"The Pedriza: Wonderful Highway of the Mountains"

Once again, the town of Manzanares El Real welcomes us to another interesting journey through the mountains of Madrid, is the shift go to the Pedriza.

The best option to explore this wonderfull area of ​​the Guadarrama mountains, is through the route of the Zetas, name that the path to reach the top  has been receiving because a constant slope as the "Z" that has , but is not the only qualification, another part of the route has been named the Highway. So, as well as we cover about 7 milles  upstream, in the end you will be rewarded with a fun and long downhill. As a result we can travel a great expansion of the Regional Park of the Cuenca Alta del Manzanares, and because small variations can also choose the difficulty of the climb and / or extension.

I can assure you climb to the highest worth, because the difficulty of the slope is overshadowed by the spectacle that is mounted by the nature in this place in the mountains and magnetism due to the ability of this mountain to hit the best and leave us with mouth shut all those who enjoy mountain sports.

Only by crossing the barrier that restricts the number of visitors continuing drive to 150 (if you do not go soon will have to wait for someone to come out, or walk from the sidelines, we do not have this problem because we bike), take a small two-lane road that ends in a parking lot that gives entry to a wide path of stone and sand very strong allowing us to traverse almost the entire circuit without technical difficulty, of course with very climb.

We climbed a lot of time along the Manzanares River, and as we go up and enter to  the mountain intimacy to see the creeks that empty into the river, to give it life and guarantee its existence. From that moment everything began to be magical, not only because we do not fully understand why this huge mass of fused quartz and mica is abundant in the landscape but also because this unique ecosystem has managed to live harmoniously among such stone, captivating resulting from this combination is what ensures your target, high mountains with the seal of the Pedriza to enjoy the fresh air and delight the eye.

I Had decided to leave early in the morning from Madrid because I was excited to see a sunrise in the mountains of these, so when I was unloading my bike in Manzanares, there was little light, beyond that generated by some pockets of public lighting, so that with the first rays of the sun I can give my first pedals.

As I go, I felt like some climbers in his sleeping bag, woke up and started for walks, and others to tumble into the corner to keep sleeping, it was too soon, but I had in my mind colonize several thousand milles of rocks and I´ll have time to rest after. The morning was so cool and the first meters made ​​me think about whether they are the mountains that motivate me much, or I´m who has the ability to impact with things that are everyday for me. I think I got up early a lot, just in front of me, a lot of mountain goats has crossed my path, so I don´t need more coffe to keep awake.

 

A few meters above me with the first cross cows in the day, those that graze the side of the cliff like that, but passes very close to them, seem accustomed to us, even if your calves more surly make you prepare feet just in case you have to pedal at all. None of this was necessary, but I was able to raise more than half of the hill without realizing that a lot compared to the occasional gym session in an hour to pedal to me forever, but at another point for the Pedriza.

But even I had the day ahead, plus meet other cyclists and hikers some with more belly up slowly, my passage through this spectacular "Highway" I would find wonderful places and emblematic of the mountains, as the rock of the Helm, El Collado coal, Tolman, El Collado of Dehesilla or chair, the Bird, Candle, Indian Rock, the Turtle and even the World Ball and others remember.

I'm sure I will return the time it takes until I understand all its forms, I´m glad to have discovered why they call the Zetas road and why they call the Pedriza and for allowing me the luxury of seeing the birth of the Manzanares River. Finding it may be easier to describe it.

I conclude by answering my question, it is true that I have a little of each one, mountains impress me as much as my ability to engage with the everyday, consider one of my greatest fortunes 

 
 

Greetings!! thank´s for the twitts and facebook shares!!!

"Genaro's Path: The Atazar a Few Steps of Heaven "

I have to admit, be in good shape allows us to be as unsettled as other summers to enjoy this season and, once more takes us through the A1 highway to the northwest of the mountains of Madrid, with the hope of seeing our favorite landscapes, or as in this case, to discover new horizons.

Something told me during the trip, that like all my routes in the mountains has had the ability to captivate and amaze me in some way, this would not be the exception. something that would be near to confirm just after leaving the highway into the road to Atazar.The first thing that caught my attention were the number of high bluffs and huge rocks that nature has taken care to place it over one another as who prepares for a special visit.

This, Scots pine and other species of trees that form a sort of patchwork of green mat very well placed and are stopped only to give way to boulders. This road is a curvy entrance to the reservoir of the Atazar surprisingly with plenty of water dammed by man, the narrow road and the cliffs, in an environment as natural as modern. Now I understand why, when passing through the Berrueco, te route of castles and fortresses, atracts many tourist in search os Spanish culture and Roman or in search or nature, vegetation and water, among other things, our case. Upon arrival at El Atazar, groups of bikers exhausted by fatigue, but face renewed and glowing eyes greet me with the certainty that causes the work done: Today we did a really good road, where are you going kid? into the path of Genaro! because you have half day ahead! The slope it´s dificult so I keep looking around me to enjoy where I am, but I only see pines, most common in the highlands down to the cliffs.





The trail is firm in general and the tyres that I put this week have been running like a charm, contrary to what I expected, because there are a trial tyre, but it was a decision successful.

This, Scots pine and other species of trees that form a sort of patchwork of green mat very well placed that stop only to give way to boulders. This road is a curvy entrance to the reservoir of the Atazar surprisingly with plenty of water dammed by man, the narrow road and the cliffs, in an environment as natural as modern.

 Now I understand why, when passing through the Berrueco, the route of the castles and fortresses, attracts many tourists in search of Spanish culture and Roman or in search of nature, vegetation and water, among other things,

At about 3 o'clock p.m. I prepare to start the route, a noise on the front wheel brake presage a failure to detect just to get half of my journey, where the descent begins. As well check out the clamps, pads and discs and can not find anything strange, I see the whole system in order, so I continued down a short stretch ready to open as soon as the climb. It is an hour too bad to start a climb as long as the oaks grow on the hillsides at the bottom, leaving nothing for shade and the temperature is 95ºF.

In any case I well prepared to keep hydrated during the trip and I take it easy to climb comfortably.

A rise I realize the typical constructions of stone and bees crops are noted among the trees. As we gained altitude, I see as we walked away from the dam, it looks so far although I have only a small part of the route, but it is normal, the increase is permanent and does not yield as much as we want, the slope is steep about 5 or 6 grades and we have to be patient, there are no more than another, that pedaling and pedaling, we are  here for this.

Breathtaking views, as the peak of the Three Provinces of Somosierra (route we have done recently) and the only animals that crossed my path this time were the goats.

After passing the highest point, I had to repair the brakes, losing about 45 min valuable in the evening and slow down too much, to my sorrow, the most fun. I wanted to make a short video from a point at the north end of the road where I stopped to rest a bit (sorry it's in spanish, I promise you the next will be in english), while I enjoyed the view but as you will understand, it is difficult to do as well as you want because with fatigue, hard to take a simple photo, but not what it costs me more, when I'm doing my chronic at home, it costs me more to choose from the photos I do.

Finally, just say that I come with me a lot of things of El Atazar: I have taken their landscapes, the Path of Genaro that is lovely and ideal for hiking and mountain bike and I keep the fondest memories of one of  places and most beautiful areas I've seen so far.

I stay with their people, with the fountain in the middle of nowhere in the mountains, I stay with this beautiful sunset I have seen way home and I stay with this smile on my face that I bring from the path of Genaro with the satisfaction of to use so well my day, because as Chamfort said: "the worst wasted of all days is that during which one has not laughed".

  Until the nex, Byeee!!!