UKC

I am hoping to do the traversia integral walk / trek in the sierra nevada in end of september (over all the 3000m tops).
Anyone got any useful info? particularly about what the refuggios are like ie sleeping bags needed, food provided, food purchasable etc.?
Also if anyone has done it whether recomend east-west of visa versa?

In reply to jameshall:
Check out www.spanishhighs.co.uk and e-mail Richard who runs that company. He guides that trip regularly and will give you any info you need. No need to book with him, he'll give you the advice anyway. Have a good trip !

In reply to jameshall:

I am pretty sure there is only one manned refugio. To do the full traverse you will need to bivvy/camp. There are some unmanned refugios, which have a reputation for being dirty and full of rubbish (although I haven't stayed in any of them) and some natural refugios (caves etc.). At siete lagunas there is a very nice bivvy spot, which can get very bussy.
There is a Cicerone walking guide that has details on these spots, but it's a bit dated now.
There are shops in Trevelez, which is a good staring point and than nothhing higher up, so you will have to carry food.

In reply to tim.clarke: thanks - you're not the sheffield tim clarke i've been on bike trip woth are you?

In reply to StefanB: thanks for info

In reply to jameshall:
Hi, no not me, do live near Sheffield but have not been on a bike lately!!

In reply to jameshall:

Me and the missus did the Trevelez to Granada section East-to-West. There's a cracking shelterstone-like rock at the lip of the ciruqe of 100 lakes for the first night. We then scrambled up a snowy couloir on the ENE face (Scottish II) which brings you right out on the summit. From there it's a few hours on the roof of Iberia to a spacious hut owned, I think, by Granada University MC which has bunks and a table situated halfway along the Caldera edge. It is a trivial hitch hike down to Granada from the ski resort on Veletta.

In reply to jameshall:
We did it east to west which I think is the norm and bived all the way. Have done quite a lot in the Sierra Nevada generally and know it well.

The Caldera refuge has been restored and is in good nick. It was clean last autumn. However when we last planned to stay there, we got settled in, climbed Mulhacen and returned to find a school group had arrived for the night. (We packed up and bivved elsewhere).

The Poqueria refuge is a top class hut with bar and restraunt service. It is a bit off route and we didn't use it on the traverse.

The Valetta hut is as the Caldera refuge in terms of being restored and o.k. However as it is nearer the roadhead / ski resort, it can be busy or full.

The section between the Valetta Hut and Eloretta is quite scrambly with interesting route finding.

The Eloretta hut is a stinking place.

The Cabio hut was clean at Easter.

Late September can be either hot or extremely cold. We had an extremely cold day on Cabio in September two years ago. When we did the traverse in July two years ago, one of our bivvi's was on an exposed col and there was frost on us in the morning!

If you want to chat about it, e-mail me.

good luck.

In reply to jameshall:

Hi i'm heading that way mid june with a view to following the ridge from Jerez to llanjaron. Not sure what to expect but will let you know on return

In reply to geoff oldrid: thanks. will be interested to hear how you get on.