Snowshoeing Holidays and Day Hikes in Spain’s Sierra Nevada Mountains

Snowshoeing Holidays and Day Hikes in Spain’s Sierra Nevada Mountains

Although this is Southern Spain and close to the Mediterranean and Africa, The Sierra Nevada boasts Europe’s most southerly ski resort and mainland Spain’s highest mountain, Mulhacen 3482m above sea level. As an indication, the ski season usually starts here at the end of November and finishes in May with a celebration of skiing in the morning and swimming in the sea in the afternoon! However there are sometimes during the season when the snow starts to get a bit thin though we can usually find somewhere to snowshoe.

In the forest above Capileira

The joy of exploring the Sierra Nevada on snowshoes is that the area is mainly undeveloped, so unlike alpine ski resorts you can get a real feel of wilderness away from crowds, ski lifts and prepared snow slopes. Our snowshoeing days start from one of the pretty high villages (usually with coffee) before heading up dirt track roads as high as possible into the snow. Occasionally we have to walk a bit before putting on snowshoes but often we can snowshoe from the car.

Our routes usually start up through the forests before gaining the open slopes above the tree line. On the majority of days we enjoy blue skies and sunshine which is a distinct advantage over the traditional alpine resorts, though if the weather is poor we can always walk the spectacular paths in the Alpujarra (the lower southern slopes of the Sierra Nevada).

On our snowshoeing holidays we like to spend a night up at the Poqueira Refuge (2500m) which although bunk accommodation has a good dining room, bar and made all the better by the log fire.

Views of Mulhacen on the way to The Poqueira Refuge

Perfect snow and blue sky!

Snowshoeing is a little more strenuous than normal walking, but we are often walking over terrain where it would be impossible to walk without either snow shoes or touring skis. That said the normal snowshoeing day is around 10am until 4pm though shorter if conditions dictate.

In short, snowshoeing is good fun; sociable and takes you to places not normally visited in the winter months. The owners of Mountain House Holidays, Mike and Jane are all International Mountain Leaders, the qualification recognized in Spain (and internationally) for being a snowshoeing Guide.

In addition to their guided snowshoeing holiday, Mountain House Holidays are offering guided snowshoe hikes in the Sierra Nevada from 

50 Euro’s per person including the hire of snowshoes.

Finca Montaña "The Good Life"

Autumn’s Harvest is gathered at Finca Montaña.

Collecting the almonds

The walnuts, chestnuts and almonds are all now gathered.  It has been a poor year for Almonds in the Alpujarra and Sierra Nevada due to a combination of frosts getting at the blossom and high winds as the nuts were setting.  The grape harvest was poor too.  Probably due a lot of mists at our height (1300m) throughout the summer.  Most peoples grapes around here seemed to suffer the same mildew fate.

We have chestnuts in abundance and have been experimenting with chestnut recipes, though so far the best use for them has either been Chestnuts roasted on the fire or various forms of chestnut stuffing. Delicious!

This year we had to leave Spain in mid-October so didn’t manage to gather all of the grapes in.  As a result we have only been able to make 25 litres of wine this year. Although with wine so cheap in Spain I sometimes wonder if it’s worth the effort of making our own wine…..  Of course it is!  It will be bottled in December and will take pride of place at the dinner table for special events.

The Grape Harvest!

We had bought a new grape press this year to replace our traditional method of treading the grapes (in the washing up bowl).  It’s such good fun harvesting your own grapes and making your own wine.  With a predicted world shortage of wine looming in the next few years I’m starting to plan creating our own vineyard and will be planting next spring.  So if you fancy a working holiday contributing to save the world from a wine shortage combined with some fine walking, book your stay at Finca Montaña.

We’re currently enjoying a few weeks back in the U.K. but come the start of December we’ll be back to start the job of pruning our fruit trees, and turning the land over with our cultivator.

So the big plan for next year is to develop the wine producing alongside taking in guests and leading guided walks.  If you fancy staying at Finca Montaña visit our website.

December, walking in a T shirt!

Finca Montaña is a great, reasonably priced, base for walkers to enjoy the spectacular hill and mountain walking that the Alpujarra and Sierra Nevada have to offer. Walking is possible throughout the year in The Alpujarra though it’s a good idea to miss the heat of August. Even in January and February it is often possible to walk wearing a T shirt. Walking in the High Sierra Nevada is cooler! The best months are June, July, September and October though if you fancy some snowshoeing (possibly combined with some warmer walking in the Alpujarra), February is a good time to visit.

Mike and Jane the owners of Finca Montaña are both qualified International Mountain Leaders with an extensive knowledge of walking in The Alpujarra and Sierra Nevada.