Walking from one side to the other of Sierra Nevada

[olive]

I have always wanted to walk the old "highest road in Europe" from the barrier on the road high above the ski resort to presumably Capaliera above Bubion etc. and then get picked up rather than walk back.

Has anyone done this? If so how long does it take? How far is it? Any tips? Which is the best direction? I am thinking of about 8 weeks time so would take warm clothes and food and drink.

olive

[Solysombra]

Olive, don't mean to be pedantic (but I am anyway, I know) but the highest road in Europe is the Col de la Bonnette in the south of France, However your suggested route sounds good anyway, don't know the trip though probably more than a few days

[nevada smith]

olive,
if you're talking about walking from prado llano
to the veleta (at ca 3390 m) and on down into capaliera or bubion
(depending on your experience & condition)
you're talking about 10 or 11 hours...

[olive]

Before anyone else points it out there is yet another road which claims to be higher than either the OLD one in Sierra Nevada or Solysombras' French Bonnet. For the record though it is in Eastern Europe so purists might argue it isn't in Europe at all.

Has anyone got any thing useful to add in response to my questions?

olive

[Solysombra]

Sorry didn't mean to be useless, maybe someone else can help you with this amazingly interesting subject

[keddyboy]

Get a copy of South from Granada by Gerald Brenan. He regularly walked to Granada from various locations in the southern area of the Sierra Nevadas and its a good read too!!

[Grouser]

Olive, I haven't walked that route. I have however walked from Trevelez to the summit of Mulhacin and back. which is possibly an equivalent distance and probably a harder walk. It took a full day early in November, twenty years ago, when I was a younger and fitter man.