2011/01/25
The snow begins to dwindle in Guadarrama due to lack of rainfall in the Central Zone ... Circo de Gredos is the alternative for those who live far from the Pyrenees or the Coast.
This time ascend from the vicinity of the Canal Grande Laguna Pen Variant (PD + / 250 m/60 ° max) to link to the Channel we have called the East Hill Gardens (AD/50 m/65 º max) to the north of Cerro Antecima the gardens. After rappelling from the sharp crest of Cerro de los Gardens, ascend the Northern Dimension of the ridge, "Hill of the Northern Gardens" to finally go down the Canal de la Pluma (PD-/250 m/45 ° max).
The journey through the heights of the Circo de Gredos, striking out the following dimensions and antecimas:
- ANTECIMA ORCHARD HILL NORTH (2459 m)
- ORCHARD HILL NORTH (2,439 m)
SITUATION
Circo de Gredos . Central Massif de la Sierra de Gredos. Central System.
POINT
Platform Gredos. PK
From 36.5 of the C-500 at the height of Hoyos del Espino, where There is a roundabout with a picture of a mountain goat in the middle, continue on the AV-931 in the direction of the platform, clearly marked. At the end of the road at Kilometre 12 is situated Platform, which has a large parking area.
To get to Hoyos del Espino (Ávila), see REPSOL GUIDE.
MAPPING
Regional Park Sierra de Gredos 1:25.000. Adrados editions. Sierra de Gredos
1:25.000. Editorial Alpina.
MAP
Wikiloc MAP
SKETCH OF THE ASCENT FROM BARRERONES
SKETCH OF THE CANAL VARIANT BOOM
SKETCH OF THE CANAL EAST HILL ORCHARD
SUMMARY
DIFFERENCE: 300 meters 1300 meters (+/-), (+) and 250 meters (-) the channels carried.
TOTAL DISTANCE: 14 km.
TOTAL TIME: 12:15 hours.
Difficulty: moderately difficult (AD).
slopes up to 65 degrees in the last meters of the Canal East Hill of the Gardens.
slopes up to 60 degrees in the last meters of the Pen Alternative Channel.
rappel down 25 meters to the crest of the hill of gardens set in a block with a sling. Earrings
45 degrees during the ascent from the Alternative Pen Canal and Canal East Hill of the Gardens and during the climb towards the Canal de la Pluma. Earrings
45 degrees during the descent down the Canal de la Pluma.
MATERIAL: Basic equipment winter, 2 ice tools, rope 50 meters long as a minimum to ensure individual material / rappelling; helmet.
TRACK LOG
GPS
Click on this link: WikiLoc 20110125 ORCHARD HILL. PEN CHANNEL VERSION - THIS CHANNEL HILL GARDENS
ASCENSION
parked on Platform Gredos at 22:00 hours with a temperature of -5 º C, quick dinner and a pocket on the night promises to be cold inside the van and we have to get up early tomorrow ...
... at 06:30 hours began to show signs of life, it's cold and the wind blows a certain intensity, -3 º C while finished preparing breakfast and bag with extra material.
At 08:45 hours on end we are ready, the cold made us linger too ... ascend the famous cobbled path towards the Laguna Grande and the Refugio Elola become a makeshift rink in some sections ...
... the moon watching us ...
... it seems that it's been cold here ...
... the path is clear ...
... and in the Prado de las Pozas ...
... today do not want to leave.
... move quickly ...
... SIGHT a little closer ...
... Prado de las Pozas is left behind ...
... Snow around here is no shortage ...
... the wooden bridge and snow ...
... enjoying the moment ...
... and views ...
... Diggers Fountain is completely frozen ..
... Looking back ...
... the moon on THE GALANA ...
... Circo de Gredos appears on the scene ...
... identifying some of the iconic ...
... The way to Barrerones.
As always we reach Los Barrerones, we took our time to take some pictures and that is, for many times we come to the view from here is awesome ...
... THE RAZOR BLADES , which last year toured with Pep on the way to Almanzor :)...
... The Canal Casquerazo and of the Males ...
... THE SAGRAO ...
... ALMANZOR ...
... took to the road in the day today ...
... Alternative Channel of the Feather in detail ...
... the impressive Hill of the garden a little closer ...
... and THE LADY LEAN GREDOS ...
... it's time to continue.
few meters further down, we make a long stop to put on our crampons and drink, the cold is great in the day today and down to the Laguna Grande without crampons would be foolhardy ...
... I take out a panoramic ...
... the Circo de Gredos ...
... someone looking for something to eat ...
... Last view from here.
is 11:30 hours, we put on our crampons immortalized between and see what the hell happened to my camera, the card has done something wrong (at home will recover most of the pictures) ... Luckily I have a spare ...
... losing height ...
... Source of Barrerones almost disappeared ...
... Circo de Gredos solitaire on a day like today ...
... following in the footsteps ...
... Hill of the garden a little closer ...
... the streams are frozen ...
... the Canal de la Pluma awaits ..
... while the Roof of the Central System is watching us ...
... Laguna Grande completely frozen ...
... we take the detour to the Five Lakes ...
... MOREZÓN behind us ...
... interesting discovery channels ...
... to cross over the drainage of the Laguna Grande.
After crossing the stone bridge, we make one last stop to get all the material and take something away from clothes ... From here climb in search of clear channel of the Feather, located a few meters above us ...
... finally ready ...
... here we go ...
... the slope is accentuated ...
... Mane closely follows me ...
... the blade has a slope considerable ...
... we leave behind the Laguna Grande ...
... Canal Road to Pen ...
... moderate tilt ...
... Well come on ...
... back to the shade.
finally entered the Canal de la Pen with an average gradient of around 45 degrees ... The snow is ideal for promotion as soon as we entertain in Photography, Hill of the Gardens we wait ...
... MOREZÓN ...
... looking for steeper areas ...
... to give more excitement ...
... Canal enjoying the Pen ...
... This variant is good looking ...
... why we are here, no ??...
... rest a bit ...
... enjoying views ...
... the slope increases ...
... this is taking environment ...
... The snow is perfect ...
... output is close ...
... and there is little ...
... Laguna Grande looks small from here.
I opted for the exit on the left, where the slope priori reaches 60 degrees ... Mane will for the right ...
... this is my choice ...
... Mane while maintaining a safe distance ...
... the channel goes "pina" ...
... whether the same ...
... out from the start ...
... Part of the Circo de Gredos ...
... Mane and leaves the channel ...
... breathtaking views ...
... the Morezón ...
... to El Casquerazo ...
... what lies ahead ...
... the background, The Barrerones ...
... The sun tries to hide ...
... relentlessly rising ...
... the slope increases again 45 ° ...
... The look lonely ...
... watching us closely ...
... Hill of the Gardens is getting closer ...
... how small we are !!!...
... in the middle of Gredos Cirque ...
... on the trail.
As I continued the ascent, Mane made a short stop to eat something before tackling the final climb ... I will go to test the waters and take a look ...
... in the "plateau" at the foot of Cerro de los Gardens ...
... just over 50 meters from the top ...
... North Cota visit later ...
... in an incomparable ...
... the slope is accentuated again ...
... Mane is coming ...
... but I've missed you eye on this channel ...
... the ridge is very close.
There are multiple tracks around Crest Hill of the Gardens which apparently have not reached the top, I sense that the highest point which is located a few meters above me ... ascend the final meters for which we have called "Canal East Hill of the Gardens" to the hanging of the crest, we'll see what I find there ...
... watching the play.
begin the ascent of the channel, with much more hard snow than I expected, lol ... tucked into the material, Mane says: "... nice, why we have brought the rope!"
Too late, no turning back:)
The slope is around 60 degrees and hardly get to nail the front ends of crampons ... at the start, the channel is around 65 degrees ... finally reached the crest of rocks, agreeing to a close and panoramic Horcada ...
... often seen ...
... I uploaded around ...
... the ridge to the hill did not seem "very complicated" ...
... hanging is narrow.
I'm exhausted but very happy in the middle of the narrow crest of the hill of the gardens ... facing North, the Top of the Hill of the Gardens is right behind me over my head to a mere 5 meters but from here I can not access it, I am located right on the gallows before the summit between the highest point and the North Antecima ...
... I need to rappel down from here is the channel that carries Mane rope, but ... where is it? At the moment I hear my name ... Mane is on the crest a few feet below my position ...
... camouflaged between the blocks, you see only his backpack.
I mentioned the possibility of down climbing the ridge to his position but he does not see clearly in front of him is a step that does not convince you ... the option of descending by the channel which does not attract me I've risen at all, are 60 º on average and at the entrance are 65 º ... at the end, Mane try to move up the channel and from my position here rappel ... This happens to me for not bringing me the rope ... :)
Antecima
North Close is a block covered with snow ...
... the "Canal East Hill of the Gardens."
While doing time, behold the breathtaking panorama that surrounds me, we reached the top of the hill of the gardens but this Antecima North, where there is barely room for one, I know victory ...
... ALMANZOR ...
... THE GALANA ...
... now in panoramic ...
... contrasts ...
... The Mira heads the view to the East ...
... the Canal This short but intense.
Antecima North Hill of the Gardens (2459 m).
Here comes the bearer of the rope ...
... contemplating the precious channel Scree ... La Galana
... up through the channel while scolds me ...
... very photogenic.
Mane I tell him to try out right with a variant less "Pina" that will leave the following Horcada and that I can downclimbing smoothly ... the fact is that where I find no room for both ...
... Mane hard at work ...
... to reach the peak again ...
... rappelling riding in a block with a sling ...
... two mountaineers who came from the shelter have reached the col ...
... in the middle of the ridge-climbing ...
... everything ready for the descent, rappelling 25 meters ...
... I come up there, Antecima goodbye to the North ...
... Mane rappel the first ...
... halfway ...
... one of the mountaineers investigates the rise but there are complicated ...
... the cord from which rappel ...
... I leave the ALMANZOR ...
... very near the end of abseiling ...
... North Cota visit below ...
... The Canal and the Hill of the Gardens from a more comfortable position.
recovered the rope smoothly and we headed in search of the North Cota Crest Hill of the Gardens ...
... down the first few meters ...
... there we go ...
... the steep hill of the gardens is not easy to conquer ...
... up to the existing hill on the ridge ...
... Well hidden in the Face of the Hill of the Gardens.
At 16:35 hours he reached the North Cota Crest Hill of the Gardens, where the views are breathtaking ...
... the North Antecima, so close to the top ...
... the Canal east to access the same ...
... part of the Summits of the Circo de Gredos ...
... the most famous lagoon de Gredos ...
... The Galana again ...
... Head in panoramic Nevada, closing the circus ...
... Hill of the Gardens attracts our attention.
While Mane reaches the highest point, I do not stop to see the Hill of the Gardens, from here you can see the softer side as the West but it is too late to try, we begin the descent As before, we expect a large Back in the dark until The Platform ... maybe next time ...
... posing on the highest point ...
... this incredible vantage point.
Top of the Hill of the Northern Gardens (2,439 m)
are 17:00 hours, no more pictures if you want to calm down the Channel of the Feather and reach the last light on the path of the Laguna Grande ...
... descending from the hill ...
... with Morezón front of us ...
... at all times ...
... illuminated by the last light of day ...
... rapid decline ...
... contemplating the sword of the Cerraíllos ...
... the sun says goodbye to us ...
... hiding behind the roof of Gredos.
Are
17:20 hours, we are just off, now is the entrance of the Canal Pen, we left on the climb to get a variant ...
... here we go ...
... without complications ...
... and at the height of Alternative (60 ° max) ...
... the end is near ...
... I anticipate in the fall ...
... last mile ...
... following milestones ...
... up to the Laguna Grande drain ...
... We said goodbye to the Hill of the Gardens ...
... leaving behind the Laguna Grande ...
... The Barrerones ahead ...
... last light on the Circo de Gredos ...
... The promotion to Barrerones ahead ...
... until the next visit.
entertain climb without reaching Barrerones, where we a brief stop to drink water and take out the front, are 19:15 hours, we can only descend to the platform accompanied by many stars ...
... just before the bridge over the River Pozas, we stopped to take off our crampons, the snow is hard, but our feet need a break ...
... After dodging the rink prior to the car park to reach the platform at 21:00, after 12:15 hours of activity ...
... starting point.
Tired but happy we mobilize on the way home, the temperature drops rapidly in the Gredos and still Platform have a long journey ahead ...
The video version in two parts, the Orchards Hill I. ..
Hill of the Gardens II ...
For other ascents in the Sierra de Gredos or the Central System, click on this link: INDEX SYSTEMS Ascension.
