Downhill...

Today plenty of downhill, we're headed back to Orgiva which means going from 2500 m above sea level to 400 m. But first we take a last look at Pico Veleta our not reached goal of yesterday. We'll be back !

The downhill is not for free unfortunately, we first have to climb the only road leaving the refugio, this means the same climb of about 200 heightmeters again before we can start the descend.

We start of on a wide jeep track which is a nice start of the descend to catch some speed. The track brings us back to the vegatation, soon we're back among the trees and not for long we're on a nice single track through the woods which brings us back to the entrance of the National Park

Now a little bit of descending on the large dirt track being carefull for cars, after a 10 minutes descend we're at an interesting spot: a singletrack which cuts down more steeply down the mountain then the dirt track. Here starts some real fun, this trail starts out nicely, then we meet some walkers going up so we slow down a bit, say hello and let go of the brakes again for some interesting twists and turns and all to sudden we're on the tarmac again. We regroup and do the next cut-off, which has more of singletrack feeling with more vegatation. After regrouping again on the road again, I was ready to go for the next bit which would bring us back to Capiliera, but David said we're going to take another way to Capiliera which meant a little bit of climbing again. But it was worth it! This descend is very challenging, the underground is like a large rock wall on which you ride but the rock is not vertical, but lies more horizontally (lucky for us). During this descent I manage to go over the bars and kiss the ground with no severe injuries, just scratches on me and my ego. David 'Moots' on the other hand falls too, but he isn't so lucky and hurts his wrist badly, he can only use his one hand now. Lucky for us and him we're in Capiliera now, so we take a break for a drink.
After the break 'Moots' decides to ride back home on the road, because he hardly can use his hand.

We on the other hand continue our descend over the nice singletracks, we pass Bubion to follow the GR7 down in the direction of Pampaneira which has some nice urban technical bits and back on the GR7 again to finish this bit at the power central.




Now it's time again for a little bit of climbing, this time on the road. After 3 kilometers we leave the asphalted road again and find us some dirt tracks which will bring us back too Orgiva in a fast way.




We end our day's ride again in the bar on the market in Orgiva for some well earned beer and tapas, this concludes our 3 day high altitude program.

Statistics: ... to come

Spain in June: snow...

Today is the big day: we're going to attack the Pico Veleta, at an height above sea level of 3394 meter; it will be a record breaking height (with the bike) for all of us. First thing I noticed today, it's cold: 6 C, that's rather cold but due to the fact that we starting with a climb, I decide to go for shorts and only arm warmers, which was a good decision. But before leaving I take the opportunity for a large panorama now that the sky is still void of clouds.


The first part of the climb we already know from yesterday, but yesterday we did it in the other direction which was faster and easier. Now this first part is hard work, and is the steepest we'll do today.
After this steep bit, the track continues where we stopped yesterday (in other words we're back at 2711 and ascended the descent of yesterday). From now on the road has a more comfortable rising grade, we continue climbing but regularly stop to absorb the scenery.

In this environment you don't expect too much people, but all of sudden we see in the distance a runner, and he's gaining ground on us. After a while he catches us and we see it's the Spanish guy from the refugio, in the evening we hear that he had run up Mulhacen. . But our target for today is Pico Veleta, we pass the first snow easily and continue to follow to route at the foot of Mulhacen.

And the climbing continues steadily, no more vegetation at this height only rocks and a lost snow patch. We pass an emergency refugio which is nothing more then four walls, a roof and some beds to provide you with the necessary shelter at this height, but we don't need it now luckily.

Further up we can see the road carved in the mountain, the grade of the route is appealing: not steep just steady climbing; which is a good thing because of the height which has now broken the 3000m mark. At this altitude we ride continuously in the clouds, but it changes so quickly that we often see a small patch in the clouds and the sun shines on us. Finally we reach the hole in the mountain which gives us the easy access to the other side, Pico Veleta is not far anymore, we can almost though it.

After regrouping at this point we continue our route up, but
this snow patch is too large for my liking, so I stop and wait for the rest; Nicky however already starts the attack of the snow patch on the left side, which means 3 meters of snow on the right and a drop on the left of several meters, but after 5 meters she sees that it's undoable and sees I'm waiting.

I suggest to lunch here and returning back, too me it looked too dangerous to attempt this with the bike; certainly because further up we could so hikers struggling up on another snow patch. The group agrees and after lunch and after some picture taking moments, we put on some clothes and start the descend which will bring us back to the refugio. But I decide to snake bite my rear tire again, which is fixed in no time, finally we reach the refugio which is bathing in the sun.
Arriving there we stride us all on the stairs and enjoy the scenery, sun and each others company, the rest of the evening is the same as yesterday: showering, drinking, resting, talking, eating, some more drinking, talking and finally sleeping.

Is was a lovily day today we didn't reach our goal, we stranded on 3130m; but no one is really disappointed, we all look at the bright side: we can come back to try it again...
More pictures
Statistics: 27.5 km

Height gain: 950 hm

Height profile:

Andalacia day 4, the climb to the refugio

Today is the start of our High altitude program, the target is to reach the 3394 meters high Pico Veleta on the second day in this program, but first we need to get to the Refugio on 2500m.

At 11 o'clock David (yes yet another David) would come to fetch us and the bikes to bring us to Capileira, so the start of morning was relaxed no need to rush. David indeed arrived at 11, loading all our bikes in his van and away we were. After an 30 minute drive we arrived at Capileira: Height 1400, already 1000 height meters gained by doing nothing... David the guide parks his car safely for 3 days and after saying bye to David 'the driver' we're off into the direction of the National Park's entrance. The climb starts on asphalt and continues onto a wide gravel road, luckily the weather is a little overcast today so not too hot to climb. We make good progress, but stop regularly to enjoy the views. After a while we arrive at the entrance of the National Park, where we take the opportunity to take our lunch, but we're missing Nicky. Maybe she continued instead of stopping, so I go look for here, but don't find here directly, normally she wan't go that far in front, so I probably missed here and yes after returning to the lunchspot I hear she turned around the corner the moment I left, I suspect she has been waiting there all the time :-)

After our lunch we continue to ascend and we're getting really into the clouds. it's getting colder too, luckily the gradient of the climb stays stable, we pass the viewpont to Trevelez but due to the clouds we can't see that much and a little later we're at the highest point of today: 2711 meters.

Now it's descending to the Refugio which lies at about 2500 above sea level, but for this we need to climb twice, not much, but then out of nothing we see the refugio, finally we're there. We place our bikes in the hallway, no fear of thieves here and go inside where the fireplace is the place to be. We order our first "Vino Caliente" and enjoy the place. At 7 o'clock dinner gets served, after some strange moving of furniture we can eat a nice 4 course menu. After dinner the clouds clear up a bit and have a nice view of the valley.
A little we go to sleep, which for some us seems harder to accomplish then for others, a loud snoring noise comes from one of the other dormetories...