Overview
It is the most elevated mountain of
Sistema Central, wich includes
Sierra de Gredos and its
Macizo Central. Some recent maps as CGE serie L (series M7814) sheet 14-23 of 2000 low the elevation of the top to 2.591 m / 8,501 ft (ftp://ftp.geodesia.ign.es/Red_Geodesica/Hoja0577/057764.pdf). The name of Almanzor has the
origin when the arabs occupied Spain and recalls to Almanzor moorish leader. Between AD 900 and 1000 he camped up to the Sierra and next penetrated into it with some locals and his subjects. Then arrived to Laguna Grande in Circo (circus) de Gredos and put his eyes on that unnamed mountain. Climbed to a gap (portilla) next to the peak where they could see the great South plain. The name of Plaza del Moro Almanzor was then for Circo de Gredos and next was allot to its principal summit.
Almanzor is a very visited granite peak, almost like Circo de Gredos. It's located to the south of Cuchillar (ridge) de Ballesteros.
The first ascent was in September 1899 by M. González de Amezúa and José Ibrián, and the first winter ascent would be in 1903 by the last one, Espada, Ontañon and Abricarro. In 1918 a letterbox was placed on his summit and in 1960 the present iron cross 1 meter-tall. Two gaps,
Portilla del Crampón (2.544 m) and Portilla de los Cobardes (2.534 m), are on the trails to the normal routes. Both routes requires 2.5 hours from
Refugio Elola, placed at Laguna Grande, and 4.5 hours from
the parking called Plataforma. Portilla de los Cobardes is the easiest route in winter because of the less steeper slopes.
To reach Laguna Grande from Plataforma (1.780 m), follow a wide rocky track Wwards to Prado de las Pozas (1.902 m). Pass this meadow and the stream over a little bridge, up to Los Barrerones (2.183 m), to the right of a rocky buttress. Once there don't loose height to the right (attention in winter because of ice and on foggy days) and walk downwards to the North side of Laguna Grande. Go round Laguna by its left shore to Refugio Elola (1.945 m).
Maps and Sketches
Getting There
The most common and almost the only transport to get to Plataforma is by car.
Madrid is distant 188 Km by A-6 highway to Avila, C-502 to Venta Rasquilla (just before the bridge over Arroyo Arenillas), C-500 to Hoyos del Espino and then turn left to drive 12 Km more to Plataforma de Gredos. You can also get there passing El Escorial: drive by A-6 highway over 47 Km, C-600 to El Escorial and C-505 to Avila. Then follow the previous itinerary.
There are a lot of roads coming from the south and west as well as if you come from Toledo, Cáceres or Salamanca.
Red Tape and Refuges
Though there was no red tape an
important change on leaving your vehicle at La Plataforma has been made since October 12th, 2012. It's having to be said that the
price for private vehicles on weekends and holiday is 2,50€ having no closing time. You'll have to pay from 8:00 to 20:00 from June to September and from 9:00 to 18:00 the rest months of the year. But as I've said before it's only for paying on
weekends and holiday. (Dec 8th, 2015)
Refugio Elola (1.945 m) open from June to October and weekends out of these period, also fest days except 24 and 25 of December or meteorological impossibility (a little part of the hut remains open). Bad service, don't try to buy anything in the morning if you haven't slept in the hut, you won't be served.
Refugio Refugio de Reguero Llano (1.910 m) is open all the year unless some days as Christmas Eve or 31 December.
Phones and Reserves
Tel. Refugio Elola: 920 20 75 76 or 920 22 83 93 (answer machine in Avila). Reserves are required to spend the night in the hut.
Tel. Refugio de Reguero Llano: 606 78 05 89. Note that it's a mobile phone, sometimes is out of covering so let a message. This is a private refuge hold by my friend Jose, so be nice with him and his dogs. He also will be friendly if you make the reserve until the arrive. Private, 60 places (many litters), without cooks, meals (only if ordering). It's placed on the NE side of Prado de las Pozas, only at 30 min-walk from Plataforma if you use the wide rocky track that pass besides Pluviómetro, or 20 minutes if you take the short cut straightly Wwards from Plataforma.
Camping
Camping is
not allowed, it's forbidden in the Park but it's difficult that a ranger a ranger localize your tent out of the route to Laguna Grande and Circo de Gredos. Many people camp near Refugio Elola at nights but they could be fined it the ranger wants to.
When To Climb
From October to July you could find snow at Gredos. Therefore crampons and ice axe in winter are highly recommended as well as winter clothes because the temperatures can sometimes be under -15 ºC / 5 F. You could also practice ski-mountaineering during the winter and early spring.
AEMET weather forecast for Sierra de Gredos.
The new webcam on Refugio Elola.
Webcam of Macizo Central de Gredos.
Actual conditions on the trail to Refugio Elola, described by pics
Get informed of winter road conditions in pages 601 and 611 of "Teletexto" TVE.
Almanzor And Nearby 2000ers
ONLY MAIN SUMMITS# | MOUNTAIN | ALTITUDE (m) | # | MOUNTAIN | ALTITUDE (m) |
---|
01 | Almanzor | 2592 | 36 | Risco Negro | 2295 |
02 | La Galana | 2564 | 37 | Cuento Alto | 2272 |
03 | Risco de la Portilla del Crampón | 2562 | 38 | Risco del Fraile de Cinco Lagunas | 2272 |
04 | Cuchillar de Ballesteros | 2554 | 39 | Morezón Bajero | 2269 |
05 | Risco del Gutre | 2545 | 40 | Los Castillejos | 2264 |
06 | Cuerno del Almanzor* | 2538 | 41 | El Berrueco de Bohoyo | 2259 |
07 | Espolón Bajero del Gutre | 2522 | 42 | Risco de los Cachorros | 2249 |
08 | Cuchillar de las Navajas (El Sagrao) | 2508 | 43 | El Novillero | 2248 |
09 | Ameal de Pablo | 2489 | 44 | Risco del Fraile | 2247 |
10 | Canchal de la Galana | 2479 | 45 | El Durazno | 2246 |
11 | Cerro de los Huertos | 2459 | 46 | Molederas | 2241 |
12 | Cuchillar del Cerro de los Huertos | 2459 | 47 | El Butraco | 2218 |
13 | Casquerazo | 2437 | 48 | Peñas del Chocarrón | 2203 |
14 | Cabeza Nevada or Mogota del Cervunal | 2427 | 49 | Risco Pelucas | 2199 |
15 | Risco de Cinco Lagunas | 2418 | 50 | Picurucho | 2197 |
16 | Casquerazo Inferior | 2412 | 51 | Alto de la Barrera | 2174 |
17 | Meapoco | 2396 | 52 | El Raso | 2174 |
18 | Morezón | 2389 | 53 | Risco de las Hoces | 2168 |
19 | Punta Esperanza | 2374 | 54 | El Durazno | 2166 |
20 | Buitrera | 2038 | 55 | Risco de las Hoces Bajero | 2166 |
21 | Altos de Morezón | 2366 | 56 | Los Campanarios | 2165 |
22 | Los Cerraillos | 2364 | 57 | El Calvitero | 2158 |
23 | Risco de la Ventana | 2363 | 58 | La Lanchosa | 2158 |
24 | Primer Hermanito | 2343 | 59 | Cabezo de la Solana | 2096 |
25 | El Perro que Fuma | 2342 | 60 | Cabezo del Cervunal | 2094 |
26 | La Mira | 2341 | 61 | Alto del Pajonal | 2089 |
27 | Segundo Hermanito | 2339 | 62 | El Artiñuelo | 2084 |
28 | El Asperón | 2337 | 63 | Sabinal | 2069 |
29 | Risco del Francés or El Riscazo | 2337 | 64 | Esbirladero | 2045 |
30 | Tercer Hermanito | 2328 | 65 | Piedras del Beso | 2042 |
31 | Risco de las Hoyuelas | 2318 | 66 | Peña Rayo | 2032 |
32 | El Enano | 2315 | 67 | Punta de la Casqueruela | 2020 |
33 | Risco de la Campana | 2314 | 68 | Peña de Chilla | 2011 |
34 | Plaza de Toros | 2313 | 69 | Risco Redondo | 2009 |
35 | Cerro de la Cagarruta | 2299 | *Could be a subsidiary summit of Almanzor |
Lakes in the area
|
# | LAKE | ALTITUDE (m) | AREA (ha) | # | LAKE | ALTITUDE (m) | AREA (ha) |
---|
1 | Laguna Grande | 1930 | 8.63 | 2 | Laguna Cimera* | - | 5.75 |
3 | Laguna Galana* | - | 1.79 | 4 | Las Lagunillas* | 1980 | 1.22 |
5 | Laguna Bajera* | - | 1.21 | 6 | Laguna Mediana* | - | 0.50 |
7 | Laguna de Brincalobitos* | - | 0.50 | 8 | Laguna del Novillero | 1840 | 0.49 |
9 | Laguna de Majalaescoba | 1840 | 0.38 | 10 | Laguna del Gutre | 2330 | 0.17 |
11 | Lagunillas del Gargantón | 2020 | 0.06 | 12 | Laguna del Morezón | 2220 | 0.03 |
*These lakes form Cinco Lagunas | Note: 1 hectare (ha) = 2.471 acres |
External Links
- Desnivel
Spanish publishing company of mountain books. In this section you can find all about refuges, snow and ice conditions, roads, avalanches and weather of Sierra de Gredos. Also in desnivel.com you can buy books about this subject.
- Es-gredos
Sport activities in Gredos.
- Toprural
Hotel, hostels, restaurants, general info about rural turism all-around Spain. But this one is exclusively for Sierra de Gredos' area.
- Atrápalo
Info of hotels all over Spain.
- Dirección General de Tráfico
The web for knowing more about the winter road administration (vialidad invernal) in Sierra de Gredos.
- Escuelas de Escalada
Web of Desnivel (Spanish publishing company of mountain books) where you can obtain information about climbing in Circo de Gredos. In Spanish and English.
Diego Sahagún - Nov 30, 2004 9:36 pm - Hasn't voted
Untitled CommentFuente (drinking fountain) de los Cavadores has been lowed some tens of meters to the NE and the trail to Los Barrerones from near Pluviómetro has been remodeled. They have put many planks on the slopes and rocks on the verges of the trail, so in some places (as in Prado de las Pozas) sometimes the water doesn't run and forms mud in the trail.
Diego Sahagún - Feb 10, 2002 4:32 am - Hasn't voted
Untitled CommentDon´t forget or bury rubbish. Carry it where there is collection service
Don´t camp anywhere. There are free camping sites.
Respect the meadows. Don´t destroy the ground diging holes or pits.
Don´t pull up flowers or branches, also don´t upset animals.
Dogs must be tether if animals or cattle are in the area.
Respect and take care of springs and water courses. Don´t spill on them detergents, pollutant products or waste.
Don´t shout and throw stones: it can cause accidents or produce slides.
Careful with fire. Don´t light it and, despite all, if you do put out its embers. Don´t throw cigars on fire.
Don´t pour lubricant oil or wash your car at rivers or springs.
Close large doors, hut doors or iron gates to impede passing animal or cattle.
Don´t flatten agricultural lands or sown fields, always follow the paths. Respect the walls.
Don´t drive through the countryside.
Diego Sahagún - Feb 10, 2002 5:17 am - Hasn't voted
Untitled CommentGREIM (Grupo de Rescate en Montaña de la Guardia Civil), Rescue Group. Barco de Avila (Avila) 920 34 00 10
EREIM (Equipo de Rescate en Motaña de la Guadia Civil), Rescue Group. Arenas de San Pedro (Avila): 920 37 00 31
Intstitututo Nacional de Meteorología, Meteorological Information: 906 36 53 65 http://www.inm.es (Better: http://www.barrabes.com/eltiempo/meteo.asp)
Dirección General de Tráfico, road conditions: 900 12 35 05 http://www.dgt.es
Federación Española de Montaña, Spanish Mountain Federation. Alberto Aguilera, 3. 28015 Madrid. Phone: 91 445 14 38
Federación Castellano Leonesa de Montañismo, Local Mountain Federation. Polideportivo Canterac. Carretera de Circunvalción, s/n. 47012 Valladolid. Phone: 983 22 64 00
Servicio Territorial de Medio Ambiente y Ordenación del Territorio, Environment Territorial Sevice. Monasterio de Santa Ana, Pasaje del Císter, 1. 05001 Avila. Phone: 920 35 50 01
Servicio Territorial de Cultura y Turismo, Local Turism and Culture Territorial Service. Palacio de Bracamonte, Plaza Fuente el Sol, 1. 05001 Avila. Phone: 920 35 50 92
Hotels in Spain: http://www.atrapalo.com
Bars, restaurants, leisure in Spain: http://www.netocio.com
Diego Sahagún - Feb 14, 2002 3:53 pm - Hasn't voted
Untitled CommentFrom Madrid to Avila (by train): there are more than 30 by day.
From Madrid to Avila (by bus): there are more than one company that does this travel from Estación Sur (Méndez Alvaro).
From Avila to Gredos: the bus company "Muñoz" has one to Hoyos del Espino (Avila) at 17:00 except Sundays and holidays.
Diego Sahagún - Oct 14, 2002 4:05 pm - Hasn't voted
Untitled CommentSome trail works have been happening on Los Barrerones slopes, even a wood bridge have been built over the stream coming from Fuente de los Cavadores. The trail now surround this water source and another drinking fountain has been built on Los Barrerones W slope.
October 12, 2002
Diego Sahagún - Nov 30, 2004 9:36 pm - Hasn't voted
Untitled CommentFuente (drinking fountain) de los Cavadores has been lowed some tens of meters to the NE and the trail to Los Barrerones from near Pluviómetro has been remodeled. They have put many planks on the slopes and rocks on the verges of the trail, so in some places (as in Prado de las Pozas) sometimes the water doesn't run and forms mud in the trail.
Diego Sahagún - Oct 15, 2012 9:25 pm - Hasn't voted
La Junta hace públicos los precios por aparcar en la Plataforma de Gredos y los empresarios su oposiciónhttp://desnivel.com/excursionismo/la-junta-hace-publicos-los-precios-por-aparcar-en-la-plataforma-de-gredos-y-los-empresarios-su-oposicion