The national park bus dropped us off, it was nice to feel the cooler mountain air. The clouds enveloped us on and off. A big boom of thunder decided where we would spend the night. Only a drop or two of rain fell on us, we were lucky the storm stayed to the north of us. The wind picked up, we hunkered down in our sleeping bags and awoke in the early hours to a brilliant starry sky until the full moon arrived. An early start was needed because we couldn't get to our planned bivvy site due to the storm. The next day was cloudless and perfect walking conditions. We had a brilliant two days.
It was quite humid up there which gave us some great entertainment from the clouds rolling in and out.
Veleta in the background came into view through a window in the clouds.
Mulhacen early the next morning.
Enjoying sunrise looking towards Laguna de la Mosca and Alcazaba.
We enjoyed a full moon, there was little need for head torches.
That patch of snow was solid ice, that will no doubt stay there all year.
Heading down into Siete Lagunas. There was cloud on the Mediterranean sea over Almeria way.
And still down we go.
Taking a break having steeply climbed back out from Siete Lagunas. We came from somewhere over Alistairs shoulder.
Waiting for our pick up and thankful that we able to catch the National Park bus rather than walk the long hot road back to the cars.
Below are some of the flora and fauna we saw during the trip.
A Campanula flower standing tall.
Timarcha a type of leaf beetle. There are 5 that live in the Sierra Nevada and only 3 that live above 2000m. This was one was tootling along at 3100m!
A beautiful curious Ibex. Actually I think she was wanting food!
The ever present Alpine Accentor with it's young.
Our camp was visited by this beautiful small fox. She was even more curious.
She is so different to the skinny bigger foxes we get down here. Her coat was beautiful. She didn't give us any problems. She popped her head under Alistair's tarpaulin to say hi during the night but went on her way afterwards.
I was very happy to come across this flower, Gentiana boryi. I'm pretty sure I've seen it before but didn't realise it was from the Gentian family. It's classified as vulnerable.
Plantago nivalis (known locally as the snow star) It is endemic to these mountains and a symbol of the Sierra Nevada. It has the legend of being the flower of eternal love!
Baetica ustulata Endemic to the Sierra Nevada
Eumigus rubioi is an endemic wingless grasshopper with her boyfriend, yep he's the one on her back!