.

Slowly slogging up hill

Typical ground for the last 400 meters in altitude

Final pull to the summit

Looking west

Pico del Veleta

Herd of antelope/deer/chamois type things - haven't found out yet.

Sooooo close

I'd seen quite a lot of people during the day. However, when I got to the top it was only me, a goat thing and a baby goat thing. ** Update** Spanish Ibex.

Company

Altitude!!!

Nice view

Down the west side

Looking down the North Face

So 5 hours from the car to the top but only 2.5 hours back to the car. I stuck to the road on the way back as I wanted to get back as quickly as possible.

An enjoyable day out - next time i'd be inclined to go to the Refuge Poqueira then up into the Refuge Vivac de la Caldera then on up to the summit - I would take a little longer but would be a more interesting round trip.

[ChrisW]

Fine looking hike with enough distance and ascent in that altitude I love your animal descriptions, had me laughing

[ilovescotty]

Looks muy bueno seesaw. i love Andalucia, have never been to the Sierra Nevada though. They look cool. I'd like to do a long weekend to Granada with a day of hiking in the Sierra.

Those clouds on your final photos look a tad foreboding!

[halfaseesaw]

Yes - the clouds hung around long enough for me to get down then they went away. Some things are truly international