M

al Abrigo-SieteLomas
Go deep into the Valley

Introduction Itineraries Natural environment Uses and customs

1 2 2

3 4 9 5 6 7 8

M
6

al Abrigo-Siete Lomas
at a glance
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Mal Abrigo Rock Mal Abrigo Spring Pico Cho Marcial El Refugio Lomo del Camello Vineyards Lomo de los Pelados Madroos 1000 metres Canal Almondtrees and durazneros

Introduction
Mal Abrigo is located on the border of Gmar and La Orotava municipalities, in the northern range of the island. is area is characterized by the common presence of a smooth wind regime coming from the northeast and low temperatures of the mountaintops, causing a cold thermal sensation that has suggested the mentioned place-name. From this point, the route goes deep into the Gmar Valley, guiding the hikers through eroded summits and volcanic lands, crossing the Valleys pine and going along steep hills that oer excellent views from Medianias places to the coast. To get into the Valley by the Lomo de los Pelados, where one of the highest vineyards of Spain is located, or alternatively by the Lomo del Camello or Las Dehesas, will imply to opt for the most physical diculty routes, since the great unevenness combined with long duration, over 6 hours, will require a considerable eort. Undoubtedly, this is the best route to become immersed in the Valley.

149

e erosion by wind and water shapes the pro le of the Hills above the 1800 meters.

Malabrigo-Siete Lomas

Malabrigo-Siete Lomas

Itineraries
MAL ABRIGO - LOMO DE LOS PELADOS ROUTE Starting Point: Mal Abrigo Rock(main road to Las Caadas del Teide) Ending Point: Chacaica. Gmar centre Length: 15,20 km Maximum level: 2200 m Minimum level: 395 m Total ascent: 0m Total descent: 1805 m Total time(without stops, with sport speed):4h 30 min Time on route: 7h Difculty: Hich Risk of mislaying: High Risk of dangerous falls: Slim Rockslides: Slim Vertigo risk: Slim Mountain-Bike: Suitable, moderate difculty, moderate dangerousness Services on route: Saveral (in the Ending Point) ALTIMETRY: is route is characterized, from the technical point of view, for their considerable length and by its marked unevenness; hence we propose its route in downward. is option involves less physical diculty and reward the feat with the arrival to the centre of Gmar, where a range of restaurants and rural hotels will allow us to recover our energies while enjoying the charms of the municipality. e starting point for the itinerary is located in the Roque de Mal Abrigo. To reach this milestone, it must go in the Teide National Park direction and then take the road TF 24. e track forest of our route begins at kilometer 34.8 of such road, about 2,200 meters of altitude, closer the Roque de Mal Abrigo. Although we could descend in no more than 2 hours with a mountainbike, this alternative is not recommended if there are no broad experience with the bicycles. is fact is due to the unevenness of the last stretch, which involves considerable risk of falling for cyclists. In addition, before arriving to this section, you must cross a stretch of 1.5 kilometres on foot through a footpath. If it chooses the hiking, the average length reaches 6-7 hours. e rst stretch of the route runs by area of pre-park, going through a dark volcanic landscape that combines with the resistant retamas del Teide, adapted to extreme conditions of temperature and humidity. A few 50 metres from the beginning of the route there is a fork to right, with a barrier. It is an access to a small shelter forest guards. Behind the refuge, there is a footpaths hardly perceptible that descends until the Source of Mal Abrigo, about 200 metres from the refuge. Continuing now the descent by the main track and a er some 2.3 kilometres of trail, the second fork in this track is now on the le , leading to the surroundings of the Mountain Bold, ending in a small esplanade where people o en have installed beehives ( owering season). If you have enough time it is worth entering this track in slight descent. You will enjoy the spectacular view of Pico Cho Marcial. e track is roundtrip and takes 40 minutes in it. is track is not in good condition so that the transit in bicycle can be very dicult. Returning to the beginning of the fork and leaving it backwards you have to pursue the descent in the track forest that accompanies the route from the starting point. e excellent panoramic of the Gmars Valley is improved with wonderful views of the island of Gran Canaria. It is also very impressive the well known phenomenon of clouds sea, delimited between the 1000 and 1500 meters of altitude. A er an hour and a half of descent (2h10min if it is done previously the route towards Cho Marcial), the route goes deep into the Corona Forestal. Here
Malabrigo-Siete Lomas

151

152

Malabrigo-Siete Lomas

Itineraries
is a exuberant pinewood that provides the desired shade and freshness to accompany the way during the following two hours away. e main architectural element in the route is located once reached the crossing with the Track of the Valley. It is a Refuge built to house the workers who were commissioned to repopulate the Corona Forestal of the Gmars Valley. curve on the le . en you must continue some 700 metres until you nd in the right range of track two markers that indicate the beginning of the footpaths that descends towards the Lomo of Los Pelados. MAL ABRIGO - LOMO DEL CAMELLO ROUTE Starting Point: Mal Abrigo Rock(main road to Las Caadas del Teide) Ending Point: la Hoya Square. Gmar centre Length: 19,40 km Maximum level: 2200 m Minimum level: 340 m Total ascent: 80 metros ( contain return route to Pico Chomarcial) Total descent: 1940 m Total time(without stops, with sport speed):5h 30 min Time on route: 8h 30 min Difculty: High Risk of mislaying: High Risk of dangerous falls: Moderate Rockslides: Slim Vertigo risk: Moderate Mountain-Bike: NO ( Lomo del Camello unsuitable for Mountain-Bike) Services on route: Several ( in the Ending Point) ALTIMETRIAS: ALTERNATIVE ROUTE: DESCENT BY THE LOMO DEL CAMELLO UNTIL THE DISTRICT OF THE HOYA Although this option is a bit longer than the main itinerary (an extra hour of descent on foot), the landscapes that are appreciated during the journey balance the additional eort that involves. From the Refuge of the Track del Valle you have to descend to the le for 40 minutes until you nd a closed curve on the le . In this curve there is a fork to right. It is a forest track that extends south, towards the Ladera de Gmar. Once again, this route is not recommended in bicycle because there is a fairly long stretch to be carried out by foot, be-

153

e rst stretch of the footpath goes deep through a dense pinewood. Although the pinocha has partially lled the path you can distinguish the way. A er a kilometre of descent approximately, is le behind the pine and we can envisage a majestic view of the Gmars Valley. It has come at the beginning of Lomo de Los Pelados although you still have to cover a stretch of about 200 meters through a not conditioe Track del Valle extends to the right to- ned footpath to achieve the track forest and the rst wards Anocheza (check its chapter) and le into constructions and vineyards. Las Dehesas (check its chapter). We have to take this direction continuing the descent towards the From that point, the descent is quite pronounced and lasts about two hours more for that going on Lomo of Los Pelados. foot (20 minutes, for those descending by mountainWe continue immerse on the track during bike) to the street Trasmuro, in the neighborhood of 40 minutes, under pinewood, until arriving at a Chacaica (see chapter e Menora-Chacaica for more closed curve to the le . In this curve there is a fork information on this area). to right. It is the beginning of an alternative route is nal stretch means overcoming a gap in (Lomo del Camello) that will be detailed in the descent of 1000m in a approximately stretch of 5.5 kinext section. lometres and makes it especially hard for hikers with e main route continues on this closed no previous experience.
Malabrigo-Siete Lomas

154

Malabrigo-Siete Lomas

Itineraries
coming completely uncomfortable for those trans- and passes through forest track during some 2 kiloporting bicycles since there are several areas of big metres. e Way of Las Coloradas extends until the vegetation just on the footpath. Plaza del Barrio the Hoya asphalt track by a sharp descent in between farms and land. is is your ending e track forest becomes gradually in a fo- point. otpath, more or less in a distance of 1.5 kilometres. e descent continues between pines, on the edge Another alternative would do not go the that separates the ravine of Rio and the ravine of Lomo de Los Pelados but to continue straight Corral de las Ovejas. A er some 700 metres you ahead on the Valley forestall track until the end of will reach to a small esplanade that can be consi- this one. From that point you must continue follodered as a viewpoint. It is recommended to rest for wing the guidelines detailed in the chapter of the a while and recover energy by taking a picnic. circular route Las Vistas Las Dehesas. e next stretch (1.5 kilometres) oers spectacular landscapes of both ravines to the right and le , and brings us, going through a hill full of madroos, until the track forest of the path of Las Coloradas. Once reached this track we will recover energy and we can recharge the supplies of water as there is famous channel, called the 1,000 meters channel that goes up to the region of Agache passing through the Barranco de Badajoz (Badajozs Ravine) and Barranco del Ro (Ros Ravine). It is not recommended transit through this channel since there is no a footpaths. e descent from this point is equally sharp
Malabrigo-Siete Lomas Malabrigo-Siete Lomas
Pista del Valle.

SPECIAL RECOMMENDATIONS
*Do not miss coats to take precautions of possible changes in the weather conditions. * Since the route is long and presents hard unevenness you must be t. *Do not leave the described route. Diverse paths exist that lead to very steep places. *Take provisions of food and water. ere are not services on the route.

155

156

Peak Cho Marcial observed om the track that descends om Mal Abrigo.

Natural environment
Mal Abrigo, located about 2000 meters of altitude, shows considerable dierences in temperature between the day and night because of the presence of winds. is fact in uences its natural conditions for hosting life, becoming a place inhospitable where the plant and animal life have to withstand adverse weather conditions. Since the Roque de Mal Abrigo, a mound of basalt rock of the place, you will have magni cent panoramic both the north of Tenerife, with the island of La Palma on the background, as of the strand southeast of Tenerife, with Gran Canaria on the background. Here there is a predominance of summit ora, being the broom, the rosalillo de cumbre or pajonera grass the inhabitants most abundant. In the spring season arrives, with the owering, in nity of bees invade the area. Over the 1800 m altitude begins the Natural Park of the Corona Forestal with a leafy pine forest canary that extends to the known Protected Area of Siete Lomas, where the Lomo de Los Pelados is located. e woodpecker, the nch blue and the canarian mosquitero break the natural silence in the area. Downwards, already on the 1400 meters of altitude, begins the cultivation of the vine along with any that another g tree and some almonds. e original Monteverse has disappeared in favour of vineyards. e dances of the vencejos, warning of a change in the weather, draw the a ention of the hikers. Between the level of 600 metres and 1500 metres the clouds sea takes place. In outline, is a dry climate, with average annual temperature of 14 degrees and a strong dierence between the day and night and between the summer and winter (thermal daily oscillation as well as seasonal).
Corona Forestal vista desde la Pista del Valle cerca de Anocheza.Corona Forestal observed form the Valley rural track (near Anocheza).

159

160

atural Park: Large spaces, not transformed by the exploitation or human occupation and whose natural beauties, fauna and ora, as a whole, are considered a unique natural heritage of the Canary Islands. Its statement aims the preservation of natural resources that is home to the public enjoyment, education and scienti c research in a manner consistent with their conservation, not taking place uses residential or other unrelated to its purpose.

Malabrigo-Siete Lomas

Malabrigo-Siete Lomas

Uses and customs

Although e Lomo de Los Pelados was adapted for the cultivation of cereals and vineyards, currently exists only grapes as cultivation in the area. e Lomo de Los Pelados is located between 1000 and 1400 metres altitude for what it possesses one of the highest vineyards in Spain and probably, in the whole Europe. Here the white grape grown practically without competence, in small terraces where land contains more organic ma er and is subject to the temperature dierence that occurs between the day and night, thus resulting an excellent white wine. It is curious the landscape that some winters leaves in this place with the snow and vineyards as leading roles. Also beekeeping continues being an important industry for Gmar. Near Mal Abrigo a signi cant amount of bees is placed pro ting the large population of broom located in the surroundings. In the past was very important the exploitation of pinewood all around the Valley for extraction of pez used in the waterproo ng of houses and ships, and in their construction. Such demand eroded the population of pine canary seriously, which was exacerbated in the early decades of twentieth century with the increasing activity pastoral that emerged in the Valley.
Malabrigo-Siete Lomas

161

Later on, a proper policy of reforestation recovered the force of the Corona Forestal Natural Park until reaching the current landscape, making it one of the main locations of pine canary in the south side of the island. he Refuge (El Refugio): It is a haven of mountain built by the municipality of mar in the period of restocking the pine forest in the area. e construction consists of a single habitat of something more 162 than 20 square meters with a home to the fund. In the outside, a small underground reservoir covered the water needs of workers that contributed in such restocking, although it no longer be used by the Sendero must have their own provisions. is refuge lacks today in maintenance but is also useful if you need shelter by adverse weather conditions (wind, snow, rain).

Malabrigo-Siete Lomas