On the Edge: EA8/GC-023 Carrizo, a Volcanic Ridge perched 500m above the Atlantic
I’ve been steadily working my way through the summits on Gran Canaria, with only a few left now and today was a chance to bag my final peak on the western coast: Carrizo (EA8/GC-023).
Geert @PA7ZEE had left a comment noting that this one wasn’t easy, so I was expecting the usual steep, loose, friable volcanic rock that is typical of the west coast of Gran Canaria.
Looking at the contours on the map, it was clear that Carrizo had a huge and sheer drop on its Northern edge. I parked the car and started the ascent, climbing up towards the col or bealach (though I suppose you can’t call a col a bealach outside of Scotland!). Reaching the col opened up sheer views straight down to the Atlantic,
absolutely incredible.
From there, the route continued along a volcanic ridge of dubious quality. At times I felt like I was walking a cornice of friable rock. It was a spectacular ridge, without doubt one of the finest I’ve done, with section of it overhanding an almost 500 m of vertical drop down to the Atlantic. There was a great view of Teide and Tenerife beyond. The exposure was immense, and although not especially technical, it demanded constant care with the loose rock.
Approaching the summit, I realised space would be at a premium and it was! I collected a few rocks to create a stable mount for the Carbon Mini, using a Cairngorms mount waste pipe wedged between rocks. Less than one foot north and the mast would be heading for a rapid descent to the Atlantic!
I quickly set up for 2m and first in the log was my friend 'Mi Amigo Raúl EA8AMT, operating from the national park in Tenerife. It was great to work Raúl who has given me such good advice on all the routes and peaks in the canaries.
Raúl, gracias por todo tu apoyo en mis aventuras SOTA a Gran Canaria. Lo aprecio muchísimo y ha sido excelente. Fuerte Gracias.
I then set up my 10.9 m inverted-L vertical, my go-to antenna for the Canaries where the higher bands usually perform well back to Europe.
As I adjusted the antenna, being careful with the ridge and the sheer 500m drop to the Atlantic, I was treated to my first Brocken Spectre as the sea mist condensed and swirled past the peak in the sunlight. What a moment!
I began the activation on 10m, working Raúl EA8AMT on Tenerife stations and quickly logged contacts, including a difficult but excellent summit-to-summit with HB9BTI. Conditions on 10m were ok with good propagation to some of my SOTA friends back in the UK - adding two more fine Summit-to-Summits with Fraser @MM0EFI and Denis @MW0CBC
The descent demanded just as much care as the climb, the 500 m drop beside the path is never far away, and at times i felt like I was winter mountaineering with the danger of a cornice, in this case overhanging rocks. The views remained spectacular all the way down.
Carrizo is, without question, one of the finest summits I’ve done anywhere and certainly in the Canaries: dramatic, exposed, and immensely rewarding views. I’d highly recommend it to anyone visiting Gran Canaria, it’s only about a 350m ascent, but do mind how you go - exposed with friable rock. This requires upmost care!
