Day 55 – at Grazalema

The El Pinsapar trail begins just a couple of kilometres from Grazalema by ascending through repopulated pine groves, planted to control the high erosion of the ground caused by the intensive rain that the area receives, it was still dry today though. The path reaches el Puerto de las Cumbres, now at 1100 metres, a natural gateway to the northern side of the massif, where the view is magnificent of the Serranía de Ronda behind, and a large area of the Reserve Area in front. There is a view also of El Torreón, the highest peak in the province of Cadiz, and some Spanish firs are an appetiser for the forest to come. The forest is the highlight of the trail, the light that perforates the canopy providing a very special atmosphere, set to a soundtrack of the movement of confident ibex, and its bird life.

Though the trail runs for 10 kilometres to the village of Benamahoma, but on advice from a local, I headed 6 or so kilometres, and then returned.

The weather is changing. Today there was a lot of cloud, and it was windy, though pretty much ideal conditions to hike in. I don’t expect to be able to do as much in the next few days, as it seems the long-awaited rain is coming, but what I have done in Grazalema has been memorable.