Too much snow on the Sierra de Gredos, Spain

Challenging Conditions

Snow on the Sierra de Gredos in Spain creates a stunning yet formidable environment.

The wind blew fiercely, amplifying the wind chill and the dense fog limited visibility to just 50 meters.

Standing near the summit of Almanzor, the most challenging part of the climb still awaited us.

Unfortunately, the team wasn’t prepared for such harsh conditions, and pressing on seemed pointless.

Despite everyone’s eagerness to reach the top, the decision was clear: “THAT IS IT, GUYS… WE HAVE TO RETURN.”

It was tough to halt the adventure, especially knowing how far everyone had traveled, but it was the right choice.

The Previous Day

The day before wasn’t exactly sunny either.

The fog lingered, providing a suitable backdrop for a snowy mountain ascent introduction.

I explained all the necessary techniques, making it a productive day. We spent the night at Refugio Elola, the local mountain hut.

I remember the hearty dinner, a Spanish twist on goulash, which was the perfect end to our day.

An Early Start

We hoped for better weather on the climbing day, but nature had other plans.

That night, the weather turned for the worse.

I slept fitfully, as is common in mountain huts, where one can never fully gauge the outside conditions.

We set out at 5 am, just before sunrise, to take advantage of the hard snow.

By 8 am, the weather had become challenging.

We were about to face the mountain’s north side, known for its severe winds.

A Difficult Decision

Half an hour later, I had the team roped to a rock, ready for the final ascent.

But I quickly realized continuing was too dangerous. The snow on the Sierra Gredos was relentless.

The mountain remains, waiting for our next attempt.

For now, enjoy this photo of Gredos in better weather and understand the beauty and challenge of snow on the Sierra Gredos.

We’ll return for another try.

Join me

Interested in this journey or another from my offerings?

Feel free to contact me through my travel agency, Iberactive.

Stay safe, enjoy yourself, and respect the natural world.

David Monteiro