Integral Sierra Nevada/España · Andalucia

Resumen del itinerario

There are routes you do for sport. Others for the landscape. And then there are those traverses that become an intimate conversation with the mountain, a kind of high-altitude pilgrimage where each summit stops being a simple point on the map to become an unforgettable memory. This adventure began at Picón de Jérez and ended at El Caballo, linking an endless collection of three-thousand-meter peaks through the mineral spine of the Sierra Nevada. A hard, demanding, and absolutely magical traverse, where the horizon seemed never to end. The start: Picón de Jérez, the eastern gate The beginning at Picón de Jérez (3,088 m) has something special. Perhaps it's because it doesn't usually occupy the most media-heavy covers of the Sierra Nevada or because from there one feels they are entering a wilder and more silent area of the massif. The sunrise painted the slopes orange as the first steps set the tone for what was to come: a long, physical, and emotional day. From Picón de Jérez, the gaze is already lost towards an endless succession of summits. And when you see them all lined up, you perfectly understand the magnitude of the traverse. Chaining three-thousand-meter peaks The progression was constant, almost hypnotic. Step by step, summit by summit, I checked off names I had seen for years in maps and mountaineers' stories: Picón de Jérez — 3,088 m Puntal de Juntillas — 3,143 m Puntal de Covatillas — 3.115 m Puntal de los Cuartos — 3.154 m Collado del Cuervo — 3.101 m Pico de la Justicia — 3.141 m Pico del Cuervo — 3.147 m Puntal de Vacares — 3.144 m Puntal de las Calderetas — 3.094 m Puntal del Goterón — 3.071 m Alcazaba — 3.369 m Mulhacén — 3.479 m Puntal de Laguna Larga — 3.153 m Cerro Boto — 3.182 m Pico de Loma Pelada — 3.183 m Collado del Lobo — 3.119 m Veleta — 3.396 m Collado del Veleta — 3.201 m Caballo — 3.011 m What is fascinating about the Sierra Nevada is that each peak has its own personality. Some are smooth and rounded; others appear as true fortresses of rock and wind. Vacares and the feeling of absolute isolation Reaching the Puntal de Vacares area, the mountain changes character. The terrain becomes rougher, more remote. Silence is total. Just wind, rock, and kilometers of altitude. From there, the view towards the Alcazaba is impressive. It seems close, but the mountain always plays with distances. Each pass steals energy and each climb forces you to find a steady rhythm. It was one of those moments where the traverse stops being measured in elevation gain and starts being measured in the head. Alcazaba: a serious mountain Arriving at Alcazaba (3,369 m) marks a before and after. It is one of the most alpine and aesthetic mountains in the Sierra Nevada. Its faces drop steeply towards the glacial lagoons and the feeling of height multiplies. There the landscape acquires a huge dimension. The Mediterranean seems to peek in the distance and the lines of summits are lost towards the west. The Alcazaba gives nothing away. You have to earn it. Mulhacén: the roof of the Peninsula And then he appears. Mulhacén (3,479 m). The giant. The roof of the Iberian Peninsula. Arriving after so many accumulated hours has something difficult to explain. It's not just the altitude; it's everything you carry behind you. The legs are heavy, the body goes on autopilot, but the emotion compensates for any wear and tear. The summit of Mulhacén always has a symbolic component. You know you are at the highest point of the peninsula and that one of the great mountain ranges of southern Europe stretches around you. The wind up there blew cold, but the views were infinite. The realm of the great horizons After Mulhacén the traverse does not end. Sierra Nevada still holds kilometers of ridge and a rosary of three-thousand-meter peaks that continue to test the legs. Puntal de Laguna Larga, Cerro Boto, and Loma Pelada form a spectacular succession of high ridges where the dominant sensation is immensity. You walk surrounded by sky. Further on, the Collado del Lobo announces the proximity of the Veleta, perhaps the most recognizable mountain in all of the Sierra Nevada. Veleta: rock, wind, and height Veleta (3,396 m) always impresses. Its abrupt silhouette, the ledges, and the high mountain atmosphere give it a very different character from Mulhacén. Despite its popularity, arriving there after such a long traverse completely changes the experience. It's not just climbing the Veleta; it's conquering it after having crossed half of the Sierra Nevada. From the summit, looking back and mentally reviewing all the mountains overcome produces a strange mix of fatigue and happiness. The last giant: the Caballo Many would think that the Veleta is the logical end. But there was still the Caballo (3,011 m). And precisely therein lies part of the greatness of this traverse: when you think you're finished, the mountain still demands you to keep going. The final stretch towards the Caballo has something deeply aesthetic. The lights change, the slopes become smoother, and the landscape transmits a sense of farewell. Reaching the last peak I felt a mix of absolute exhaustion and satisfaction difficult to match. Behind were dozens of kilometers, thousands of meters of elevation gain, and an unforgettable collection of three-thousand-meter peaks. Much more than a list of summits On paper, this traverse can be summarized in numbers: 19 linked summits A long succession of three-thousand-meter peaks The roof of the Peninsula included in the route Kilometers of ridge above 3,000 meters But the reality goes much further. Because what remains are not just the heights reached. It's the cold dawns, the sound of boots on stone, the wind hitting the ridges, and that feeling of smallness that only appears in the big mountains. Sierra Nevada has something unique. A mix of high mountain, Mediterranean light, and amplitude that turns each traverse into a huge experience. And when you finish a route like this, you understand that you haven't just crossed a mountain range. You've crossed a small world of rock, sky, and silence. Tips for facing such a traverse If you're thinking of doing a similar route, there are several fundamental aspects: 1. Plan your water very well In many high sections, springs are scarce or seasonal. Depending on the time of year, this can become the main logistical problem. 2. Respect the altitude Spending so many hours above 3,000 meters wears you out much more than it seems. Maintaining a constant rhythm is key. 3. Always check the weather Sierra Nevada can change radically in a few hours. Wind and thunderstorms are especially dangerous on the ridges. 4. Don't underestimate distances Even if it looks like a simple succession of slopes on the map, the accumulation of kilometers and elevation gain ends up taking its toll. 5. Enjoy the way Beyond the sporting challenge, this traverse is an opportunity to get to know one of the most spectacular high mountain areas in Spain.