Another three days of excellent walking in Tenerife, last week. This time I had the pleasure of the company of two strong walkers from Peaks Mountaineering Club in Clonmel.
Tuesday
La Quebrada - Pico del Inglés - Taborno - Afur - Taganana (via Casa Forestal)
Distance - 21.5kms
Climbing - 2,242m
Duration - 6 hours 49 minutes
Moving time - 5 hours 37 minutes.
We got a local bus from Santa Cruz towards Valle Seco and the turning point for the bus, at the end of the route, is where there is a sign for the walk start at La Quebrada.
A beautiful walk on well marked footpaths. It was overcast and a bit windy but there was plenty of cover from the vegetation. As a fellow walker described it "It's like walking in the Botanical Gardens for five and a half hours."
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| Aqueduct bridge near La Quebrada |
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| Afur |
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| Taganana |
Wednesday
Vilaflor - Degollada de Guarjara - Summit of Guarjara - Degollada de Ucanca - Valle de Ucanca - Vilaflor
Distance - 23.4kms
Climbing - 1,833m
Duration - 7 hours 55 minutes
Moving time - 6 hours 10 minutes.
The best day we had weather-wise. A good number of walks start/finish in Vilaflor at 1,465m and the paths and scenery are excellent. The summit of Guarjara stands at 2,715m and has breathtaking views of Teide National Park and surrounding peaks. The descent from Guarjara to Degollada de Ucanca was tricky enough but other than that a good safe hike.
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| En route to Guarjara |
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| Arenas Negras |
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| Teide, Montana Blanca, Pico Viejo (from Degollada de Guarjara) |
Friday
Montaña Blanca car park - Pico del Teide - Los Charcos - Torre Blanco - Parador. [Used Senderos 7, 10, 12, 9, 23 (short scramble from Sendero 3 over Roques de García to pick up Sendero 23 again)]
Distance - 19.8kms
Climbing - 1,704m
Duration - 9 hours 14 minutes
Moving time - 6 hours 32 minutes.
By far the most difficult walk/climb I have encountered to date. Our average speed was a kilometre per hour slower than normal. The sole reason for this was the snow/ice when we got above 3,200m. Crampons would have helped.
The Teleferico Station was deserted and there was no need to show our permits and passports. I found the final 163m scramble to the summit difficult as I was virtually crawling. We met two other climbers on their descent and they were the last walkers we met until we got to the Sendero 23 side of Torre Blanco that evening.
It was equally as difficult on the descent. I'd say that this is a handy enough walk/climb without the snow and ice. We'll just have to do it again another time.
Even though it was difficult, it was the most enjoyable days walking to date. We all took a tumble and got bangs and bruises. We also learnt a painful lesson on snow blindness. You walk and learn.
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| Terrain near Refugio Altavista |
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| Teide Summit |
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| Pico Viejo Crater |
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| (Rough) Sendero Guide |
PS: If you want to do a long walk on Teide the bus service isn't great, the last bus leaves at 16:00. They don't accept the Bono Via card on this route. Also, there are no taxis based in Parador so one would have to bone up from Vilaflor to bring you back down south.
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