Motivation
I dreamed about climbing this one, as I frequently visit the area on holidays each year. After studying maps and tracks I decided the time has come for the activation.
Date: July 21st 202 6
The cl imb
This mountain has a unique characteristic for having the highest elevation that close to the Cantabrian sea.
Here is the track I foll owed:
- Trail length: 4,9 km (one way)
- Mountain elevation: 643 m asl
- Elevation gain from the parking: 575 m
- Time from parking to the summit: 2h 10min (more than expected !)
The path starts at the entrance of a camping, located in Castro Urdiales.
You just park at 43.3888, -3.2392 and proceed walking by the left road that soon converts into a path.
After the first flat section of the track, you turn left and the serious hike starts on a long and steep path. Despite the effort you are rewarded by the first clear views of the target summit over nice & colorful fern and heather fields, while the open sea is at your back:
After walking that long slope, you turn right and get on by a narrower path. Despite time is passing you keep watching that bulky and stony summit with the feeling it is still far away!
Running parallel to my path there is a wider gravel road leading to a relay antenna (seen left in the previous photo) but you don’t reach that place.
At one point you meet a megalithic menhir called as “Ilso el grande”, a 1,87 meter tall cuboid stone, dated in V – III b.C (Neolithic). This acts as a gate marking the deviation towards the final approach to the summit, that soon gets near:
As you get closer you see the impressive rocky mass, looking like an impenetrable castle. You must follow the tiny path that navigates you towards the top, or you’ll get lost, because there are few signs of how to progress. A GPS track is of big help.
I finally arrived in the summit, a small and very irregular area, where you shall be careful with your steps. A concrete cylinder and a small mountain mailbox stand in front of the wide blue sea in the background.
The activation
I was glad I had anticipated difficulties to setup a large wire antenna like the EFHW. Therefore, I brought a small 3 meter loaded vertical antenna, together with 4 short 2-meter radials. It wasn’t windy so I simply laid the light fishpole on a good rock. The antenna didn’t move a bit for the next hour: great!
Day was bright but hot, so I opened a big umbrella with a 50 UV protection layer that provided a good shade for me and my gear. I connected my QMX rig, powered by three 18650 Li-Ion cells.
I had a long descent, so I quickly ran on 14 MHz SSB & CW, logging 46 QSO, including S2S with the frequent ever-present Fabio @IK2LEY, Bruno @HB9CBR, Juan @EA1AER and a few more, like Jürg @HB9BIN, today from a POTA.
It was good to greet friends on air while watching the sea and the small maritime cities at the distance.
I called it a day, put back the gear in the rucksack and got down, enjoying again the views and trying not to disturb some animals.
Historical tip of the day: Saint Anton castle
On my way back I visited the ruins of an old XIV century castle that was built for the surveyance of the sea and served as to protect the pilgrims of the way of St. Jacques.
The ruins show a few walls and the remainder of the annex convent .
The views from the top were beautiful showing the obvious reason for this defensive spot:
Thanks all and CU soon. 73 Ignacio
