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Outings in Mazarron - Peñas Blancas |
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Outings in Mazarron - Peñas Blancas |
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DIFFICULTY:- THE ASCENT IS NOT DIFFICULT BUT QUITE STEEP IN PLACES. STOUT FOOTWARE IS ESSENTIAL AS IT IS QUITE ROCKY UNDERFOOT. A COMPASS IS ADVISABLE (SEE LATER). IT TAKES ABOUT 1½ HOURS TO REACH THE TOP. MAP:- 977-1 (CANTERAS) START & FINISH GR627617 |
The most popular start point (there is another) is from the Isla Plana - Cartagena road as it peaks at Cedacero. Travelling from Isla Plana, after the hairpin bend and the viewpoint (on your left), the road rises to a peak before descending into a valley where a narrow bridge is located. This peak is marked by a small pine wood to the right; this is your start point.
Opposite the pine wood is where the track begins - look for yellow and white paint markers. The complete ascent except for the last part is well marked by these paint markers or by cairns at frequent intervals. The path commences parallel to the road before running into the mountain. It ascends the mountain in a zig-zag fashion and at times you may feel that you are travelling in the wrong direction; you are not - keep a look out for the route markers and you can't go wrong.
Near the summit you will approach a large horizontal mining shaft - as preview
of the extensive mining activity that dominates
the plateau as
you will see when you progress further. Abundant mining waste can be seen in
these areas.
Shortly after this point you will be on the plateau of the summit. There is no clear path after here but you will see your destination, the trig point marking the peak, quite clearly. The problem is that the plateau is rather featureless and it would be prudent to use a compass to ensure you can find your way back.
The summit is adorned with open cast mining shafts - deep vertical
trenches cut into the rock. Take care as they are very deep indeed and you can
meet them unexpectedly.
Near the top there is a mountain refuge hut where you can sign a visitors book and maybe leave some emergency supplies if you have anything to spare.
The view from the trig point is quite breathtaking and the near vertical
drop from the top of these white cliffs can induce vertigo.
Material for this article was inspired by a book "Montañas de Cartagena" by Richard Saura Martínez, ISBN 84-605-8765-7.
Mazarron.com
