Have done this hike twice since December of 2014, each time on a different route. It's a stunning hike with a lot of scrambling, scree and downed trees. Lots of waterfalls and creek beds, with a surreal other worldly feeling. Since this is in our backyard we will be able to get to know this range well.
ianamclennan - Feb 21, 2012 11:30 pm Date Climbed: Jun 2, 2011
Trekking
Spent a day trekking through La Pedriza. Rock was awesome and the views of Mardid below are unforgettable.
The rest of the family is always climbing. I like it very much too. We left at 11:30 from Cantocochino Parking, and it took us only 1 hour 45 min. to get to the Yelmo meadows where we had lunch. The wild horses were around begging for food, we gave them some bread. After lunch we started the climb. Mum was roped with Jon and Dad was roped with me. Dad was always leading, and was belaying me every ten metres or so. We climbed the route real quick. The whole family reached the summit. We descend via the north chimney route, and descended to the Van at 19:00h I am only three years old
Route Climbed: El YELMO, route: Date Climbed: May 1st. 2005
Me, my brother Unai and my parents spent the night in a Yelmo´s vivaque. In the morning, after breakfast, my dad and I went to the western side of the Yelmo´s south face, and started the climb. Dad was always leading, and was belaying me every ten metres or so. We climbed the route real quick. Dad says I am problably the youngest person to climb "El Yelmo" by the south face. I am only three years old !!!
Route Climbed: Collado del Cabrón from Canto Cochino Date Climbed: 17 February 2005
Nadie and me drove to Canto Cochino (1025 m) and ascended on PR C1 to Collado del Cabrón. We lost the PR C1 so when the trail descended to Charca Verde we returned and took a path to a rock rose (cistus) field below El Cáliz. I had to use my Koflach Degres for pulling down rock roses by kicking them because the scrub was too much deep for advance. Then reached a little col to the N of Point 1187 m, had lunch and descended approximately 50 m for taking PR C1 again. Then we ascended leaving Cancho de los Muertos to the left, reached Collado del Cabrón (1303 m), descended to to GR10 (autopista) and returned to Canto Cochino wearing headlamps in the final meters. Although that problem loosing the trail we past a nice day in a beutiful place as La Pedriza. There was very little snow but we had to be careful because of the ice in many short passages.
Route Climbed: El Laberinto via el Tolmo, descent passing Collado de la Dehesilla Date Climbed: 11 March 2004
After having had lunch when leaving the car, nadie and me started hiking at Canto Cochino at 3:42 PM, traversed río (river) Manzanares and arroyo (creek) de la Majadilla. Then ascended to refugio Giner de los Ríos (4:35 PM), did a short break and followed GR 10 to El Tolmo (5:00 PM). Crossed arroyo de la Majadilla again and ascended through a pinewood to El Hueso (5:40 PM), an impresive granite bridge where we took some photos. Then ascended the steep slope passing Quinta Buitrera, there were some easy rock climbing pitches and snow when approaching Cancho Amarillo. Passed El Capuchino, Falsa Buitrera, Gran Molondrio, Cuatro Cestos, Falsa Bola, Bola de Navajuelos and reached PR C1. It got dark so we put our headlamps for descending to Collado de la Dehesilla (8:20 PM) via Las Llamas and Mataelvicial. We had to plunge in the snow with no gaiters but could find the difficult path. Finally we descended to my car on "Autopista" de la Pedriza (GR 10) passing El Tolmo and the bridge on Prado Peluca. 9:55 PM. We enjoyed a hard day hiking, the views and the lack of people in a difficult day for the Spanish because of the terrorist attacks. It was no cold or hot.
Route Climbed: El Yelmo normal via Collado de la Vistilla. Descent passing Collado de la Encina Date Climbed: 28 November 2003
I climbed with nadie to the top of El Yelmo (1.716 m / 5,630 ft), a nice granite peak placed in La Pedriza, starting at the lower parking of Canto Cochino (1.025 m / 3,363 ft). We past Refugio Giner de los Ríos, El Tolmo, Collado de la Vistilla and Hoz Cimera. Then climbed the normal route (II) to the summit. We descended (wearing headlamps) traversing Pradera del Yelmo to Collado de la Encina, finally hiked into Barranco de los Huertos and reached the car at 8:45 PM after 5 h 30 min. The minimum temperature was 3 ºC / 37 F with moderate NW wind guts (drizzled sometimes), some snow rests still remained and there was thin icy patches on some N positioned rocks. We could see a beautiful salamader (Salamandra salamandra) when descending Barranco de los Huertos.
Route Climbed: "Autopista de la Pedriza" to Collado de la Dehesilla Date Climbed: 14 February 2003
My father and me hiked from Canto Cochino (1.020 m / 3,346 ft), passing Refugio (hut) Giner to El Tolmo (1.258 m / 4,127 ft), where we had lunch. El Tolmo is a huge granite rock of 18 m / 59 ft high and 73 m / 240 ft perimeter that weighs aproximately 500 Ton with a volume of 176 cu m. There was a herd of wild goats in that amazing scenery of peaks and rocks that surrounded us. Then we ascended to Collado (Col) de la Dehesilla or de la Silla (1.453 m / 4,767 ft) in a light snowstorm. On the col we turned back, at a temperature of 1 ºC / 34 F, to the parking following the same trail of the ascent. We saw many storks while driving to La Pedriza and vultures flying over the peaks. It was a short but nice hike under beautiful lights and shadows ;-)
Route Climbed: Senda Maeso to Gran Cañada Date Climbed: 26 March 2003
I hiked with my father and I'll always remember this hike as the last that I did in the mountains with my dad. We started at the final houses of Manzanares El Real (940 m) and walked to Collado de la Cueva (1.122 m) first. Then passed El Caracol and Risco del Ofertorio to the place (1.265 m) where Senda Maeso and Gran Cañada join. It was a nice meadow with a little stream so we were having lunch there. Suddenly it started to rain, so we put our rain clothes and began to descend on the same trail. We saw partridges and vultures so it was a nice short hike with good views to La Pedriza Anterior, Castillo de Manzanares and Embalse de Santillana.
Route Climbed: Probably "Autopista de la Pedriza" to El Tolmo Date Climbed: 1981
I don't remember when I exactly went to La Pedriza for the first time in life. It could be with my parents and probably some friends. We probably didn't climb any crag but the hike would be nice, that's for sure.
jkantoline - Jun 23, 2015 4:58 am
First Hike in GuadarramasHave done this hike twice since December of 2014, each time on a different route. It's a stunning hike with a lot of scrambling, scree and downed trees. Lots of waterfalls and creek beds, with a surreal other worldly feeling. Since this is in our backyard we will be able to get to know this range well.
ianamclennan - Feb 21, 2012 11:30 pm Date Climbed: Jun 2, 2011
TrekkingSpent a day trekking through La Pedriza. Rock was awesome and the views of Mardid below are unforgettable.
Unai Cruces - Sep 10, 2007 5:20 pm Date Climbed: Sep 3, 2007
El YELMO - Vía ValentinaThe rest of the family is always climbing. I like it very much too. We left at 11:30 from Cantocochino Parking, and it took us only 1 hour 45 min. to get to the Yelmo meadows where we had lunch. The wild horses were around begging for food, we gave them some bread. After lunch we started the climb. Mum was roped with Jon and Dad was roped with me. Dad was always leading, and was belaying me every ten metres or so. We climbed the route real quick. The whole family reached the summit. We descend via the north chimney route, and descended to the Van at 19:00h I am only three years old
Jon Cruces - Sep 25, 2005 7:49 pm
Route Climbed: 'PARED de SANTILLANA' South Face Classic route (120m, V+) Date Climbed: Sept 24th 2005Together with Dad and Daniel Oltra climbed this beautiful route on the south face.
FULL STORY & PHOTOS, HERE
Jon Cruces - May 2, 2005 4:02 am
Route Climbed: El YELMO, route: Date Climbed: May 1st. 2005Me, my brother Unai and my parents spent the night in a Yelmo´s vivaque. In the morning, after breakfast, my dad and I went to the western side of the Yelmo´s south face, and started the climb. Dad was always leading, and was belaying me every ten metres or so. We climbed the route real quick. Dad says I am problably the youngest person to climb "El Yelmo" by the south face. I am only three years old !!!
Full Story: "HERE"
Diego Sahagún - Feb 27, 2005 7:21 pm
Route Climbed: Collado del Cabrón from Canto Cochino Date Climbed: 17 February 2005Nadie and me drove to Canto Cochino (1025 m) and ascended on PR C1 to Collado del Cabrón. We lost the PR C1 so when the trail descended to Charca Verde we returned and took a path to a rock rose (cistus) field below El Cáliz. I had to use my Koflach Degres for pulling down rock roses by kicking them because the scrub was too much deep for advance. Then reached a little col to the N of Point 1187 m, had lunch and descended approximately 50 m for taking PR C1 again. Then we ascended leaving Cancho de los Muertos to the left, reached Collado del Cabrón (1303 m), descended to to GR10 (autopista) and returned to Canto Cochino wearing headlamps in the final meters. Although that problem loosing the trail we past a nice day in a beutiful place as La Pedriza. There was very little snow but we had to be careful because of the ice in many short passages.
Diego Sahagún - Mar 24, 2004 11:00 am
Route Climbed: El Laberinto via el Tolmo, descent passing Collado de la Dehesilla Date Climbed: 11 March 2004After having had lunch when leaving the car, nadie and me started hiking at Canto Cochino at 3:42 PM, traversed río (river) Manzanares and arroyo (creek) de la Majadilla. Then ascended to refugio Giner de los Ríos (4:35 PM), did a short break and followed GR 10 to El Tolmo (5:00 PM). Crossed arroyo de la Majadilla again and ascended through a pinewood to El Hueso (5:40 PM), an impresive granite bridge where we took some photos. Then ascended the steep slope passing Quinta Buitrera, there were some easy rock climbing pitches and snow when approaching Cancho Amarillo. Passed El Capuchino, Falsa Buitrera, Gran Molondrio, Cuatro Cestos, Falsa Bola, Bola de Navajuelos and reached PR C1. It got dark so we put our headlamps for descending to Collado de la Dehesilla (8:20 PM) via Las Llamas and Mataelvicial. We had to plunge in the snow with no gaiters but could find the difficult path. Finally we descended to my car on "Autopista" de la Pedriza (GR 10) passing El Tolmo and the bridge on Prado Peluca. 9:55 PM. We enjoyed a hard day hiking, the views and the lack of people in a difficult day for the Spanish because of the terrorist attacks. It was no cold or hot.
Diego Sahagún - Mar 12, 2004 8:05 pm
Route Climbed: El Yelmo normal via Collado de la Vistilla. Descent passing Collado de la Encina Date Climbed: 28 November 2003I climbed with nadie to the top of El Yelmo (1.716 m / 5,630 ft), a nice granite peak placed in La Pedriza, starting at the lower parking of Canto Cochino (1.025 m / 3,363 ft). We past Refugio Giner de los Ríos, El Tolmo, Collado de la Vistilla and Hoz Cimera. Then climbed the normal route (II) to the summit. We descended (wearing headlamps) traversing Pradera del Yelmo to Collado de la Encina, finally hiked into Barranco de los Huertos and reached the car at 8:45 PM after 5 h 30 min. The minimum temperature was 3 ºC / 37 F with moderate NW wind guts (drizzled sometimes), some snow rests still remained and there was thin icy patches on some N positioned rocks. We could see a beautiful salamader (Salamandra salamandra) when descending Barranco de los Huertos.
Diego Sahagún - Mar 12, 2004 7:46 pm
Route Climbed: "Autopista de la Pedriza" to Collado de la Dehesilla Date Climbed: 14 February 2003My father and me hiked from Canto Cochino (1.020 m / 3,346 ft), passing Refugio (hut) Giner to El Tolmo (1.258 m / 4,127 ft), where we had lunch. El Tolmo is a huge granite rock of 18 m / 59 ft high and 73 m / 240 ft perimeter that weighs aproximately 500 Ton with a volume of 176 cu m. There was a herd of wild goats in that amazing scenery of peaks and rocks that surrounded us. Then we ascended to Collado (Col) de la Dehesilla or de la Silla (1.453 m / 4,767 ft) in a light snowstorm. On the col we turned back, at a temperature of 1 ºC / 34 F, to the parking following the same trail of the ascent. We saw many storks while driving to La Pedriza and vultures flying over the peaks. It was a short but nice hike under beautiful lights and shadows ;-)
Diego Sahagún - Mar 12, 2004 7:19 pm
Route Climbed: Senda Maeso to Gran Cañada Date Climbed: 26 March 2003I hiked with my father and I'll always remember this hike as the last that I did in the mountains with my dad. We started at the final houses of Manzanares El Real (940 m) and walked to Collado de la Cueva (1.122 m) first. Then passed El Caracol and Risco del Ofertorio to the place (1.265 m) where Senda Maeso and Gran Cañada join. It was a nice meadow with a little stream so we were having lunch there. Suddenly it started to rain, so we put our rain clothes and began to descend on the same trail. We saw partridges and vultures so it was a nice short hike with good views to La Pedriza Anterior, Castillo de Manzanares and Embalse de Santillana.
Diego Sahagún - Mar 12, 2004 7:03 pm
Route Climbed: Probably "Autopista de la Pedriza" to El Tolmo Date Climbed: 1981I don't remember when I exactly went to La Pedriza for the first time in life. It could be with my parents and probably some friends. We probably didn't climb any crag but the hike would be nice, that's for sure.