Bárbara Alcalde
It’s not necessary to go as far as Sierra Nevada to enjoy the snow. At 30 kilometres from Guadix one can find the Puerto de La Ragua (“La Ragua Pass”) with circuits equipped for cross-country skiing and for tobogganing. As well as the winter sports, La Ragua Pass offers the possibility of undertaking numerous hill-walking routes. In summer, the resort registers agreeable temperatures, which fluctuate between 20 and 25 degrees.
The cold and the low temperatures have brought the first snows. The ski resort of Sierra Nevada is cram-packed with visitors and occupation has reached 98 per cent. But it is not necessary to go as far as Sierra Nevada in order to enjoy the snow. Situated at just 30 kilometres from Guadix one can find the Recreational Resort of Puerto de la Ragua with circuits equipped for cross-country skiing and recreational slopes for tobogganing.
Located within the National Park of Sierra Nevada, halfway between Granada and Almería, the Puerto de la Ragua is a natural crossing between Alpujarra and the Marquesado del Zenete. From its altitude of 2000 metres it dominates the neighbouring geography, stretching from the basin of Adra, the beaches of Almería, the plateau of the Marquesado, the natural parks of Cabo de Gata, Baza, Mágina, Huétor and Cazorla and up as far as the high summits of Sierra Nevada.
The pass has various cross-country skiing circuits. The visitor can also enjoy the tobogganing slope with a total surface of 600 square metres. The walker can spend the night in the refuge in the resort, which is equipped for an accommodation capacity of 32 guests and the restaurant can seat 100. The accommodation provided at the Puerto de la Ragua Refuge has to be requested in writing by filling in an application form that should be sent to the seat of the Consortium at the following address: Carretera del Puerto de La Ragua s/n, Nevada (Granada), or by fax at the following number: 958-760106. The application must reach the Consortium between the 1st and the 15th of the month prior to the requested reservation.
The landscapes of the Puerto de la Ragua are unusual, framed within the National Park of Sierra Nevada, and the ski slopes surrounded by Scots pines allow the visitor to enjoy the landscape and Nature while doing sport.
These activities are carried out during the whole of the season in the resort and the County Councils of Granada and Almería organise day-trips to the snow for groups. Hill walking is also a common practice and so too are orienteering courses, especially in the summer months in which the resort registers agreeable temperatures, which fluctuate between 20 and 25 degrees.
The Puerto de la Ragua Consortium is in charge of running the resort. It is made up of the County Councils of Granada and Almería and the Town Councils of Nevada, Ferreira and Bayárcal, the three municipal areas that meet on this territory.
As well as the normal ski resort activities, the Puerto de la Ragua also offers the possibility of undertaking routes on foot given the great proliferation of paths existing in the surrounding area popularly known as ‘La Ravah’ of the Andalusíes, situated at an altitude of some 2000 metres above sea level.
TRAVEL NOTEBOOK
ROUTE 1: EL CHULLO
Duration: 1 hour and 45 minutes
Level of dificulty: Average
This route begins behind the refuge-hostel of Puerto de la Ragua. Along the fire-break way the walker reaches the tableland of Prados Altos (“High Plains”), situated at an altitude of 2132 metres, which allows one to enjoy some excellent views. Continuing along the way the walker comes to a spot known as Los Asperones (“The Sandstones”) which comes out onto the summit of El Chullo, situated at 2609 metres above sea level. From this place the walker can contemplate the Hoya de Guadix and the Marquesado del Zenete to the Northwest. In the background one can also observe the Sierra de Baza and, of course, the incomparable setting offered by the Sierra Nevada National Park. After a short stop, one descends until connecting up with the fire-break path again, which takes the traveller back to the Puerto de la Ragua.
ROUTE 2: EL HORNILLO
Duration: 3 hours
Distance: 6 kilometres
Level of dificulty: Low
From the refuge-hostel of Puerto de La Ragua we go up through the gully of Majacaco, until reaching the low ridge. From this privileged viewpoint we can spot the Picón de Jérez, and the Morrón del Mediodía. A vegetation of pine groves and holm oaks abounds in this landscape. Continuing on our way we take the path to the left that takes us towards the Morrón del Hornillo at an altitude of 2368 metres, where we find the fauna typical to the area, of which we can highlight, above all, the proliferation of Spanish ibex that abound in these naturally preserved surroundings. Lastly, we begin our descent from El Hornillo by going down in a South-easterly direction until reaching the lane, which coincides with the Farolea path towards the Puerto de la Ragua.
ACTIVITIES
Skiing Under Extreme Conditions
The North face is the one that presents greatest difficulties, with the slopes of the Morrón del Mediodía and of the Cerro del Almirez being the sheerest. If snow conditions are adequate one might find snow snow rackets and canutos steep enough to be able to give free rein to skiing under extreme conditions.
Dog Sleighs
The Puerto de la Ragua has, for many years, been a meeting place and permanent ‘headquarters’ for lovers of this sport. Very interesting and colourful competitions are held here and visitors are also offered the possibility of experiencing the sensation of driving a sleigh pulled by Nordic dogs.
Mountain Climbing
There are two summits in this region that provide the necessary conditions for this kind of sport: the Morrón del Mediodía and the Cerro del Almirez. The Cerro del Almirez provides a wider range of upward routes and the morphological profile of its North face recalls that of the Mulhacén or that of the Alcazaba, with a very sharp relief.
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