Almanzor

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.

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Images

View Almanzor Image Gallery - 241 Images