Hiking in la Sierra de Madrid
This is a list of our walks in the Sierra de Madrid.
You can download the GPX data for all these walks together.
El Cerro de San Pedro
On 6 October (2013).
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.
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The top of the San Pedro.
Spain (with Madrid in background), as seen from the Cerro de San Pedro.
Apart from the stunning landscape, what especially takes one's breath away are the colors.
The colors of a desert...
in which the grass didn't completely surrender.
Detail of the vegetation.
Colors can even be British like as a result.
Although the major theme is definitely on the yellowish.
Here a palette from desert sand, that is actually reddish, and certainly all the variations of chartreuse.
Guadalix, in between two moutains.
The high-speed train bridge, that pierces through the Cerro de San Pedro.
La Cabrera (on the right, the Pico de la Miel and dominating on this shot, the Cancho de la Bola.)
Wild vegetation, a basic human endeavor in the form of a wall, and the capital of a former empire all in perspective.
Villages from the Sierra are not known for their own.
The churches have kept something of an identity and character.
What is not ugly is left to decay.
Sierra de Hoyo de Manzanares
On 13 October (2013), with Tizón.
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Abedular de Canencia
On 27 October (2013), with Elena's parents and Tizón.
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The third route was the first from a book of scenic routes in the Sierra, bought by Elena en marge of a manifestation in Madrid, and the first with Inma & Julio. We quickly realized that it would bring 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).
El arroyo del Sestil del Maíllo.
According to this proud gentleman, this is probably the biggest boletus ever found in this area.
A sample of our own collect, frying.
Along the Manzanares
On 1 November (2013). With Elena's parents and Tizón.
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The Yelmo
On 7 December (2013). With Tizón.
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Our starting point, slightly before la Peña Sacra.
Tizón on the starting blocks.
The Manzanares (river) carving the Pedriza, on its way through the village (el Real) towards Madrid.
The rocks in a precarious equilibrium.
Assembling a composition of granite.
A climber giving the scale to a rock.
El pantano de Manzanares.
With the Yelmo, our destination, in background.
An unsuspected meadow in between.
Making the progression overall easy.
View from the top of the Yelmo.
Woodlands and snow eating the Central System.
Leaving, from the other side of the Yelmo.
One specimen of the abundant Spanish ibex populating the area.
Rocks draped like giant bed sheets.
The path is a bit more difficult on the way back.
The arduous way we came back through, with the Yelmo on the right.
The crazy burnished copper colors embracing the mountains...
when the sun sets on the other side.
La Pedriza
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.
Big stones among naked trees.
Elena, Camilo, Juan-Pablo and Carlos.
With Tizon who spot something moving in the distance (either David or a goat).
With the colour theme of the Pedriza.
William seriously freaked out at some point.
The nest of a Griffon Vulture hidden in the rock.
The Griffon Vulture hiding in its nest.
Guillermo, more peaceful than the mountains.
The Pedriza balancing its rocks in the face of eternity.
The style of water carving granite.
Winners never quit. Even if it's 27.3km.
Pausing for the photo: Guillermo, Blanca, Carlos, Tizon, Elena, Juan-Pablo & Camilo. Who's got the nicest smile?
David, just after finding a funny rock.
William, trying not to fall in the precipice behind.
Guillermo would seem to drift like a cloud more than walking like the rest of us.
One can still see plainly the huge, monumental, massive rock that once was there, as polished as the little ones that are now scattered around.
El Cerro de San Pedro, in the springtime
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.
What we have to climb: a lot of rocks in a lot of light.
This time, we brought Tizón.
It was a lot of sun for him but he kept a good rythm.
The landscape changed a lot since our last visit.
On the wrong side of the wall...
Thistles before they get burned and yellow.
Their purple touch is nicely matched with the rest of the vegetation.
Julia sad that she has to leave, maybe?