Last Seasons Blog

Last Seasons Blog is still available to view via this link.
I do ask for a €2 donation from each walker, but only once per week. Half goes to S.O.S Animals, Spain and the other half going to ARCH Horse charity, AID Animal Charity and CUDECA.

Thursday, 8 September 2016

A hike past ‘The Chains’ in the Sierra de Mijas.

The plan today was to hike to the peak that overlooks Alhaurin el Grande and because of its position gives the best views over the town and both ways along the Guadalhorce valley. At this time of the year the temperatures should have peaked a few weeks back but they are still very high for September, consequently there were only four brave (or mad) souls for the hike.

To make the route circular it was suggested that we take the path past ‘the Chains’, a route that we had to abandon a few weeks back, and this was agreed. We set off on a route that we have now done many times and headed for the Fuente de Acebuche, it was then along a path that must have had a use in the past, as substantial work had been undertaken to build retaining stone walls to give what would have been a reasonably well surfaced track. Unfortunately following many years of neglect the surface is now rocky and rough. Whilst the first part of the route is under the canopy of the pines we left that and are exposed to the full blazing sun. The path crosses some scree’s where loose rock has fallen over the path, but the many walkers’ boots over the years have levelled a narrow path across these screes. The views from these paths are amazing and today were even more dramatic as there was a mist across the valley below, with higher peaks poking above it.

We now reach ‘the  Chains’ and the path has been completely obliterated after a major rock fall many years past, and some kind rock climbers have fixed chains into the rocks so that you are able to have something to cling to as you negotiate this perilous section.  Once past this section the path doesn’t get much better for quite a way and it has now become more of a rock climb than a hike. All this effort however is rewarded by the spectacular views and the fact that there was mist in the valley seemed to add to the mystique and magnificence of them. Once past this difficult stretch it was back onto a path, albeit of sand and loose rocks but no more clambering, and up to the Puente de Encima on the main fire track.

It was at this point that we decided to abandon our trek to the peak that was originally planned, as we would be in full sun and the temperature was now in the 30’s or to put it another was, well over 100f. It will be there to do another day when the weather is a little cooler.

Our route back was down the trail that we had taken a couple of weeks back when we trekked to La Bola and back down to the Casa Forestal. Paula has been doing her 22 press ups for the past 5 days and today she did them on the wall of the Terrace around the casa with the fabulous view of Malaga Bay as a backdrop. Unfortunately the video didn’t come out, and she has posted on Facebook the following, along with a video of her doing another 22 on the terrace of her Casa.

Day 5 of the 22 day push-up challenge for bringing awareness to PTSD.
My nomination today is: 
Alan Nichols , your turn Alan...show them what OAPs can do  😂 😂.
My aim is to complete 22 push-ups a day for 22 days to raise awareness for combat veterans. There are 22 vets a day that are committing suicide, and this is a small way to raise awareness for that issue.
The rules are simple:
* Once you are nominated your 22 days start the following day.
* Every day you record yourself doing 22 push-ups. Try your best to reach 22. If that means doing assisted (from your knees) push-ups or that you have to stop and take a break that's fine but try to get them all done in one video.
* Every day you must nominate a different person. Try to choose people you think will want to do this and/or have the ability to do it.
* And finally, have fun with this. This is a simple and fun way to get the word out about a matter that more people need to be aware about. These brave men and women put their lives on the line to protect our freedoms and its sad that so many veterans feel that suicide is the only way.


From here it was a simple matter of taking the usual track back to the start.

Using my classification system to grade the walks, today was the first 5 I have tackled!


For all the photos from this Hike, click on this link


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