A chance encounter.....

[Andy2]

Not really a new route, but I?d class this as a post about a forum meet!

Inspired by El Perro Negro?s trip reports and photos and confident with the route after an earlier warm up trek to the Cerro de Caballo, I headed up to the Ventura trail head the Saturday before last to walk up to the Lagunas de Lanjaron. Insomnia, brought about by a neighbour's barking dog prompted a very early start and by 05:45 I was supping my cafe con leche with a few eager hunters at cafe Mollinios in Lanjaron. The drive up to the Ventura trail head took 15 minutes longer in the dark, as the resident nocturnal wildlife was prolific and somewhat reluctant to share the road with me, but I arrived and parked just as dawn was breaking. The air was refreshingly cool after the August heat in the valley and the mountains were as you?d expect, even more tranquil than normal.

I followed the normal route to the Caballo hut and as the sun rose, I reached into my pack for my sun-hat. On parking the car earlier I had realised in horror that I had left the wide-brimmed sun hat I wear every day at home. This was a serious problem as with even moderate exposure to sunlight I change from my normal pasty white colour to lobster red in a matter of minutes ? at altitude and with no shade for 5 hours, even factor 50 sun cream was not going to protect me. Returning home would mean a 2 and a half hour drive and probably not making the planned trip in daylight, whereas going without would almost certainly leave 3rd degree burns on my bald head but fortunately I did have a spare hat at the bottom of my rucksack. It had a peak and could cover the tops of my ears at least. Unfortunately it was waterproof and lined with pertex - I knew how effective it was at keeping my head toasty warm in sub-zero conditions. It also never fails to win me the ?Who can look the most ridiculous on the mountain? award, even on Scafell on a summer Saturday when the competition is at its strongest. However, given the choice of having my head microwaved whilst being grilled or oven baked whilst looking silly, I opted for baking & looking silly.

From the Caballo hut I followed the well defined path along the Verea Corta and up to the Lake. The route is straight forward apart from one short section which requires the assistance of a chain hand hold to traverse a gully. My 4 legged companion, normally fearless and as sure footed as a mountain goat, was a little stumped here ? unsurprising since her un-evolved digits were going to find the hand-hold little use. I decided to lead the way and as I reached the other side and looked round to offer encouragement, she ran between my legs, so we pushed on.

I took lunch at the lake at the foot of the Elorrieta hut, sitting on lush grass which is a rarity here in southern Spain in August.

[El Perro Negro]

Great report Andy. Seems a long way away already now the temperatures have dropped and the first snows have fallen!

[Tinkerbell]

Great report Andy, was good to meet you out there even if a little spooky

[Andy2]

I was back up at the Caballo Refugio this Saturday with visiting family and we encountered some sleet at 2,000m as we left ? we felt sorry for the large group which had just pitched their tents at the Caballo Lagunas (was that one of yours?) which was now under an intimidating, black CB that was almost certainly dumping heavy rain or snow. Still, we?ve enjoyed the summer walking ? now bring on the snow!

[El Perro Negro]

No not us we had day trips on Mulhacen (Sat) and Veleta (Sun). Just had good day today doing the Silleta de Padul. If get time will do blog about it this week as it's good alternative if weather bad higher up.

[El Perro Negro]

Trip report on the Silleta del Padul at http://www.sierra-nevada-news.com/2009/0...de-padul/. Good for a half day or when the Sierras are stormbound.
[img width=400 height=300]http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2505/3925581180_6de35ca591.jpg[/img]

[Andy2]

Looks good. I see it was cool enough to bring the beasties out with you!

[Tinkerbell]

We took them but it just wasnt cool enough for them. They kept stopping in the shade on the way down but luckily there is a river not far from where we parked the car so even though the heavens opened