El Perro Negro

Mi pueblo

Spent a few hours today thinking about a tent for Patagonia. Don't need expedition tent as only out for 3 days max at a time. Given ferocity of weather in Patagonia it needs to be very strong to withstand the winds. It's a weight x comfort x performance equation. Eventually settled for the single skin Crux Raid X1. A little small for two but very strong, stable, tough & relatively easy to put up in blizzards. Plus, only 1.5kg (3.3lbs) to carry around.

Unusual view looking down on the village of Capileira in the Alpujarras from high up on the slopes of Las Alegas (2700m) in the Sierra Nevada.The morning sun has reached all parts of the village but the Barranco de Poqueira remains in shadow,

After a bit of a grey and dismal long weekend in the UK, today it was nice to head up above home on 4WD tracks and get the clearest view of the African continent we've had this year. Morocco did indeed seem very close, although in reality is some 220km away in a direct line across the Mediterranean.

View from the summit of las Alegas, 2700m looking south over Salobreña to Al Hoceima in Morocco

There are some amazing online & Management apps out there. I've tried most of them. As I get older & focus more on reducing pack weight, I realized that none of the existing solutions quite fit what I am looking for. So, 6 months ago I decided to create something for myself. Been using ever since.

It's for all. No a/c registration required as all data stored locally. It may work for you, it may not. It works for me.

https://hikeliteapp.com/

Just starting to excited about heading back to Patagonia. Only 3 weeks to go until we head out and get back to scenes such as this from 2014 on the western side of the Cerro Torre massif. Better start making a packing list pronto.

Sometimes the ways of the world get me down. Why oh why can't we just be nice to each other?

But all that negativity disperses when I do the morning dog walk. Life isn't so bad after all is it?

Have a great weekend everybody!

Fantastic half-day hike up the isolated peak of Gilillo in the stunning Parque Natural de la Sierra de Cazorla.

Begins with gentle ascent through beautiful forests before breaking out onto the open hillside. Trail leads up to the Puerto Gilillo pass and onto a summit that is far more dramatic than we expected.

The summit itself is sharp and rocky, and because the peak stands so alone, the 360-degree views of the endless sierras are absolutely breathtaking.

Hard photographing birds in flight isn't it? Especially for a landscape photographer who's subject is pretty much static. Thing is with birds, the little blighters just won't stay still, will they?

Here's 4 images of the Griffon Vulture from a photo shoot I did a few days ago at the amazing El Chorro cliffs in the Sierra de Cazorla a few days ago. Keep rate was probably 1/50 🤣

Not a menu for @khusky my vegetarian wife. Maybe she could try the Vegetarian Croissant tapa though which only includes a bit of tuna? Don't you just love rural Spain 🤣

What a superb Grand Final this is at it's finest

Been a bit out of my comfort zone today. Instead of hills and mountains I've had to do a cultural tour showing a lovely couple around my local home town of Lanjarón in the Alpujarras. So its the Arabic influence with "acequias", history and castles mixing with the Christian architecture, churches and traditions. Turns out, I live in a very varied and interesting place 🤣

Been playing with CursorAI today. Believe they call it . No doubt however that it's remarkably fast at turning ideas into websites.

Here's my new website announcing the arrival of NomadNet, a mesh for the Alpujarras, Spain.

Been a hobby for a while but basically I've got sick of talking to myself each day 🤣 .

The network has now a sound base and I've plans for further repeater expansion. Hopefully others might be interested too?

https://nomadmesh.org

2/ Casilla de Agua - Peñon de Granada - Rambla del Durcal Sierra Nevada

The Rambla del Durcal area is amazing with stunning scenery more akin to Utah or New Mexico than southern Spain. Some rough hiking to be found here, it's all steep and loose apart from the valley floor of the Rambla itself.

1/ Casilla de Agua - Peñon de Granada - Rambla del Durcal Sierra Nevada

Yesterday we explored the hills east of Durcal. A tough 800m of initial ascent made much easier by an unrelenting but well graded track that zig-zagged up the hill.

We made our way through the forested back country near the Peñon de Granada and then proceeded down dirt tracks to drop into Rambla del Durcal.

For some reason I've not heard of the material, Polycryo until a few weeks ago. Some good reviews though so I just bought a Gossamer Gear Polycryo groundsheet. Tough, lightweight and relatively cheap. What's not to like?

https://sectionhiker.com/gossamer-gear-polycryo-ground-cloths-review/

There's a village down there after all. Nice to have the first rains, since seemingly forever, today. Lanjarón, Alpujarras

Cats are funny things aren't they? This is Sweep who this morning decided to open an old wardrobe full of smelly hiking gear and aged boots and settle down for a morning nap. Gave me a right start when I opened the door 🤣

Repeater set up on roof. Contains a Heltec T114 low power consumption development board based on nRF52840 and SX1262 and supports and bluetooth 5.0. Has powerful long-distance capabilities.

Made weatherproof using an old water bottle. Attached using cable ties and a rusty pocket knife 🤣

Attached to a 4w solar panel with 2000 mAh battery charger (IP65)

1/ Over the years we must have had over a hundred days walking and scrambling in the Sierra de Huetor just north of Granada. Yesterday, though we filled in the final piece of our Sierra de Huetor jigsaw!