Guardia rescue group of walkers lost in the hills

JIMENA (Agencies) It is all too easy to get lost in the cork forest of Los Alcornocales Nature Park, as a group of supposedly experienced walkers learned last weekend. Officers from the GC post at Jimena were alerted by a mobile phone call to the station, coming from the walkers themselves. They were lost, but thanks to the GC's exacting knowledge of the area, they were able to recognize some indicators. Having taken off for a long walk into the forest, they were now at a place known locally as Majada del Lobo. The search was on and the visitors were finally located and brought into the village safe and sound. This is hardly the first time this has happened in the park, and fortunately there are no injuries or worse to report. The Guardia Civil advises, though, that walking in these hills can be a risky business, however leisurely it may appear, so it is not a good idea to set out without excellent knowledge of the forest or without taking a guide.

¡Hasta la vuelta, amigos!

JIMENA Jimena's very active walking club, Caminete de Luna (named after a street in the village: Little Street of the Moon), were off yesterday evening to Aracena, in Huelva and the home of excellent jamón, where they are staying until Sunday. They have planned a host of activities, for walkers and their companions (i.e., not everyone is going to walk for miles in the countryside, right, Victoria (photo)?) Their website is easily translated into a comprehensible English (and just about any other language). ¡Buen viaje, amigos! (More photos below).

The Andalucían Coast to Coast CHARITY Walk, coming through Jimena

(From Guy Hunter-Watts) We are thrilled to tell you that next Spring, betweeen April 27th and May 17th 2011, a group of us will be undertaking a long distance walk to raise funds for a children's home in Nepal. And we would like to invite you to join us for the whole or a part of the trail. Our fundraising walk will be based on Guy's new guidebook, The Andalucían Coast to Coast Walk, a 21 day, 430 kilometre trail through the mountains of southern Spain. Each of the legs is a beautiful walk in its own right, covering a distance of between 16 and 27 kilometres, and thus within the capabilities of anyone of sound health who walks on a regular basis.>

Next outing is to Garganta El Huevo

The Asociación Deportiva Cultural Caminete de Luna, it's official title, though perhaps more easily known as los senderistas (sendero = path, so senderista = path walkers) and with whom we walked to Laja Alta last month (see photos below), are planning this month's trek to Garganta El Huevo (photo by Tobi Quirós), due to take place next Saturday, November 6. We gather at the Los Alcornocales campsite at 8.30am, from where we take cars (organize yourselves so there aren't too many vehicles) to La Vegueta La Negra (14Km), where we start the walk. This is about 10Kms there and back, with 2.5 softly uphill, and 2.5 downhill until we get to the garganta (a narrow passage in rivers, mountains, etc.). Reverse on the way back (natch!).  More important info below>

Laja Alta walking trip on Saturday

As we announced here, a walk to the prehistoric paintings at Laja Alta, organized by the Caminete de Luna walking group, takes place this Saturday. The meeting place is the Los Alcornocales campsite, setting out at 9am sharp (if you want breakfast at the campsite, get there early enough to avoid delays). The way from Jimena to Los Barracones is by car, so get organized at the campsite so's not to take too many cars. The route is 10 Kms there and back, with an easy incline up for 5 Kms, and downhill on the way back. There are about 100m of a sharp incline, is all. It should last between 4 and 5 hours and is classified as Medium-Easy. The organizers advise using the right clothes and shoes. Take drink and food. No dogs allowed, and it is strictly forbidden to pick plants, fruit, etc. Please be punctual.