Let us tell you something about Spanish Highs, Sierra Nevada. It's credentials, history, origins and philosophy.
"Quite simply, the most established & experienced english speaking mountain guides operating year round in the Sierra Nevada"
Team News! In April 2013, Richard Hartley and Kiersten Rowland of Spanish Highs Mountain Guides have been invited to join a Berghaus sponsored team led by British snowboarder Julia Pickering, attempting to become the first people to climb and snowboard down the largest active volcano in Kamchatka in far eastern Russia. Visit the expedition webpage which is live from 10th April 2013
Since 2002 we have set ourselves incredibly high standards. Not just in mountain competence, but in the ability to communicate, interpret and inform. It is also most important for our clients to have fun!
We insist that our guides have to be the best! The hundreds of comments from previous clients are testament to a way of working that is uniquely "Spanish Highs".
We put all our aspirant guides through an initiation schedule into the philosophy that makes "Spanish Highs". You can therefore be assured of the highest quality. We have 3 permanent guides and another 3 seasonal.
All our trips have state of the art satellite communicators and access to emergency services at all times, as vast areas of the Sierras and Patagonia have no mobile signal.
Let our clients do the talking!"@spanishhighs superb leader", "excellent guide", "testament to your skill and teaching ability", "a master at what he does", "professional team"
"Well-organized, accommodating, friendly, and experienced guide service. My friend and I did the two-day Mulhacen winter trip. Were lucky to have cooperative weather and a successful ascent with great views but even if we hadn't I still would have felt that the trip was well worth it. Our guide was familiar with several routes and involved us in deciding which option would be best for us. There was enough time allotted in the schedule to allow for flexibility with our pace when one of us was coping with a stomach bug (whose origin was unrelated to this trip). Despite extreme familiarity with the mountain, our guide never seemed bored (in fact his summit photo looks much more triumphant than my own). Instead, his extensive experience was channeled into teaching us about the location and his apparent enjoyment of the trip added to our own. Based on this experience, I would definitely feel comfortable planning another trip with Spanish Highs and I would recommend them to anyone seeking some memorably enjoyable and safe mountain time."
Has been leading groups into the mountains since 1979. In 1998 he first visited and fell in love with the Sierra Nevada. "Spanish Highs" was formed. He has lived full time in Lanjaron since 2002 and is extremely knowledgeable about the mountains that he loves. When not enjoying the mountains, he looks after the administration and website development.
24 alpine seasons and expedition experience, with 22 ascents of Mont Blanc, 59 alpine peaks and 165 alpine routes. Has led expeditions to Aconcagua and laterly 3 expeditions to the Southern Patagonian Icecap
Richard is actively involved in the Accion Sierra Nevada, which itself evolved due to his and friends efforts to improve and restore mountain huts in the Sierra Nevada. See Granada Ideal newspaper article about the origins of the initiative.
Javier is in charge of business development within Spain. In addition, he secures the services of some of best professional guides around.
He originally qualified as a solicitor before finding more enjoyment and fulfillment in the great outdoors. In 2008 he purchased some land and an old ruined cortijo in the mountains of the Sierra de Aracena. This development project became "Refugio Bonales". He is passionately involved in improving the refuge and in bringing self sufficiency into the lives of his family.
José Luis runs "Acción y Eventos" which develops original and interesting activity programs, for groups, companies, collectives and event co-ordination. They integrate quality, innovation and customization towards the satisfaction of their customers
He is an very experienced, qualified mountaineer and skier who has lived and worked in the Sierra Nevada most of his life.
Ex client, Sieto climbed Denali in 2011 and regularly revisits the Sierra Nevada to help us out
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