Ice, Snow, Rock and Mixed Climbing
La Sierra de Gredos is a mountain range located in the Spanish Sistema Central, between La Sierra de Guadarrama and La Sierra de Gata and Peña de Francia. Gredos is approximately oriented in an East-West direction and extends along more than 140 kilometres, between El Cerro de Guisando and El Corredor de Béjar. Most of its 3500 square kilometres belong to the province of Avila with only a small fraction belonging to the provinces of Cáceres and Salamanca.
All the routes described in this guidebook are located in the most popular and visited place in these mountains: El Circo de Gredos. The guidebook collects a selection of 100 routes, among which ice climbing routes are significantly highlighted. If anything characterizes this place it is the excellent set of conditions for this kind of climb. The north facing and the cold and dry weather in the winter allow the formation of a special crystalline ice, with low porosity and great hardness, particularly during the coldest months (December and January). At this time small icefalls are usually formed, as consequence of the freezing of some water courses.
Additionally, during the months of February and March, the major itineraries on ice, snow and mixed conditions are modelled by the snowfall and the increase in the daylight hours, mainly in El Casquerazo and El Cuchillar de las Navajas.
We have also included a selection of climbing rock routes; granitic itineraries characterized by the numerous cracks, dihedral and chimneys that allow the progression in free climbing style.
The quantity and quality of the routes, both on ice and rock, together with the proximity to the Jose Antorio Elola’s mountain hut, have made El Circo de Gredos a reference at national level, as well as an ideal place where gain experience for achieve climbs in the Alps or other mountains.
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The Guidebook of the High Mountaineering in the Iberian Peninsula.
It is the second, revised and updated edition of this quintessential guidebook, which includes the best climbing routes in the most representative mountains of the Iberian Peninsula.
A total of 50 routes that will make us to travel through the heights of the main Iberian mountains ranges: from the wild summits of the Pyrenees to the slender mountains of Sierra Nevada, including the Spanish Sistema Central and, naturally, Picos de Europa and La Cordillera Cantábrica.
The difficulty and physical effort required are variable, but are precisely described by the author; low difficulty climbs, in which using the hands is sporadically necessary, or high difficulty routes that will require an excellent physical condition and experience in mountaineering.
To get lost is almost impossible; each route is perfectly described, and most significant crossing points are indicated. We have included full colour panoramic photographs and the corresponding complete track, situation map and technical datasheet of the routes.
Undoubtedly it is an essential guidebook in the library of those mountaineers who wish to discover summits and feel the imperative necessity of visit more and more mountains.
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5 routes to the summit
El Naranjo de Bulnes or Picu is legendary because of its special features, hardly impossible to find in other mountain. It has such a great identity that has been traditionally considered a real mountain instead of just a spire. Upon firs sight El Naranjo appears almost unconquerable, therein lies a part of its greatness.
On the other hand, despite this impregnable appearance, El Picu offers achievable routes without needing to be an accomplished climber.
This guidebook collects the five best routes for reach the top of the mountain: Pidal-Cainejo, in the North face; Sur-Directa, in the South face; Cepeda and Amistad con el Diablo, in the East face; and Murciana in the West one. Those are five classic routes with a solid and elegant trajectory, presenting different levels of difficulty. The author meticulously detailed each one to ensure the enjoyment of all the climbers.
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