Hiking Solo for 3 Days in Sierra Nevada Spain (Mulhacen & Alcazaba)

In mid-October 2020, I went hiking for three days in the Sierra Nevada mountain range, in southern Spain. The total hike wasn't too long, only 40.8 kilometers, but it was in the mid-altitude mountains, and the total ascent was about 3150 meters. It went up to the highest peak in mainland Spain - Mulhacen (3479m) and it also crossed Alcazaba, which is also one of the highest peaks in Spain (3371m). This hike wasn't too difficult, but I wouldn't recommend doing it in the rainy/snow season because the section "Vasar del Mulhacén" can be pretty dangerous when there's potential for landslides or when there's too much ice and snow.
I followed the following trail on Wikiloc (www.wikiloc.com/hiking-trails/trevelez-calderetas-goteron-alcazaba-siete-lagunas-vasar-del-mulhacen-mulhacen-7519435) It's in Spanish, but you can use a translator for understanding everything. I downloaded the GPS file from Wikiloc (Wikiloc premium needed) and uploaded it to Gaia GPS, which is a free Android GPS app with better offline maps. There's not much internet in the Spanish Sierra Nevada mountains, so keep that in mind.
You can camp anywhere above 1600 meters, but you have to set up the tent 1 hour before sunset and dismantle it no later than 1 hour after sunrise. You also have to notify the national park of your intention of staying, but honestly, I don't think they care too much. More information about wild camping in the Sierra Nevada mountains over here: treksierranevada.com/camping
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[@OscarHikes]

After filming this video I learned that you shouldn't shoot with lowest possible Aparture outdoors... That's why all of the shots are blurry in distance. :D Also, my camera allows to shoot in 4k, but my PC wouldn't handle the editing, so for now you guys will have to deal with pretty mediocre quality videos.

[@route996]

That’s exactly what I was doing too. Ha! Have you tried a different aparture setting that works better? Regardless of that, great video and thanks for sharing.

[@OscarHikes]

@@route996 Yeah. I did a test last week, where I took identical photos only with different aparture, and I found out that on my Canon M50 with the 15-45mm kit lense, on the widest setting (15mm) I get the sharpest images on F11. Blurriest are on F3.5 (which I used in this video). Increasing the Aparture improves the sharpness on objects in distance, but only up to F11. Afer that, it starts declining. Generally, I found anything between F8-F11 produces the best results. ;) That said, I'll still use small aparture on some shots, where I want the distance to be blurry. Other than that, I shoot in 1080P 25FPS, my shutter speed it set to 50, and ISO at 100. If it's too bright, Ill put on a variable ND filter on my lense. I want to shoot in 4k, but my pc can't handle the editing. :D Still learning about all this, but I want to eventually achieve cinematic-like quality, haha. I'm thinking about buying a wider lense, because the 15-45mm kit lense seems to be too narrow, and it doesn't capture enough of the scenery.

[@Michal-vz7ms]

Great camera working, you are a really good storyteller - though with no words. Happy to discover your channel.

[@alexpervanoglu7420]

I live in the Sierra Navada mountains. Glad you enjoyed it. Doing route again this July, this time with my dog.

[@Tiger-789]

Omg! this is exciting because I live near that mountain :D I even use the same backpack lol Not many hikers on yt are in Europe, let alone in the same country as I am.. AND SPEAK ENGLISH. You have no idea how excited I am to find your channel. Absolutely beautiful video btw! It is a bummer that you shot in 4K but you could not edit it, but to be honest I don't think many people's monitors can handle 4K in the first place, don't worry too much about it.

[@OscarHikes]

Unfortunately, I moved back to Latvia last month, haha. But I'll come back to Spain this summer to do the GR11 across the Pyranees. (800km in total.)

[@MotoTouringWorldWide]

Impressive video!! Loved it ❤️, just a nice relaxing video and no talking. 🤙🏍️

[@SanaurRehmanShahmir]

It is my great pleasure to be here, as it is the best place for me because I am a solo mountain 🏔️ hiker from Chitral Pakistan.

[@adriankelly_edinburgh]

Thanks - I'm heading to this exact area in a couple of weeks with some friends so this has given me some good information about the type of terrain we'll be covering. We'll also be starting in Travelez but we'll be finishing in Lanjaron.

[@alexpervanoglu7420]

Hope you enjoyed it, all the best from a Lajaron resident.

[@hikinghighandlow5661]

Great footage from stunning scenery. Thanks for sharing :)

[@Rayvi]

Climbed mulhacen this january crazy adventure!!

[@brunojanik]

Great job 🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦

[@TheMariodeblas]

Como disfrutad del sur de España! 👏🇪🇸

[@mysterious.hiker.x]

You keep it up with videos like these and you really will be a Hiking KZbin Star. When do you have the next one planned for?

[@OscarHikes]

Well, because of Covid, probably not too soon. Spain is slowly closing down, and a few regions have already closed borders. I want to go to the Pyrenees in northern Spain, do the Tour du mt. Blanc in the Alps, hike Atlas mountains in Morocco, do long-distance hiking for several weeks, such as the GR11 in Spain or GR20 in Corsica, and go to Patagonia in Argentina/Chile. Anyway, that'll happen only when things calm down. For now, I'll have to stick with local local trips, which would be something very similar to this one. I'll film a new video probably in the next few weeks.

[@mysterious.hiker.x]

@@OscarHikes that makes sense. Covid is kinda ruining everyone's hiking plans but its just one of those times we have to come together as a community to do our part to get past it. Really looking forward to the lockdowns end for you to be able to get back out there.

[@benson5468]

Just jealous thanks for posting

[@89scouser]

Watching for the 3rd time 😅 6 weeks until I go over there myself!

[@OscarHikes]

Going there tomorrow myself for another two nighter!

[@rihards12]

Nice video, takes some balls to hike alone!

[@OscarHikes]

Does it though? 😀 Once you go out on your first few solo hikes, you get used to that, and now I even prefer hiking solo. Of course, not each and every time. Sometimes you just wanna hike with your buddies! Edit: Hi, Pudul, didn't see it's you.

[@TheZenitus]

@@OscarHikes how did you shoot this video? Tripod or your friend? :)

[@OscarHikes]

@@TheZenitus With my canon M50 and a tripod. :) But some shots are made with my Gopro hero 7 because the high winds kept pushing over my tripod, haha. The gopro also comes with a tripod, and at one point the wind pushed over the gopro, and it almost fell down a cliff lol. Like, 10 cm to the left and it would be gone. The shot inside the tent was filmed with my phone, thus the bad quality. I went alone on this trip, but on the first day I met a local guy and we walked several kilometers together. ;)

[@TheZenitus]

@@OscarHikes thanks. :) so, you had to prepare camera, composition, walk away and then return. Or make a video as you are walking away and then return for the camera... This was not fully clear for me. 0:-)

[@OscarHikes]

@@TheZenitus Spot on. Both scenarios, depending if I'm walking uphill or downhill. The main reason why I'm hiking solo - people would get sick of waiting for me, haha.

[@Juanlu.]

I am very happy that you like the Spanish high mountains. If you like Spain, know that you have a lot to discover. I would recommend that you visit the mountains of Castellón and Teruel: "Serranía de Albarracín" (GR-10) "Sierra de Gúdar" and "Sierra de Javalambre" (GR-8), "Massís del Penyagolosa" (GR-7), " Serra d'Espadà" (GR-36 and GR-33), "Ports de Beseit" and "Tinença de Benifassà". You will find places full of history and nature, with very diverse fauna and vegetation, almost always facing the Mediterranean Sea, and many marked trails between mountains that are sometimes very demanding for your legs, but very generous for your spirit. Thanks for all your videos

[@DesGreene]

Amazing video, Oscar! This is an area of Spain I love, but I've never walked at those altitudes. El Chullo near Puerta de la Ragua is the highest I've tried so far. Really enjoyed watching your expedition!👍 Stay safe,

[@OscarHikes]

Oh cool, I've done quite a few hikes around puerto de la ragua, including El Chullo. You should go up to the other direction from puerto de la rague as well someday (To west.) The trail is very simple and easy, and you get a bit better views over sierra nevada. 😉 Last time I went up there just a few weeks ago and it was -10c with 50km/h winds, so you might want to wait for a bit better weather haha.

[@DesGreene]

@@OscarHikes Yes, been up there in the snow. I got told off by some alpinismo skiers for ruining their ski tracks 😁 The terrain certainly does demand respect. Patches of deep packed ice can last well into Summer. Some of that loose shale you were walking on looked pretty deadly too. How demanding is just the section from Trevelez to the summit of Mulhacen?

[@OscarHikes]

Everything was farily safe and easy, except for that one part called "vasar del mulhacen," and it definitely shouldn't be done in the winter. If you go from travelez, you can go through siete lagunas or through the west route, which goes through mulhacen 2. Both of them are very safe and don't go through "vasar del mulhacen". I took a different route, which is linked to on Wikiloc in the video description.

[@DesGreene]

@@OscarHikes Thanks very much for the info, Oscar! Much appreciated👍👍

[@undertoneboy]

I thought camping outdoors was illegal in Spain.

[@OscarHikes]

Kind of. In sierra nevada specifically, biovac (staying overnight, and pitching up tent no earlier than 1 hour before sunset, and taking it down no later than 1 hour after sunrise) is allowed.

[@AlejandroFernandez-my6tn]

It isn't allowed vivac in a less distance than 50m to the lagoons.

[@alexpervanoglu7420]

​@@AlejandroFernandez-my6tnTrue.

[@alexpervanoglu7420]

Here in the Sierra Navada you can camp but only for one night at a time then have to move and you must inform the park authority as to your chosen locations and dates of stay plus follow various strict rules such as no open fires etc. But otherwise it is allowed. Wild camping in general though is illegal here in Spain. Campsites are obviously different and you can camp on private land with the owners permission.

[@dtminifun]

Why is everyone copying Craig Adams nowadays?!?

[@OscarHikes]

Because we can. kzbin.info/www/bejne/hqGpZqmGr9KfeZI

[@dtminifun]

​@@OscarHikes hahaha didn't know you actually made a whole video about it. Love people who can humor themselves :)

[@Jbonn6141]

Why do you wear a mask in an empty street?

[@OscarHikes]

Because it's Spain and that's the law currently.

[@pintoqueiros]

Autonomia total?