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− | {{pet}} | + | {{pet}}This excursion was from a book of scenic routes in the Sierra, bought by Elena en marge of a manifestation in Madrid, and in the company of [[Inma]] & [[Julio]]. We quickly realized that it was bringing us to the [http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chorrera_de_Mojonavalle Chorrera de Mojonavalle] which we had visited back in July 2008 with [[Daniele]] and where I almost killed myself, slipping while climbing the waterfall <wz tip="I didn't kill myself thanks to the fall being, after all, from a little height, although I was then in a very steep part; Elena who of course had stayed at the bottom almost had a stroke, but this is from another story.">(?!)</wz> The choice of a wood was motivated by [[Autumn]], and we headed for this popular location where birch trees (''abedules'') mix with pine trees. It had rained a lot the previous days, and many mushrooms enthusiasts were passing by with full baskets. So abundant were the Boletus edulis that we also found enough ourselves for the supper. Another unexpected encounter was with the Spanish celebrity [http://danimateoblog.blogspot.com.es/ Dani Mateo] who was enjoying family moments hiding in a cap that could not however also conceal his peculiar voice (and who tried to climb the waterfall in very much the same foolish and dangerous way I did in 2008). |
<gallery widths=200px perrow=3> | <gallery widths=200px perrow=3> | ||
Line 215: | Line 215: | ||
</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
− | == La Pedriza == | + | == La Pedriza profunda == |
On {{thisday|20|March|2014}}. With [[Carlos Sanchez]], [[Blanca Silva]], [[Juan Pablo Restrepo]], [[Guillermo Guirales]], [[Camilo López-Carreño]], [[William Júnio Lima]], [[David Colas]], [[Dmitrii Vishnevskii]], his wife Irina and their friend Olga, and of course, [[Tizón]]. | On {{thisday|20|March|2014}}. With [[Carlos Sanchez]], [[Blanca Silva]], [[Juan Pablo Restrepo]], [[Guillermo Guirales]], [[Camilo López-Carreño]], [[William Júnio Lima]], [[David Colas]], [[Dmitrii Vishnevskii]], his wife Irina and their friend Olga, and of course, [[Tizón]]. | ||
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<center><wz tip="''La Hermana Menor'', both the Mountain, and Luz, on the final part of our hiking.">[[File:DosHermanas_hike-22June20-2.jpg|650px]]</wz></center> | <center><wz tip="''La Hermana Menor'', both the Mountain, and Luz, on the final part of our hiking.">[[File:DosHermanas_hike-22June20-2.jpg|650px]]</wz></center> | ||
+ | |||
+ | This was at the peak of the [[covid]] pandemic, after the confinement, and the first (so far only) time where we had been controlled to enter the Sierra, having to register at the "visitor center" to notify of our trajectory, and be attached bracelets to our wrists to grant us permission. The result of this useless procedure was a long queue (and piling up people). Since we did not follow the standard route, we have not been checked at all, and just lost time. Others just decided to go back home. Once in the mountains, it was easy to forget about this nonsense. We crossed only a couple at the beginning, that recommended us some area for bathing in the south of Spain after inquiring of Julia's tastes from their surprises of seeing a little girl outside, to which she obviously said that walking wasn't her thing but that swimming was. We did not meet anybody else afterward so our only contacts on this day were with other people queueing and the person in charge who was terrified of the slightest breach to the procedure, like Julia fretting and walking round the room as our planned trajectory was being recorded on paper. | ||
<gallery perrow=3 widths=200px> | <gallery perrow=3 widths=200px> | ||
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File:DosHermanas-22June20-17.jpg|''La Laguna mayor'' from the ''Hermana mayor''. | File:DosHermanas-22June20-17.jpg|''La Laguna mayor'' from the ''Hermana mayor''. | ||
File:DosHermanas-22June20-18.jpg|The girls stayed behind. | File:DosHermanas-22June20-18.jpg|The girls stayed behind. | ||
− | File:DosHermanas-22June20-20.jpg|The ''Risco de los claveles'', which we left in the distance. | + | File:DosHermanas-22June20-20.jpg|The ''Risco de los claveles'', which we left in the distance, from the top of Peñalara. |
File:DosHermanas-22June20-19.jpg|The ''Real Sitio de San Idelfonso'', better known as ''la Granja''. | File:DosHermanas-22June20-19.jpg|The ''Real Sitio de San Idelfonso'', better known as ''la Granja''. | ||
File:DosHermanas-22June20-21.jpg|Little Elena and Julia and invisible Luz by the foot of the ''Hermana Mayor'' as Fabrice gets back down from Peñalara. | File:DosHermanas-22June20-21.jpg|Little Elena and Julia and invisible Luz by the foot of the ''Hermana Mayor'' as Fabrice gets back down from Peñalara. | ||
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== Flanks of the Abantos == | == Flanks of the Abantos == | ||
− | A walk by the mountains of [[El Escorial]] on {{thisday|26|July|2020}}, namely, the ''Abantos'', with [[Inma]] and her brother [[Carlos]] (Elena's uncle) who suggested the route, selected for its practicality so staying on an isoline, avoiding the top and privileging a bathing stop which of course was very popular with Julia. The recorded track was <wz tagtotip=abantos26july width=500px>11.7 km with 450m ascent in 6h40 (4h walking)</wz> but we actually closed the loop after walking through El Escorial (in particular the square of the monastery) and spending [[26_July_2020|much time at a terrasse]], the first time after our March-June confinement. There we also had the company of Chicha and her partner as well as | + | A walk by the mountains of [[El Escorial]] on {{thisday|26|July|2020}}, namely, the ''Abantos'', with [[Inma]] and her brother [[Carlos]] (Elena's uncle) who suggested the route, selected for its practicality so staying on an isoline, avoiding the top and privileging a bathing stop which of course was very popular with Julia. The recorded track was <wz tagtotip=abantos26july width=500px>11.7 km with 450m ascent in 6h40 (4h walking)</wz> but we actually closed the loop after walking through El Escorial (in particular the square of the monastery) and spending [[26_July_2020|much time at a terrasse]], the first time after our March-June confinement. There we also had the company of Chicha and her partner as well as Eva, for a little while, whom we visited again to buy some soap. |
<span id="abantos26july">[[File:Screenshot_15-07-2020_193524.jpg|500px]]</span> | <span id="abantos26july">[[File:Screenshot_15-07-2020_193524.jpg|500px]]</span> | ||
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File:ElEscorial-Abantos-26June20-18.jpg|Julia ahead. | File:ElEscorial-Abantos-26June20-18.jpg|Julia ahead. | ||
File:ElEscorial-Abantos-26June20-19.jpg|Down, waiting for the others. | File:ElEscorial-Abantos-26June20-19.jpg|Down, waiting for the others. | ||
− | File:ElEscorial-Abantos-26June20-25.jpg|At a terrasse with baby Luz, her first. | + | File:ElEscorial-Abantos-26June20-25.jpg|At a [[26 July 2020|terrasse with baby Luz]], her first. |
</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
− | == | + | == Rio Lozoya == |
− | + | On {{thisday|4|July|2020}} with [[Inma]], [[Guille]], [[Pili]] y [[Manolo]]. We had planned to go to the ''Cascada del Purgatorio'' initially, from El Paular monastery, but everything, including the cascade, were closed due to the [[covid]] pandemics. So we followed the Rio Lozoya instead, on a <wz tagtotip=riolozoya4july20 WIDTH=200px>11.6km back-and-forth linear route</wz> walking about 4h20min up to the ''embalse de la presa del pradillo'', and with much time spent by the river, bathing. | |
+ | |||
+ | <span id="riolozoya4july20">[[File:Screenshot_20201101_183206.png|200px]]</span> | ||
+ | |||
+ | <gallery perrow=3 widths=200px> | ||
+ | File:Rio-Lozoya-4July20-1.jpg|The bridge you take when you don't go to the ''Purgatorio''. | ||
+ | File:Rio-Lozoya-4July20-2.jpg|El rio Lozoya. | ||
+ | File:Rio-Lozoya-4July20-3.jpg|With gentle cliffs surrounding it. | ||
+ | File:Rio-Lozoya-4July20-4.jpg|Shallow and quiet. | ||
+ | File:Rio-Lozoya-4July20-5.jpg|Peaceful and inspiring. | ||
+ | File:Rio-Lozoya-4July20-6.jpg|Flowing as rivers flow in between mountains. | ||
+ | File:Rio-Lozoya-4July20-7.jpg|A favourite bathing spot too. | ||
+ | File:Rio-Lozoya-4July20-8.jpg|However shallow, [[Tizon]] prefers not to swim. | ||
+ | File:Rio-Lozoya-4July20-9.jpg|Guille. | ||
+ | File:Rio-Lozoya-4July20-12.jpg|Now from above. Luz still sleeping. | ||
+ | File:Rio-Lozoya-4July20-13.jpg|The ''Presa'' at the end, making a few cascades. | ||
+ | File:Rio-Lozoya-4July20-16.jpg|Julia in between two bathing sessions. | ||
+ | File:Rio-Lozoya-4July20-14.jpg|With mémé. | ||
+ | File:Rio-Lozoya-4July20-15.jpg|With maman. | ||
+ | File:Rio-Lozoya-4July20-17.jpg|With the tía [[Pili]]. | ||
+ | File:Rio-Lozoya-4July20-18.jpg|Now well awake. | ||
+ | File:Rio-Lozoya-4July20-19.jpg|Miniature canyon. | ||
+ | File:Rio-Lozoya-4July20-20.jpg|Cascades, torrents and swimming pools. All very small and cute. | ||
+ | </gallery> | ||
+ | |||
+ | == La Maliciosa == | ||
+ | |||
+ | On {{thisday|13|September|2020}}, with [[Inma]]. | ||
+ | |||
+ | We initially had aimed for a walk in [[la Pedriza]], but although making an early start in the morning, we arrived to a gigantic queue of cars at the fence of [[Cantocochino]], with no sign of progress. We were merely something like fifth or so in the line but still possibly having to stay there for hours. We thus decided to find another place and improvise an easy walk elsewhere. It turned out to be one of the most ambitious and difficult of the series, climbing up to the [[Maliciosa]] from its most difficult route. We just could not resist when it turned out that our initial plans were bringing us right at the beginning of a trail that was going all the way up this emblem of the Sierra. We almost killed Inma in the process. In fact, only [[Fabrice]] made the final ascent (with a symbolic attempt at going along by [[Julia]]). We lacked water on our way back and the thirst we suffered and the relief at a fountain we found at some point were a highlight of our hiking adventures. | ||
+ | |||
+ | <gallery perrow=3 widths=200px> | ||
+ | File:Maliciosa-13Sept20-1.jpg|El Peñotillo (left, 2124m) and La Maliciosa (right, 2227m). | ||
+ | File:Maliciosa-13Sept20-4.jpg|It's basically to climb all this. | ||
+ | File:Maliciosa-13Sept20-2.jpg|Beautiful scenery to help us. | ||
+ | File:Maliciosa-13Sept20-5.jpg|Everything is so big, it all looks very small. | ||
+ | File:Maliciosa-13Sept20-6.jpg|Airs of Pedriza. | ||
+ | File:Maliciosa-13Sept20-7.jpg|Autumn palette. | ||
+ | File:Maliciosa-13Sept20-8.jpg|Our way through. | ||
+ | File:Maliciosa-13Sept20-9.jpg|El [[Valle de los Caidos]] in tee distance. | ||
+ | File:Maliciosa-13Sept20-10.jpg|La Maliciosa Baja. | ||
+ | File:Maliciosa-13Sept20-11.jpg|Julia exploring the surroundings. Our group would split about there. | ||
+ | File:Maliciosa-13Sept20-13.jpg|Malicious. | ||
+ | File:Maliciosa-13Sept20-14.jpg|Inma and Luz will happilly stay there. | ||
+ | File:Maliciosa-13Sept20-15.jpg|Julia attempting the final ascent. | ||
+ | File:Maliciosa-13Sept20-17.jpg|Now finally on top (Fabrice alone). | ||
+ | File:Maliciosa-13Sept20-16.jpg|The [[Bola del Mundo]] lurking behind. | ||
+ | File:Maliciosa-13Sept20-18.jpg|From there you see everything. Here [[Manzanares el Real]]. | ||
+ | File:Maliciosa-13Sept20-19.jpg|El Peñotillo now looks a dwarf in comparison. | ||
+ | File:Maliciosa-13Sept20-20.jpg|This wall is the tip of the Maliciosa. A few meters round and one is already many more down. | ||
+ | File:Maliciosa-13Sept20-21.jpg|On the way back to reunite with the group. | ||
+ | File:Maliciosa-13Sept20-22.jpg|Here they are neatly visible, with the zoom. | ||
+ | File:Maliciosa-13Sept20-23.jpg|A gate of stone indicating a wrong way. | ||
+ | File:Maliciosa-13Sept20-24.jpg|Back together. | ||
+ | File:Maliciosa-13Sept20-25.jpg|Luz did not notice anything. | ||
+ | File:Maliciosa-13Sept20-26.jpg|Las Maliciosas. | ||
+ | </gallery> | ||
+ | |||
+ | == La Pedriza desde Soto del Real == | ||
+ | |||
+ | On {{thisday|2|October|2021}}, with [[Tizón]]. The first time at [[La Pedriza]] with [[Luz]]. | ||
+ | |||
+ | <center><wz tip="6 years of experience looking down to the faltering ascension of a beginner.">[[File:Pedriza-2Oct-21-26.jpg|650px]]</wz></center> | ||
+ | |||
+ | <gallery perrow=3 widths=200px> | ||
+ | File:Pedriza-2Oct-21-1.jpg|La muela | ||
+ | File:Pedriza-2Oct-21-2.jpg|La raja, which we didn't get into on this occasion. | ||
+ | File:Pedriza-2Oct-21-3.jpg|At the feet of a legend. | ||
+ | File:Pedriza-2Oct-21-4.jpg|[[Tizón]], more at ease than anybody else. | ||
+ | File:Pedriza-2Oct-21-5.jpg|The colors of la Pedriza. | ||
+ | File:Pedriza-2Oct-21-6.jpg|Rockas that make you feel like a bug. | ||
+ | File:Pedriza-2Oct-21-7.jpg|The little girl and the big stones. | ||
+ | File:Pedriza-2Oct-21-8.jpg|Flying with the moon. | ||
+ | File:Pedriza-2Oct-21-9.jpg|Meeting with miss Ladybug. | ||
+ | File:Pedriza-2Oct-21-10.jpg|Rocks folded like sheets. | ||
+ | File:Pedriza-2Oct-21-11.jpg|On the elbows of giants. | ||
+ | File:Pedriza-2Oct-21-12.jpg|Orchestrating nature and beauty. | ||
+ | File:Pedriza-2Oct-21-13.jpg|The best way to the top when not yet 1 and a half. | ||
+ | File:Pedriza-2Oct-21-14.jpg|Surrounded by Pedriza all around. | ||
+ | File:Pedriza-2Oct-21-15.jpg|One of the few ibex we saw. | ||
+ | File:Pedriza-2Oct-21-16.jpg|Passing through a tunnel. | ||
+ | File:Pedriza-2Oct-21-17.jpg|Pausing for rest, not composure. | ||
+ | File:Pedriza-2Oct-21-18.jpg|A little hand. | ||
+ | File:Pedriza-2Oct-21-19.jpg|La torre inclinada. | ||
+ | File:Pedriza-2Oct-21-20.jpg|The most abundant fauna we found along the way. | ||
+ | File:Pedriza-2Oct-21-21.jpg|Time for a rest. | ||
+ | File:Pedriza-2Oct-21-22.jpg|A bit of play after lunch. | ||
+ | File:Pedriza-2Oct-21-23.jpg|Artificial and geological pyramids. | ||
+ | File:Pedriza-2Oct-21-24.jpg|A corridor to the precipice. | ||
+ | File:Pedriza-2Oct-21-25.jpg|Grey colours as the sun got cloudy. | ||
+ | File:Pedriza-2Oct-21-27.jpg|Cuddling. | ||
+ | File:Pedriza-2Oct-21-28.jpg|Caught. | ||
+ | File:Pedriza-2Oct-21-29.jpg|Far from Madrid. | ||
+ | File:Pedriza-2Oct-21-30.jpg|On the way down. | ||
+ | File:Pedriza-2Oct-21-31.jpg|A final rest before getting back to the car. | ||
+ | </gallery> | ||
+ | |||
+ | == La Charca Verde == | ||
+ | |||
+ | On {{thisday|30|April|2022}}, also our first [[campervanning]] stay at [[la Pedriza]], so an opening walk to the [[#Yelmo and Tolmo|main one]], on the next day. | ||
+ | |||
+ | We walked along the [[Manzanares]], from [[Cantocochino]] towards the Charca Verde, that was our destination on this occasion, although one can carry on further until the ''Chorros del Río Manzanares'' and probably up till the birth of the rio, in the [[Bola del Mundo]]. We crossed with a snake that swiftly slid on the rocks and jumped into the tumultuous waters, swimming with an unsuspected grace with little jerks of its head, that it kept out of the water, able to cross in no time, presumably far from us as it was in no mood to share the Pedriza with tourists. The Charca Verde used to be a star destination for bathing, but this is now forbidden. The smooth slops surrounding the basin are natural toboggans for children and the luckiest of them manage to fall in the water by accident, enjoying a swim that the guards would probably excuse. It was not the case of our skilled little mountaineer who however tried very hard to venture in the slippiest parts of the flanks. | ||
+ | |||
+ | <gallery perrow=3 widths=200px> | ||
+ | File:CharcaVerde-Manzanares-30Apr22-4.jpg|The [[Manzanares]] in [[la Pedriza]]. | ||
+ | File:CharcaVerde-Manzanares-30Apr22-2.jpg|Crystaline waters caressing cushions of granite. | ||
+ | File:CharcaVerde-Manzanares-30Apr22-1.jpg|The snake we spotted, as it just entered the river. | ||
+ | File:CharcaVerde-Manzanares-30Apr22-25.jpg|The track on our way in, very scenic. | ||
+ | File:CharcaVerde-Manzanares-30Apr22-5.jpg|Julia admiring the passing of time. | ||
+ | File:CharcaVerde-Manzanares-30Apr22-6.jpg|The farthest mountains were still under the snow although the pastures were ready for summer. | ||
+ | File:CharcaVerde-Manzanares-30Apr22-7.jpg|A forest growing through the rocks. | ||
+ | File:CharcaVerde-Manzanares-30Apr22-8.jpg|And the Manzanares in between. | ||
+ | File:CharcaVerde-Manzanares-30Apr22-9.jpg|Paradise 30 minutes from [[Tres Cantos|home]]. | ||
+ | File:CharcaVerde-Manzanares-30Apr22-12.jpg|Julia meeting the river. | ||
+ | File:CharcaVerde-Manzanares-30Apr22-13.jpg|The flanks of the Charva Verde provide a natural toboggan. | ||
+ | File:CharcaVerde-Manzanares-30Apr22-14.jpg|You can choose your height, from great fun to possibly lethal. | ||
+ | File:CharcaVerde-Manzanares-30Apr22-15.jpg|At the bottom of the slide is the Charca Verde. | ||
+ | File:CharcaVerde-Manzanares-30Apr22-16.jpg|It is bigger than it looks if you have no people to serve as a scale. | ||
+ | File:CharcaVerde-Manzanares-30Apr22-17.jpg|It is also steeper than it looks. | ||
+ | File:CharcaVerde-Manzanares-30Apr22-18.jpg|Julia wouldn't stop trying to dominate gravity under increasingly steeper and slippier conditions. | ||
+ | File:CharcaVerde-Manzanares-30Apr22-19.jpg|Close to a breaking point! | ||
+ | File:CharcaVerde-Manzanares-30Apr22-20.jpg|The ''Caliz'' in the distance, not condoning our childplays. | ||
+ | File:CharcaVerde-Manzanares-30Apr22-22.jpg|[[Luz]] studying the local flaura. | ||
+ | File:CharcaVerde-Manzanares-30Apr22-23.jpg|The river nevers stops. | ||
+ | File:CharcaVerde-Manzanares-30Apr22-24.jpg|On our way back, on the other side, with an easier path. | ||
+ | </gallery> | ||
+ | |||
+ | == Yelmo and Tolmo == | ||
+ | |||
+ | On {{thisday|1|May|2022}}, following our warm-up at [[#La_Charca_Verde|la Charca Verde]] on the previous day, we embarked on a long excursion in [[la Pedriza]], doing and seeing more than we had bargained for. | ||
+ | |||
+ | <center><wz tip="Direction to el Yelmo inscribed on el Tolmo. We went the other way around and conquered el Yelmo first.">[[File:yelmo-en-el-tolmo-May22.jpg|650px]]</wz></center> | ||
+ | |||
+ | The main objective was ''el Tolmo'', a giant rock which we had spotted on our excursion to [[#El_Caliz_de_La_Pedriza_y_Pe.C3.B1a_Horcajo|El Caliz]] in [[December (2019)]], and had aimed to visit ever since, where, at a distance, it seemed to stand in plain view of a nice ''collado'' (saddle between two mountains). In real life, it turned out to be a much tougher target to reach. We initially mistook a smaller rock in the ''collado de la desehilla'' for it. Another highlight, however, was [[Julia]] successfully climbing the Yelmo, which is already tricky for adults and experienced people, but at the limit of feasibility for such a young mountaineer (7 years, 3 months and 25 days). Who says better? | ||
+ | |||
+ | <gallery perrow=3 widths=200px> | ||
+ | File:TolmoYelmo-1May2022-2.jpg|Back to the heart of the [[Pedriza]]. | ||
+ | File:TolmoYelmo-1May2022-1.jpg|What type of [[mountaineering]] is this? | ||
+ | File:TolmoYelmo-1May2022-3.jpg|With such skills, no peak is out of reach. | ||
+ | File:TolmoYelmo-1May2022-4.jpg|With [[la Bola del Mundo]]. | ||
+ | File:TolmoYelmo-1May2022-6.jpg|In search of a beautiful view. | ||
+ | File:TolmoYelmo-1May2022-5.jpg|Found one. | ||
+ | File:TolmoYelmo-1May2022-7.jpg|A favourite spot of la Pedriza: where a small ''riachuelo'' from the grass becomes its own river. | ||
+ | File:TolmoYelmo-1May2022-8.jpg|Luz also looking for heights. | ||
+ | File:TolmoYelmo-1May2022-9.jpg|Showing a point of interest. | ||
+ | File:TolmoYelmo-1May2022-10.jpg|The beauty of Man's conquest of Nature. | ||
+ | File:TolmoYelmo-1May2022-11.jpg|''El Elefantito'', a famous formation of la Pedriza. | ||
+ | File:TolmoYelmo-1May2022-12.jpg|An highway in the mountain. | ||
+ | File:TolmoYelmo-1May2022-13.jpg|Infinity brought to your feet. | ||
+ | File:TolmoYelmo-1May2022-14.jpg|Julia ready for the big ascent: to the Yelmo! | ||
+ | File:TolmoYelmo-1May2022-15.jpg|Inside the ''grieta'', below the infamous rock. | ||
+ | File:TolmoYelmo-1May2022-16.jpg|Finally at the top. | ||
+ | File:TolmoYelmo-1May2022-18.jpg|What it looks like from the very, very top. There's no more climbing possible now. | ||
+ | File:TolmoYelmo-1May2022-22.jpg|It seems easy when you're there! | ||
+ | File:TolmoYelmo-1May2022-17.jpg|This particular view seems to be specific to the top of the Yelmo, and is also one of the most splendid of the Pedriza. It is, however, impossible to capture with a camera. | ||
+ | File:TolmoYelmo-1May2022-19.jpg|The Yelmo has a tiny, private "''pradera''" at the top. | ||
+ | File:TolmoYelmo-1May2022-20.jpg|Proof that [[papa]] was there too. Behind him is a free fall to the ground. | ||
+ | File:TolmoYelmo-1May2022-21.jpg|Here you see where this goes to. Elena and Luz can be discerned among the other ants. | ||
+ | File:TolmoYelmo-1May2022-23.jpg|Back down. The trapped stone from the other side. The idea is to squeeze yourself in there. | ||
+ | File:TolmoYelmo-1May2022-24.jpg|It was piece of cake for Julia who fits everywhere. | ||
+ | File:TolmoYelmo-1May2022-25.jpg|Luz also had her ambition of domination. | ||
+ | File:TolmoYelmo-1May2022-26.jpg|That was at the bottom, though. | ||
+ | File:TolmoYelmo-1May2022-27.jpg|Back on our way, with other giants left in the distance. | ||
+ | File:TolmoYelmo-1May2022-31.jpg|Typical formation of la Pedriza: immovable rocks in a seemingly precarious equilibrium. | ||
+ | File:TolmoYelmo-1May2022-29.jpg|This is a long way around. | ||
+ | File:TolmoYelmo-1May2022-28.jpg|And there is no crossing through. | ||
+ | File:TolmoYelmo-1May2022-30.jpg|Near the turning point. | ||
+ | File:TolmoYelmo-1May2022-32.jpg|Time to go back to our starting point's altitude. | ||
+ | File:TolmoYelmo-1May2022-33.jpg|The scenery changes significantly on this side of the Pedriza. | ||
+ | File:TolmoYelmo-1May2022-34.jpg|The progression is also significantly more difficult, especially on the official track. | ||
+ | File:TolmoYelmo-1May2022-35.jpg|The ''collado de la desehilla'', which we mistook for el Tolmo. | ||
+ | File:TolmoYelmo-1May2022-36.jpg|A baby Ibex, that was not scared in the least, from seeing very few or too many tourists. | ||
+ | File:TolmoYelmo-1May2022-37.jpg|Reunion. | ||
+ | File:TolmoYelmo-1May2022-38.jpg|Exploration again. | ||
+ | File:TolmoYelmo-1May2022-39.jpg|Initiation to advanced climbing. | ||
+ | File:TolmoYelmo-1May2022-40.jpg|The way back: wild, tortuous and bushy. | ||
+ | File:TolmoYelmo-1May2022-41.jpg|El Tolmo. When you find it, it is unmistakable. We made a long pause in its shadow. | ||
+ | File:TolmoYelmo-1May2022-42.jpg|We went back to our starting point although all signs were pointing us at the Yelmo again. | ||
+ | </gallery> | ||
+ | |||
+ | == Cabeza de la Braña == | ||
+ | |||
+ | On {{thisday|14|May|2022}}. This <wz tagtotip=cabezabranamay22 width=600px>12.8km, 6h10m hike</wz> was supposed to be a simple one, a short [[campervaning]] stay to relax and with a swift walk before [[Elena]]'s [[shooting of ''Yo soy esa persona'']] on the next day (Sunday). We opted for the ''puerto de Canencia'', that we already knew for its [[#Abedular_de_Canencia|abedular]] from a previous walk. We went in the other direction, not that of the famous waterfall, but towards the ''Cabeza de la Braña'', which gives a splendid view of the [[Sierra de Canencia]]. Shortly after our departure, unfortunately, it became clear that it could rain and [[Fabrice]] was sent back to the car to get some raincoat. That was a wise choice since the situation, that had stabilized, broke into cold wind and shower banter just as we were ascending the peak, forcing us to retreat towards the woods where we intended to terminate the excursion and come back to the car, but the sun eventually came back in a radius blue sky, so we finally reached the top from the other side and cut through the woods. We met a biker who also turned back, not for the rain though, but for the cows that we indeed met later on with no clue why he would find them an obstacle. At the most intense peak of rain, [[Julia]] spotted a beautiful salamander, shining intensely of wet black and yellow. We could not marvel too much at her due to the wind and rain and proceeded to take cover in the forest. At the end of the trip, Julia also spot a small snake, probably an adder, that was hiding in the rocks and defiantly looked at us before swirling through in the entrails of the mountain. | ||
+ | <span id="cabezabranamay22">[[File:cabezabrana-May22-itinerary.jpg|600px]]</span> | ||
+ | |||
+ | <gallery perrow=3 widths=200px> | ||
+ | File:CabezaBranaCanencia-May22-1.jpg|Between four trees, our home for the week-end. | ||
+ | File:CabezaBranaCanencia-May22-2.jpg|Evening exploration. | ||
+ | File:CabezaBranaCanencia-May22-3.jpg|The tranquility of the woods when everybody is gone. | ||
+ | File:CabezaBranaCanencia-May22-4.jpg|With Giono ([[Les vraies richesses]]). | ||
+ | File:CabezaBranaCanencia-May22-5.jpg|Squeezing through the rocks. | ||
+ | File:CabezaBranaCanencia-May22-6.jpg|En route for the track. | ||
+ | File:CabezaBranaCanencia-May22-7.jpg|Not letting this toy go. | ||
+ | File:CabezaBranaCanencia-May22-8.jpg|The great turn: from the path onto the ''cabeza''. | ||
+ | File:CabezaBranaCanencia-May22-9.jpg|This was a short yet steep and arduous climb. | ||
+ | File:CabezaBranaCanencia-May22-10.jpg|Drops starting to fall. | ||
+ | File:CabezaBranaCanencia-May22-11.jpg|A mountain bull not affected by anything or anybody, least of all, bicyclists. | ||
+ | File:CabezaBranaCanencia-May22-12.jpg|Wind, thunders and the onset of heavy raining. Our last picture before the sun would come back. | ||
+ | File:CabezaBranaCanencia-May22-13.jpg|Back in the light from the other side of the forest, with the long-sought sight of the [[Sierra de Canencias]]. | ||
+ | File:CabezaBranaCanencia-May22-14.jpg|Towards the top of la Braña. | ||
+ | File:CabezaBranaCanencia-May22-15.jpg|Sisterhood. | ||
+ | File:CabezaBranaCanencia-May22-16.jpg|[[Garganta de los montes]], in the distance. | ||
+ | File:CabezaBranaCanencia-May22-17.jpg|Overlooking la [[Sierra de Canencias]]. | ||
+ | File:CabezaBranaCanencia-May22-18.jpg|Crossing through the wood: a pretty walk. | ||
+ | File:CabezaBranaCanencia-May22-19.jpg|Back on a big track: pretty for cars. | ||
+ | File:CabezaBranaCanencia-May22-20.jpg|A fruit tree caught by a rock. | ||
+ | File:CabezaBranaCanencia-May22-21.jpg|The snake we met on the way back. | ||
+ | </gallery> | ||
+ | |||
+ | == Puente de los Pollos == | ||
+ | |||
+ | On {{thisday|22|May|2022}}, for our 2nd [[campervanning]] night at [[la Pedriza]] (from [[Cantocochino]]), our main target was el ''puente de los pollos'', a mighty formation that carves a gigantic bridge into the mountain. | ||
+ | |||
+ | <center><wz tip="Below the Puente: a window on the Pedriza.">[[File:Puente-pollos-22May22.jpg|650px]]</wz></center> | ||
+ | |||
+ | We enlarged our [[#La_Pedriza_profunda|previous hike]] in la ''Pedriza profunda'' but otherwise passed by the same main highlights, giving us a sense of immortality from these unchanged, unfaltering sights, from these objects that do not age, do not change, do not move, that probably have remained identical not just these mere 8 years, 2 months and 2 days since our last visit, but for hundreds if not thousands or tens of thousands of years. We got close to the "tres cestos" but skipped it. | ||
+ | |||
+ | <gallery perrow=3 widths=200px> | ||
+ | File:pedrizaprofunda-pollos-22May22-1.jpg|Maybe some of the stones have gotten bigger since last time. | ||
+ | File:pedrizaprofunda-pollos-22May22-2.jpg|After a fair distance into the woods, comes the serious climbing part. | ||
+ | File:pedrizaprofunda-pollos-22May22-3.jpg|We did not remember it to be that vertical. | ||
+ | File:pedrizaprofunda-pollos-22May22-4.jpg|It is quite a stretch to boulder through: not difficult but not pedestrian either. | ||
+ | File:pedrizaprofunda-pollos-22May22-5.jpg|Julia arrived much before us. | ||
+ | File:pedrizaprofunda-pollos-22May22-6.jpg|The "conventional" Pedriza left behind. | ||
+ | File:pedrizaprofunda-pollos-22May22-7.jpg|Las dos hermanas en la Pedriza. | ||
+ | File:pedrizaprofunda-pollos-22May22-8.jpg|How many generations of them since last time? | ||
+ | File:pedrizaprofunda-pollos-22May22-9.jpg|A target for a future expedition. | ||
+ | File:pedrizaprofunda-pollos-22May22-10.jpg|[[David Colas|David]]'s iconic "funny rock" and Julia playing with [[spacetime]]. | ||
+ | File:pedrizaprofunda-pollos-22May22-11.jpg|La Pedriza is a jungle of rocks and forest. | ||
+ | File:pedrizaprofunda-pollos-22May22-12.jpg|There's still some climbing to do. | ||
+ | File:pedrizaprofunda-pollos-22May22-13.jpg|Conciliabule au sommet. | ||
+ | File:pedrizaprofunda-pollos-22May22-14.jpg|A tetris of mountains. | ||
+ | File:pedrizaprofunda-pollos-22May22-15.jpg|El collado del [[Diablo]]. | ||
+ | File:pedrizaprofunda-pollos-22May22-16.jpg|Luz enjoying a treat. | ||
+ | File:pedrizaprofunda-pollos-22May22-17.jpg|Someone visiting; maybe the owner of the ''collado'' himself! | ||
+ | File:pedrizaprofunda-pollos-22May22-18.jpg|Luz hiking on her own. | ||
+ | File:pedrizaprofunda-pollos-22May22-19.jpg|A narrow path. | ||
+ | File:pedrizaprofunda-pollos-22May22-25.jpg|Behind these stones is the ''Puente de los Pollos.'' | ||
+ | File:pedrizaprofunda-pollos-22May22-26.jpg|The bridge itself. | ||
+ | File:pedrizaprofunda-pollos-22May22-20.jpg|El Tolmo from the Puente de los Pollos. | ||
+ | File:pedrizaprofunda-pollos-22May22-21.jpg|And trying to get onto the bridge. | ||
+ | File:pedrizaprofunda-pollos-22May22-22.jpg|Here it is: behind Julia is the ''puente de los pollos'', which we did not dare approach further. | ||
+ | File:pedrizaprofunda-pollos-22May22-23.jpg|Getting down. It looks safe but a couple of meters are behind this extended hand. | ||
+ | File:pedrizaprofunda-pollos-22May22-24.jpg|Julia at ease where she is. | ||
+ | File:pedrizaprofunda-pollos-22May22-27.jpg|Back into the wood on our way home, we found these nice stone formations in tribute to the ''puente''. | ||
+ | </gallery> | ||
+ | |||
+ | == La Pedriza desde la Calle del Puente == | ||
+ | |||
+ | At the occasion of the visit of [[Miguel Bastarrachea]], on {{thisday|21|November|2024}}, we went, after his talk [https://x.com/fplaussy/status/1859603924107366755], for a short walk in the Pedriza. | ||
+ | |||
+ | <gallery perrow=3 widths=200px> | ||
+ | File:Pedriza-con-Miguel-21November2024-1.jpg|A little stroll in the early evening. | ||
+ | File:Pedriza-con-Miguel-21November2024-2.jpg|Luz going off track. | ||
+ | File:Pedriza-con-Miguel-21November2024-3.jpg|Dead end. | ||
+ | File:Pedriza-con-Miguel-21November2024-4.jpg|Now it is Miguel's turn to go off track. | ||
+ | File:Pedriza-con-Miguel-21November2024-5.jpg|On the way back. | ||
+ | File:Pedriza-con-Miguel-21November2024-6.jpg|A hat in the mountains. | ||
+ | File:Pedriza-con-Miguel-21November2024-7.jpg|A narrow bridge of stones. | ||
+ | File:Pedriza-con-Miguel-21November2024-8.jpg|Miguel back on track. | ||
+ | File:Pedriza-con-Miguel-21November2024-9.jpg|Un caillou sur le chemin. | ||
+ | File:Pedriza-con-Miguel-21November2024-10.jpg|The cirque at the foot of the mountain. | ||
+ | File:Pedriza-con-Miguel-21November2024-11.jpg|Direction, the evening. | ||
+ | File:Pedriza-con-Miguel-21November2024-12.jpg|Sunset. | ||
+ | </gallery> | ||
= To do = | = To do = | ||
− | * | + | * Puente de los pollos en la Pedriza (e.g., [https://www.wikiloc.com/hiking-trails/cantocochino-collado-cabron-canal-del-pajarito-puente-de-los-pollos-cuatro-caminos-autopista-cantoc-86686278#wp-86686288]) |
− | * La cresta de la Cabrera | + | * La cresta de la Cabrera (e.g., [https://es.wikiloc.com/rutas-senderismo/cresta-de-la-cabrera-por-el-espaldar-83061509]) |
− | * Cabeza de Hierro (menor & major) | + | * Cabeza de Hierro (menor & major) (e.g., [https://www.wikiloc.com/hiking-trails/puente-angostura-arroyo-barondillo-tejo-milenario-cabeza-de-hierro-26-09-2020-57489262] or [https://www.wikiloc.com/hiking-trails/cotos-cabeza-de-hierro-pulmones-mayor-y-menor-cerradillas-cotos-11395673]). |
− | * la Maliciosa | + | * la Maliciosa desde la Bola del mundo. |
* Toda la cuerda larga | * Toda la cuerda larga | ||
+ | * La torres de la Pedriza y el dedo de Dios. | ||
+ | * Canteras del Jaralon (gran cantera) en la Pedriza. | ||
+ | * Los Chorros del Río Manzanares. | ||
+ | * [https://www.wikiloc.com/hiking-trails/ruta-por-las-cascadas-del-purgatorio-desde-el-km-21-300-13711576 Cascadas del Purgatorio] | ||
== Links == | == Links == |
This is a list of our walks in the Sierra de Madrid. You can download the GPX data for all these walks together.
On 3 June (2012) with Elena's parents.
The fountain of the bell lies in the woods of Navacerrada in the Sierra de Madrid. It has a bell which people ring before drinking the icy cold water from the mountains.
It turned out to be the last walk of Onyx, our terrier, who passed away one month and one week later. As one can see from these pictures, although 14 years old and a half, he remained healthy till the end, in fact, till the very last day.
The Cerro de San Pedro is a landmark of the Sierra de Madrid, as it stands alone from the rest of the chain of mountains from the Sistema Central. Its small height and spread out distribution makes it an easy hike. It affords splendid views of the north of Madrid, being so close, and of the rest of the Sierra, around it. After hiking it, we passed by Guadalix de la Sierra and Soto del Real.
Download the gpx file for this track.
With Manzanares el Real in background, and its pantano, it's actually a lot of water.
Here a palette from desert sand, that is actually reddish, and certainly all the variations of chartreuse.
On 13 October (2013), with Tizón. We did not expect much from this little patch of Sierra, far from the mighty Pedriza. But it exploded all our expectations. It was very quiet, we met nobody there, and the views and feels are about as grandiose as those of the most famous spots in the Sierra de Madrid. We also had a nice view of the Palace of Canto del Pico, with its strange architecture, even at a distance, and made famous as a residence of Franco.
Download the gpx file for this track.
On 27 October (2013), with Elena's parents and Tizón.
Download the gpx file for this track.
This excursion was from a book of scenic routes in the Sierra, bought by Elena en marge of a manifestation in Madrid, and in the company of Inma & Julio. We quickly realized that it was bringing us to the Chorrera de Mojonavalle which we had visited back in July 2008 with Daniele and where I almost killed myself, slipping while climbing the waterfall (?!) The choice of a wood was motivated by Autumn, and we headed for this popular location where birch trees (abedules) mix with pine trees. It had rained a lot the previous days, and many mushrooms enthusiasts were passing by with full baskets. So abundant were the Boletus edulis that we also found enough ourselves for the supper. Another unexpected encounter was with the Spanish celebrity Dani Mateo who was enjoying family moments hiding in a cap that could not however also conceal his peculiar voice (and who tried to climb the waterfall in very much the same foolish and dangerous way I did in 2008).
Our delegation for today (plus Tizon).
On top of the Perdiguera.
On 1 November (2013). With Elena's parents and Tizón.
Download the gpx file for this track.
This is very close from Tres Cantos and Colmenar, and again is an area of unsuspected beauty, suitable for shorter walks.
In between lies the Manzanares on its way from the mountain towards Madrid.
Julio, thoughtful or dreamy.
Tizon going back and forth.
The Pedriza in the distance.
Madrid is not too far either.
On 7 December (2013). With Tizón.
Download the gpx file for this track.
The Yelmo is the highlight of la Pedriza. This area is so beautiful, we hardly dare to go. Each walk in the area is replete of adventures, overwhelming feelings and time pressure. This was no exception as we could not complete the loop and had to take a taxi to bring us back to our starting point.
La Pedriza, as seen from Manzanares el Real.
The Manzanares (river) carving the Pedriza, on its way through the village (el Real) towards Madrid.
One specimen of the abundant Spanish ibex populating the area.
On 20 March (2014). With Carlos Sanchez, Blanca Silva, Juan Pablo Restrepo, Guillermo Guirales, Camilo López-Carreño, William Júnio Lima, David Colas, Dmitrii Vishnevskii, his wife Irina and their friend Olga, and of course, Tizón.
Love (cf. "Love").
The Geek (cf. "The Clown")
On 17 May (2015), with Julia and Tizón.
It had been a long time, well over a year, since our last hike in the Sierra de Madrid, due to our Madrilean year. To get it on track again, we returned to the Cerro de San Pedro, which is an outstanding hike with a terrific view of a good portion of the Comunidad de Madrid. It is also our opening walk of this series, and we went the both of us. This time, we were accompanied by Julia and our little dog.
On 7 November (2015). This was before Fabrice's trip to Bruxelles for the European Union. We went there for the autumnal palette but had apparently missed the narrow window of optimum colours by a few weeks, as the woods were all mourning already, but the mountains were splendid. They never fail to impress.
Julia enjoying the pure air.
On 17 January (2016), we went with Isabel and Camilo (also with Elena's parents, Tizón, ourselves and Julia) to the mountains, with a specific aim: to meet the snow, a first time for Isabel & Camilo (Julia got close enough in Auvergne in March (2015) but this basically was a first experience for her too as she was so tiny earlier; in fact she still has occasions to discover the snow for the first time!). There has been little snow in Europe this year, so we had to go a bit far, to the frontier of the Comunidad de Madrid, at its meeting point with Castilla y León.
Cette boule de neige, était une boule de neige. [1]
Julia, 17 of January 2016.
Isabel, facing North.
Camilo, courting a tree.
Elena in the seriously frozen part.
On 18 June (2016), with Elena's parents and Tizon, we went to the mountain that sits behind the Cabrera, of which it affords a splendid, if not unfamiliar, view. It is largely forgotten from tourists and hikers so that you can enjoy a peaceful stroll among cows wandering freely and, in our case, even a flock of goats guarded by two half-savage dogs who galloped towards us as we reached the top. This reached a moment of extreme tension as they chased Tizon and captured him for a few seconds of extreme shock as it wasn't clear if they were not going after his life. Despite the horror, me jumping onto the dog (harming my leg in the way), Inma's shouting in shock, it so appeared they wanted to play with him as he was unharmed (he got the scare of his life and the moaning he made when he got caught, unable to escape the much faster dogs, appeared to all of us as that of a prey being murdered). Thankfully, all went well and we could complete the tour with only a good fright.
On 12 October (2017), with Elena's parents and Tizon, Elena and Julia (without Fabrice) went to Hoyo de Manzanares to do the circular walk of Cruz del Pan. It took them around 3-4 hours because Julia was walking around 50% of the track.
On 26 August (2018), with Camilo.
The alto de las Guarramillas is better known as the "bola del mundo" by Madrilenes, due to the old Spanish TV displaying in its announcements the antennas that crowns the top of the mountain on a stylized globe. It affords a rare view of the Communidad de Madrid, with Manzanares el Real, Colmenar Viejo, Tres Cantos and Madrid all lined up (you can get an idea of this view from one of our panoramas). This is a special spot for us as this is the view we have from our breakfat terrace in Montecito.
It is an easy (7.8km) hike from the Puerto de Navacerrada till the top and back, on a fully paved road, which decided us to attempt it in the last days of recovery of Fabrice's surgery (we used to walk round Tres Cantos before that). Since Fabrice couldn't carry Julia, this is also the first mountain excursion she fully completed on her own! It took us 1h30 to the top, going slowly. We spent another one hour there, marveling at the view with a snack. It was thrilling to identify our flat from so far away (29.5km in a straight line). We missed the Ventisquero de la Condesa, which is the birthplace of the Manzanares, that was a few hundred meters away but a fact we discovered only afterward. It was another hour to go down. The day ended with a nice dinner at the Terraza Jardin Felipe in Navacerrada.
It's actually one of the highest paved roads in Europe!?
Navacerrada is a place usually replete with snow, but of course not in August.
On one side, the tree-covered cool and well irrigated mountains of Castilla-Léon.
On the other side, the arid, rocky, burning mountains of the Comunidad de Madrid.
The bola del mundo, in the full details of what we can hardly make out from home.
Some views from the top: the bit of the mountain recognizable from our Fuente de la Campanilla expedition.
The Pedriza, with the Yelmo on the right, and the Cerro de San Pedro in the background.
Manzanares el Real is neatly distinguishable, as is Colmenar Viejo. You need binoculars to appreciate Tres Cantos in some details.
On 9 September (2018), with Camilo.
There are several waterfalls (cascada) in the Sierra, which give you the occasion of bathing in summer time. One of the most interesting waterfalls is quite close from home, in San Agustín del Guadalix.
On 15 September (2018), with Camilo and Elena's parents.
The highlight of this walk in the Valle de la Fuenfría was a waterfall, the shower of the Germans, called like this because German hikers liked to bathe in the pool, a tradition we found easy to honour as this segment of the trip was met with heavy rains.
Other interesting cascades include:
Download the gpx file for this track.
On 2 January (2019). Our first excursion of the year, on one less-regarded side of the Pedriza, with one highlight: El Caliz. We had selected it facil from Wikiloc, but once there, it turned out to be quite challenging. We could not close the loop through the wild vegetation as the path was regularly being lost in the rocks which were seldom making it possible to cut through, and we had one hour left of light, so we went all the way back (carrying Julia on the backpack to walk fast although she managed all the way up alone and would certainly have been able to complete the walk with enough time left). This is a great excursion that affords splendid views of the Pedriza and el Caliz is a unique boulder formation, changing shape and character from every directions (I named my computer after it). We also spotted the magnificent rock el Tolmo sitting between two mountains, to which we will return to pat it.
Madrid behind the mountain.
The one walk you should have in the Sierra de Madrid if you can make only one! For us it was a lengthier 8.78km loop, in a bit less than 7 hours (but only half moving), but this is an otherwise easy hike, though with breathtaking, emblematical and varied views of the mountain range of the sistema central, which we regard as the best way to enjoy this area of Spain.
Download the gpx file for this track. In cyan, the main walk; in yellow, our first attempt the day before (Julia and Fabrice's going up and down & back and forth):
On 13 June (2020), with Julia, Luz, Elena and Fabrice. This one was special as our first big excursion following confinement (last before that was the Caer Caradoc in the Shropshire hills). We made two attempts. The first one, on Saturday the 13th, with a direct climb to the Najarra, was unsuccessful as we lost track of each other in the first big rock formation, where Julia and Fabrice were bouldering, while Luz and Elena were taking a path round, which led to the two groups disconnecting. The hiking was more challenging than we thought and we got defeated so we got back home. It was also the first time we got campercita out and all the camper-part was down, for some battery problem. Despite sore muscles due, for instance, for Fabrice getting all the way back down to the car and up again when not finding anyone here, part of which carrying Julia, we decided not to take this incident for a no, and returned. The next day.
So, on 14 June (2020), this time also with Inma and Tizon, and going the other way around, that is, the gentle slop as an ascent and the sharp one as a descent (definitely the one we recommend), also starting slightly earlier (still very late by our hiking standards, c.~14:00), we finally completed the walk which, to our surprise, turned out to be, indeed, not difficult (it had been chosen for that) although not fully trivial in parts (see the images) but also, more importantly, truly outstanding with unique views on the cuerda larga, la Pedriza, la Cabrera, Madrid itself (!?), Tres Cantos (!?), etc., which makes this walk the one we'd recommend if you have only one to make in the area.
View of Montecito (our Tres Cantos flat), shown by an arrow, from the Collado de la Najarra. We are behind the first line of buildings, so we don't have a direct view to these mountains.
View of Madrid from the Collado de la Najarra.
On our first attempt, at the parking (mirador del Cossío), with Grelot.
We spent much time visiting the local summits, bouldering with Julia, leaving Elena and Luz increasingly behind (still visible on this picture)...
La Peña del Rayo emerging from the woods, for a future excursion (with la Pedriza in background).
On Elena's 39th Birthday (22 June (2020)). A 14.9km loop in 5 hours with 690m total ascent/descent (skip 1.56km for Elena & girls and 90m ascent/descent from their skipping the end of Peñalara).
In green the part till the top of Peñalara by Fabrice alone:
This was at the peak of the covid pandemic, after the confinement, and the first (so far only) time where we had been controlled to enter the Sierra, having to register at the "visitor center" to notify of our trajectory, and be attached bracelets to our wrists to grant us permission. The result of this useless procedure was a long queue (and piling up people). Since we did not follow the standard route, we have not been checked at all, and just lost time. Others just decided to go back home. Once in the mountains, it was easy to forget about this nonsense. We crossed only a couple at the beginning, that recommended us some area for bathing in the south of Spain after inquiring of Julia's tastes from their surprises of seeing a little girl outside, to which she obviously said that walking wasn't her thing but that swimming was. We did not meet anybody else afterward so our only contacts on this day were with other people queueing and the person in charge who was terrified of the slightest breach to the procedure, like Julia fretting and walking round the room as our planned trajectory was being recorded on paper.
Guille called to congratulate Elena on her 39th birthday.
La Sierra de Madrid from behind with la bola del mundo and Siete picos.
Meanwhile, Luz having her mountain lunch.
Fabrice and Julia towards Peñalara.
A walk by the mountains of El Escorial on 26 July (2020), namely, the Abantos, with Inma and her brother Carlos (Elena's uncle) who suggested the route, selected for its practicality so staying on an isoline, avoiding the top and privileging a bathing stop which of course was very popular with Julia. The recorded track was 11.7 km with 450m ascent in 6h40 (4h walking) but we actually closed the loop after walking through El Escorial (in particular the square of the monastery) and spending much time at a terrasse, the first time after our March-June confinement. There we also had the company of Chicha and her partner as well as Eva, for a little while, whom we visited again to buy some soap.
At a terrasse with baby Luz, her first.
On 4 July (2020) with Inma, Guille, Pili y Manolo. We had planned to go to the Cascada del Purgatorio initially, from El Paular monastery, but everything, including the cascade, were closed due to the covid pandemics. So we followed the Rio Lozoya instead, on a 11.6km back-and-forth linear route walking about 4h20min up to the embalse de la presa del pradillo, and with much time spent by the river, bathing.
On 13 September (2020), with Inma.
We initially had aimed for a walk in la Pedriza, but although making an early start in the morning, we arrived to a gigantic queue of cars at the fence of Cantocochino, with no sign of progress. We were merely something like fifth or so in the line but still possibly having to stay there for hours. We thus decided to find another place and improvise an easy walk elsewhere. It turned out to be one of the most ambitious and difficult of the series, climbing up to the Maliciosa from its most difficult route. We just could not resist when it turned out that our initial plans were bringing us right at the beginning of a trail that was going all the way up this emblem of the Sierra. We almost killed Inma in the process. In fact, only Fabrice made the final ascent (with a symbolic attempt at going along by Julia). We lacked water on our way back and the thirst we suffered and the relief at a fountain we found at some point were a highlight of our hiking adventures.
El Valle de los Caidos in tee distance.
The Bola del Mundo lurking behind.
From there you see everything. Here Manzanares el Real.
On 2 October (2021), with Tizón. The first time at La Pedriza with Luz.
Tizón, more at ease than anybody else.
On 30 April (2022), also our first campervanning stay at la Pedriza, so an opening walk to the main one, on the next day.
We walked along the Manzanares, from Cantocochino towards the Charca Verde, that was our destination on this occasion, although one can carry on further until the Chorros del Río Manzanares and probably up till the birth of the rio, in the Bola del Mundo. We crossed with a snake that swiftly slid on the rocks and jumped into the tumultuous waters, swimming with an unsuspected grace with little jerks of its head, that it kept out of the water, able to cross in no time, presumably far from us as it was in no mood to share the Pedriza with tourists. The Charca Verde used to be a star destination for bathing, but this is now forbidden. The smooth slops surrounding the basin are natural toboggans for children and the luckiest of them manage to fall in the water by accident, enjoying a swim that the guards would probably excuse. It was not the case of our skilled little mountaineer who however tried very hard to venture in the slippiest parts of the flanks.
The Manzanares in la Pedriza.
Paradise 30 minutes from home.
Luz studying the local flaura.
On 1 May (2022), following our warm-up at la Charca Verde on the previous day, we embarked on a long excursion in la Pedriza, doing and seeing more than we had bargained for.
The main objective was el Tolmo, a giant rock which we had spotted on our excursion to El Caliz in December (2019), and had aimed to visit ever since, where, at a distance, it seemed to stand in plain view of a nice collado (saddle between two mountains). In real life, it turned out to be a much tougher target to reach. We initially mistook a smaller rock in the collado de la desehilla for it. Another highlight, however, was Julia successfully climbing the Yelmo, which is already tricky for adults and experienced people, but at the limit of feasibility for such a young mountaineer (7 years, 3 months and 25 days). Who says better?
Back to the heart of the Pedriza.
What type of mountaineering is this?
With la Bola del Mundo.
Proof that papa was there too. Behind him is a free fall to the ground.
On 14 May (2022). This 12.8km, 6h10m hike was supposed to be a simple one, a short campervaning stay to relax and with a swift walk before Elena's shooting of ''Yo soy esa persona'' on the next day (Sunday). We opted for the puerto de Canencia, that we already knew for its abedular from a previous walk. We went in the other direction, not that of the famous waterfall, but towards the Cabeza de la Braña, which gives a splendid view of the Sierra de Canencia. Shortly after our departure, unfortunately, it became clear that it could rain and Fabrice was sent back to the car to get some raincoat. That was a wise choice since the situation, that had stabilized, broke into cold wind and shower banter just as we were ascending the peak, forcing us to retreat towards the woods where we intended to terminate the excursion and come back to the car, but the sun eventually came back in a radius blue sky, so we finally reached the top from the other side and cut through the woods. We met a biker who also turned back, not for the rain though, but for the cows that we indeed met later on with no clue why he would find them an obstacle. At the most intense peak of rain, Julia spotted a beautiful salamander, shining intensely of wet black and yellow. We could not marvel too much at her due to the wind and rain and proceeded to take cover in the forest. At the end of the trip, Julia also spot a small snake, probably an adder, that was hiding in the rocks and defiantly looked at us before swirling through in the entrails of the mountain.
With Giono (Les vraies richesses).
Back in the light from the other side of the forest, with the long-sought sight of the Sierra de Canencias.
Garganta de los montes, in the distance.
Overlooking la Sierra de Canencias.
On 22 May (2022), for our 2nd campervanning night at la Pedriza (from Cantocochino), our main target was el puente de los pollos, a mighty formation that carves a gigantic bridge into the mountain.
We enlarged our previous hike in la Pedriza profunda but otherwise passed by the same main highlights, giving us a sense of immortality from these unchanged, unfaltering sights, from these objects that do not age, do not change, do not move, that probably have remained identical not just these mere 8 years, 2 months and 2 days since our last visit, but for hundreds if not thousands or tens of thousands of years. We got close to the "tres cestos" but skipped it.
El collado del Diablo.
At the occasion of the visit of Miguel Bastarrachea, on 21 November (2024), we went, after his talk [2], for a short walk in the Pedriza.
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