The start of it

For a long time, whilst out walking in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, we have come across footpath signs to Sulayr but we were never able to connect the signs to any known path, they always seemed to point to somewhere high in the Sierra Nevada. Then in August 2009 whilst on the Mulhacen mountain bus Paco, the guide, explained that it was a 300 km circular path running around the Sierra Nevada National park.
Slowly my interest in this walk was aroused, but it always looked like it would be a ambition never undertaken. The path runs around the Sierras at about 2000 meters, and the thought of taking our poor little Renault Kangoo up all those access tracks to the start of a new section of the walk filled me with dread, it was our only car.
In 2011 the chance came to buy another car, and the thought of walking the Sulayr path gained momentum. What was needed were some good buddies to share the experience. My wife has always classed the “The A Team” of the Lecrin Valley Limpers as something out of “The Last of the Summer Wine”. A group of old men who go out in to the mountains for the day and come home raggy arsed, tired and dirty. After careful consultation with fellow team members who jumped at the chance of expeditions into the high Sierras I decided to buy a small 4X4.
This is the story as it unfolds.

Saturday, February 26, 2011

February 25th 2011 Soportújar to Puente Palo


Balsa del Almiar


When we announced to the rest of the Lecrin Valley Limpers our plan to form a boys only subgroup to do the Sulayr path we were accused of being sexist because we had not included any girls. Always one to be politically correct we decided that if we had a spare seat, a girl could come along as long as she didn't whinge and talk about cushions, so after taking José last week, this week it was Rene’s turn to play out with the boys.
For our second outing on our big walk it was decided to continue the progress we had made ( or lack of it) from Puente Palo the recreation area above Cáñar. There are no guide lines laid down as to how this walk should be done. So with no higher authority to consult but our selves we will do as we want to do it. We can walk in either direction, or both, and we can combine it with a circular walk. We can also pick and choose which sections to do and when.
Our chosen route took us close by the Buddhist center of O Sel Ling, or place of the clear light, above Soportújar. As we had drive by it to the start of our walk we decided to stop and have a look. Even in the peace and quiet of the mountains, this place appeared to have an extra serenity and we all enjoyed our little diversion.
Continuing our drive up past the Buddhist center we arrived at the start of our walk, and the sign post marking the distance as 6.3 km, after last week this was going to be a challenge.
For the first couple of kms the path follows a drivable track before picking up an acequias (irrigation canal) as it sneaks across the hillside. This was a wonderful 3km long path that winds its way in and out of an old Oak forest. Eventually arriving again at the Puente Palo picnic site, this time with no snow on the ground, we stopped for lunch.
On this week's walk we had the opportunity to turn the walk into a circular one and so we followed the forest road as it headed back towards the Buddhist center. In an effort not to lose too much height I thought we could navigate a short section across the hillside as we could see the road we wanted. Unfortunately just before the road Kees twisted his ankle and we had to leave him by the side of the road. We did offer to shoot him before the wolves got to him but he decided to take his chance. Feeling sorry for him we picked him up half an hour later in the car.
We had a great day out, with glorious sunshine, 
Distance walked on route today 6.3 km
Total distance walked today 16 km
Height climbed today 
Total distance on Sulayr 8.00 km
Distance left to do 292 km
Total height climbed
Total distance walked 

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