
Note – 2026-08-13 06:42
Bit of a disappointing trip. Nice ascent & quiet summit, picnic + wine, until 50+ others joined us with music, shouting etc. We headed off to an adjacent hill. Difficult to get shot during eclipse as...
Grumpy old mountain man living in Spain

Bit of a disappointing trip. Nice ascent & quiet summit, picnic + wine, until 50+ others joined us with music, shouting etc. We headed off to an adjacent hill. Difficult to get shot during eclipse as...

Exploring that potentially dangerous but gloriously confusing grey zone where scrambling and rock climbing overlap

Some snaps from this week's "Arista del Campanitas" scramble. Feeling inspired, I'm drafting a blog titled "Treading the Fine Line Between Scrambling and Rock Climbing" — exploring that gloriously con...
Shows an ascent of Veleta in Spain's Sierra Nevada mountains via the scrambling route "Arista de Campanitas"

What a day yesterday. Lasting memories of that one for sure. Las Campanitas ridge to Veleta. A complex, dramatic route done without fuss or drama. Here's one with Linda at the summit of Salón 3325m wi...
“What will this house be like in a hundred years Dad?” "It will be a ruin, I tell him, the roof burned off, the windows shattered, the stones scorched, blackened and split. The people of the town will...

It's #MountainMonday and a very hot humid afternoon in southern Spain, so I thought I'd drop this image. It's from a few years ago in the extreme cold and clear blue skies of the winter Picos de Europ...

High level hike to the lakes at Lagunillas de la Virgen and Misterioso yesterday. The latter is well named as cannot be seen from 30m away. Still some substantial snow banks that will probably remain...

The Barranco de la Luna. A short but very, very sweet half day hike in the Valle de Lecrin this morning. An early start rewards with the best light and colour. And ... we had it all to ourselves. Marv...
When mountain forecasts promise "light drizzle" but deliver thunderstorms & hail... & your gas stove dies mid-crisis? Our 3-day trek near Pic du Midi d'Ossau that turned into a comedy starring a brigh...
New post is up! The Nomads hit the Pyrenees for a week of classic day hikes around Panticosa. Alpine meadows full of orchids to a Black Woodpecker being dive-bombed by a Booted Eagle. We crossed into...

"Patatas a la Riojana" and a glass (hmmm...OK, bottle) of Rosado! We have moved into an alpine chalet for a couple of days rest and recuperation before we head up on another backpacking trip. For thos...

Early start to visit the Ibon de Piedrarafita today. A laborious forest trail suddenly opened up to alpine meadows, lake scenery with a backdrop of a huge cirque of magnificent peaks. We ate lunch by...

So we headed over the Col du Pourtalet into France and did a hike taking in the Refuge du Pombie. This day hike has inspired us come back next week and do a 3 day backpacking trek. Lots of lakes, stre...

Yes, I know its not but we passed this spectacular place today and just had to share. Maybe we should have ? 😀 The Cascada del Argualas at Baños de Panticosa

2/ Above the Embalse de Bachimaña Alto we met snowfields and rising before us was the chain of mountain peaks marking the border with France. Easiest crossing seems to be the Puerto de Marcadeau leadi...

1/ Some images from yesterdays hike up to the Embalse de Bachinaña Alto in the Pyrenees. Starts from Baños de Panticosa. This is an interesting and dramatic ascent to the lake alongside tumbling water...

Early morning view from our campsite alongside a small lake in the Respomuso area of the Central Pyrenees. The mountains shown form the border with France.

Arrived in the lovely town of Panticosa in the Pyrenees this morning. That's the town on the far side of this lake. Done some driving around this afternoon seeking out hike start points and searching...