THE take advantage of the February 8 the last snow on Teide to try to climb to its summit. Used to take only this time with me Javi, Chicharrero-blooded, which in its 37 years, has not been in the snowy summit of Teide.
not arrive too soon to "park" White Mountain, but despite this we can park in one of the ten or twelve sites out there for it. It is eight o'clock in the morning and makes a "chilly" very nice, so we get to kick to not stay frozen. The parking area is at 2,350 meters. altitude, so we are ahead 1,368 meters to the summit of Teide.
As we heartily to catch snow, as we see the first shovel out of the way to climb it. Almost above it shows two mountaineers early birds that are ahead of us.
Snow this morning is very hard, but we decided to get the only pair of crampons that we carry.
Javi boots sticking up from the blade. What we still do not know what will happen to the "blissful" boots.
Al
Altavista refuge, which is located at 3,270 meters. altitude, we reached in two hours. Let a rate very good, we saved 1,000 meters very quickly, although once they start to hit the sun, the snow is softer and more difficult to move forward.
Paradita 20 minutes in the shelter to eat and hydrate and quickly up. From here you can see that the reforms were left shelter like a charming little hotel.
We came to the area Rambleta and from here we see the cone of Teide. You do not have as much snow as expected but the good news is you do not see a soul, including the Park that will not let you go if you do not take the license (which of course we do not carry, because we have forgotten at home, lol)
pull up and while waiting in the middle of the cone to Harvey, who has had problems with the soles of his boots and had to stand alone crampons that we have, do some pictures of the fabulous views we have on a day so clear.
This is Guajara high, with 2,718 meters.
The typical sea of \u200b\u200bclouds over the north of the island Although often seen, I never tire of contemplating.
reaching top Javi. We barely noticed the effects of altitude, despite climb a considerable speed. In just over four hours we've planted at the peak of Teide.
Right now I'm in the highest place you can be in Spain. Teetering at 3,718 meters, on top of Echeiyde. So as he was known by the aboriginal Guanches this volcano that was sacred to them and meant hell. Within the same living Guayota, the demon of evil. Guayota Magec kidnapped, he was the god of light and the sun, inside the crater. Then there appeared Achamán, who was the supreme god of the Guanches, who brushed to Guayota, saved Magec from the bowels of Echeyde and plug the crater. All of this legend.
Guajara
Another view, this time from the peak of Teide. The sea of \u200b\u200bclouds: awesome. El Teide is the third largest volcano on Earth from his base, after Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea, both on the island of Hawaii. Damn, what one learns in the wikipedia!!
We are completely alone on the summit of Teide, so take the opportunity to go around the crater of the same and to appear at one of the most stunning landscapes on the island: the Pico Viejo or Mountain Chahorra.
Chahorra Mountain has an altitude of 3,135 meters and a crater with a diameter of 800 meters. It last erupted in 1798 and spent three months spewing lava. The island which is visible in the background of the photo is La Gomera, with its upper cloud deck.
As long as I have before this picture, I swelled up to take pictures. For me it is one of the most amazing places on the island and we spent half an hour contemplating.
addition of contemplation, Javi, as a good native, takes the time to invoke Magec, Sun God (And it seems to pay attention, because to be at 3,700 meters makes a very pleasant warmth).
eggs was Bajada del Teide. The snow has been too soft and the absence of a clear track the descent is very heavy.
With every step, "we put the bucket" to the knee, so try to get off doing "culing" but with the snow as Pope we sink and we just slid.
This is one of the largest eggs of Teide. Its scientific name is "Balls of accretion." Are formed as snow balls when they roll onto a slope. And solidified lava fragments rolling down the steep slope and were impregnated the volcanic lava wash.
We arrived at White Mountain park after seven hours of kicking and when you remove the crampons Javi see the state that have become his boots. Thank goodness that we had some crampons that did not lose the sole, but had come with his feet warm.
Last climb to Teide with snow this year. The time we've done has been very good and we could enjoy the spectacular views from its summit are. The next year, massssssssssssss.
