Experience Spain’s frostier side by climbing the mighty Mount Mulhacen
Standing at an imposing 3482 metres high, Mount Mulhacen is the highest peak on mainland Spain. If you are partial to a bit of mountaineering, then the snowy slopes of this magnificent mountain are all but guaranteed to get satisfy all craving for a Spanish mountaineering adventure.
There are many different routes to the top of Mount Mulhacen, some of which are technically easy, which means that you don’t need to use your hands to climb it. It is a steep walk to the summit however and a fairly long one. A successful climb to the top of Mulhacen will reward you with a rich feeling of exhilaration and pride. And make no mistake you will have earned your bragging rights as Mulhacen is certainly no picnic to climb.
The name Mulhacen comes from the penultimate leader of Moorish Spain in the 15th century, ‘Mulay Abul Hassan’. It is however difficult to believe that a mountain of this size was not called something else before the Moorish leader gave his name to it.
The Sierra Nevada of which Mulhacen dominates is not called the “snowy mountains” without reason. Snow lies on the sierra’s jagged tops for much of the year. Even in high summer when temperatures soar there are pockets of snow on the north-facing hollows. When attempting Mulhacen, an ice axe and crampons are essential in all seasons, with the exception of summer.
The “easy” route up Mulhacen
The most popular way up to the summit of Mulhacen starts at the trailhead in the village of Capileira. From here it is normal to press on to the Porqueira mountain hut at 2500 metres. It has to be said that staying overnight high up this cosy mountain hut with good food, wine and company before you hit your bunk for the night is worth every penny and minute spent there.
From the Porqueira Hut it takes approximately four hours to reach the summit. If you are lucky with the visibility you should easily see a huge part of the Mediterranean and the North African coast from Mulhacen’s summit, just make sure that you remember your camera.