I’ve got some ‘proper’ hikes planned for this trip, but I started with what could be considered an easy activation (just to see if all the kit does what I want it to do).
It would be foolish to underestimate the potential of getting lost or injured (whether you’re in familiar or unfamiliar territory). The usual precautions apply.
Whilst I have experience in the EA5/AT region, I won’t pretend to have local knowledge HI. There’s good information on SOTLAS - also, thanks to @EA5IYL for making suggestions as well as being my local contact for this trip - I think we should award points to local facilitators. 
Parking at (38.698409, -0.284197) is the easiest option, however I parked further down the track to get a few extra meters on my legs in preparation for the bigger days out.
A very useful site (which I’ve used for years): Walks in Spain
You’ll see the areas this site covers on the main page. If you’re visiting the EA5 region, there’s a facility to search by summit name. Another nice way to find routes to/from summits in the area.
I got to the summit rather quickly, and I was rewarded with lovely views. To the south, the Aitana ridge. To the north, La Serella. Looking south-east, you can see the Guadalest reservoir in the valley.
North west:
South east:
North:
It was a bit ‘airy’ at the top, with wind coming in from the south. I found a tree which provided perfect shelter, setting up the station in about 10 minutes.
These parts tend to be very dry, with lots of limestone. I managed to peg my mast down, and it initially survived the gusts.
I found it difficult to find a free frequency on 20m - I would check whether the frequency was in use a few times (no replies), then call CQ… to then find faint QSOs in the background whilst in the process of spotting myself. Not the easiest day. I found the same to happen on 40m.
I gave up and chased a POTA station F8EXM. I scanned around to find EG1WWA calling CQ, which was my next contact.
A few times, by SWR protection kicked in - I have mine set at 2. The gusts were causing this to happen. I found that it locked the radio up - requiring a reboot. I will RTFM later today, to see if this is normal behaviour or whether I need to do some digging (first time I experienced this).
I eventually found a ‘free’ frequency on 20 and called CQ. I was chased by @SV2RUJ who was on SV/TL-091 for a S2S. Next, EA7GV.
4 contacts - then I watched my mast lean over, further and further until it unerected itself. Perfect - less to dismantle.
Beautiful views descending - especially to the south and south-west.
Confrides (south/south-east) during descent:
South-west, during descent:
WX is VERY windy today, so unlikely to be playing. Mischief resumes tomorrow,
Get well soon Mikel - a perfect day for resting (I’ve not left the house all day - doors keep opening and closing themselves and the gusts are only getting stronger).
