"This climb was a logistical nightmare, but at the end turned out that the Spanish authorities are more flexible if they see that you know what you are doing. I needed 2 permits one to hike the trail to the top of the cable cart area, and another one which is really hard to get, is to climb the last half a mile from there to the top. All the permits are for certain hours, so you have to plan accordingly, which makes logistics painful. On top of that, they ask you to have certain gear or otherwise, they don’t let you hike. I was gonna try to run it, but with all that gear, I decided just to hike. The terrain is a mix between Haleakala and Mauna Kea with a rocky climb to the top. One more stratovolcano off the list😜" — nandorszotak • Sep 2, 2025

"I hiked with my son through the peaks of the Sierra Nevada with the intention of bivouacking and spending the night on the highest mountain in the Iberian Peninsula. These altitudes are a fairly inhospitable territory, with only a few snowfields, mountain goats, and a sun that burns your skin. We carried food and water for two days in our backpacks, but this time we hadn't acclimatized, and this took its toll, especially on Mulhacen, where we had to stop for air every few steps. We took a shortcut through Paso de Los Guías, which is equipped with chains, but in my opinion, I wouldn't do it again without a harness and safety rope, because one mistake and you could fall into the void. At the summit of Mulhacén, we found a shelter made of rocks and lit a fire with some pieces of wood to help keep us warm. On the morning of August 12, after a freezing night in which we saw several shooting stars, I was able to photograph the sunrise from the summit, but it wasn't as impressive as I had hoped." — franciscobirruezo • Aug 11, 2025

"When the paradox occurs that the cold freezes your face and the sun burns your nose, when your body can't take it anymore and your lungs need more oxygen but your mind decides to continue ascending the mountain. When every small step seems like a great advance towards the summit and you also ask Heaven to help you, all those sensations occurred today with my son and other climbing companions helped by a high mountain guide. The temperature of about 14 degrees Fahrenheit and the large amount of snow accumulated thanks to the latest storms made our progress difficult during the route from Hoya de La Mora with the help of crampons and ice axe. The views from the top were worth all the effort, but during the descent a dense fog that appeared in less than ten minutes once again complicated today's beautiful adventure." — franciscobirruezo • Feb 2, 2025

"We are heading to our next objectives in Sierra Nevada, the altitude is not a problem for us after acclimatizing in Pradollano, but our nose is starting to look like a water tap. We see quite a few mountain goats and melting lakes. The flowering in these peaks is incredible and is concentrated in only a couple of months; numerous species always attached to the ground are exclusive to this place. We spent the night in the La Caldera shelter with a blizzard that seems to want to knock down the construction. The morning is clear and cold and the climb to the roof of the Iberian Peninsula is tough, especially in the final part with slopes of 75 percent and lack of air. The views are worth the effort." — franciscobirruezo • Jun 29, 2024

"My son and I return to Sierra Nevada almost a year later to enjoy this national park. The late spring snowfalls have made snowfall more abundant than last year, temperatures are also lower and meltwater is more abundant. The day is cloudy and above seven thousand feet fog appears, complicating our ascent in the direction of Pico Veleta and forcing us to consult the GPS. In fact, at the summit visibility is poor and the wind hits us hard. In La Carihuela a fox suspiciously approaches us looking for food since it is almost 10,000 feet high." — franciscobirruezo • Jun 28, 2024