Читать книгу The Sierras of Extremadura. 32 half and full-day walks in western Spain's hills онлайн

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THE WELL OF SNOWS

Before the invention of the refrigerator, the collection, storage and sale of snow was an important source of revenue. In winter, local people would climb the mountain ranges and roll the snow into balls of ice; they would put an oak branch through the ball, allow it to freeze overnight and then carry the ball over their shoulders down the mountains to a specially built ‘well of snows’ (pozo de las nieves). The balls were stored in the well, tamped down into disc shapes and every few metres were covered with straw. In the summer months the ice was cut, wrapped and transported all over the region for the preservation of food and the chilling of drinks.

From the well, continue all the way around to the right and look ahead on a small footpath. There is a metal gate in a fence; go through and follow the small granite markers to the left – not the right – to climb towards the summit. (At one point there is a junction on the left but this is where the return from the summit rejoins the path.) Ascend in zig-zags on the footpath guided by the markers. Near the top, go through a second metal gate, turn right and explore the summit area where there is a geodesic marker. The views looking south are of Hoyos, and to the left can be seen Pico Jañona (Walk 3) and the Torre de Almenara (Walk 4).