The Sierra de Guadarrama has received the first snowfall of the season, and Peñalara, the highest peak of the Community of Madrid, has been dyed white in the first week of November, just in time for the bridge, which makes main attraction for mountaineers and hikers.
Between Thursday afternoon and dawn on Friday, the flakes have covered the summit and its surroundings from 2,000 meters altitude, leaving between one and two centimeters of white mantle in the upper areas, according to the State Meteorological Agency and local mountain accounts.
The cold continues in Peñalara
Low temperatures and the forecast of more cold for the weekend require extreme caution. In Peñalara, values between -3°C and 3°C are expected, with wind chill of up to -12°C due to the wind. In addition, morning fog banks and ashes complicate visibility, and AEMET recommends consulting the weather forecast daily and equip yourself adequately if you are going to climb the mountain. The small thickness of snow may increase in the coming days if low temperatures and light rains continue, but for now no large accumulations are expected.
The Peñalara experience in winter is as spectacular as it is demanding. The routes from Puerto de Cotos to the summit require, on snowy and icy days, basic mountain equipment including crampons, ice axe, thermal clothing and wind protection, as well as paying attention to the state of the snow and the updated avalanche report. It is also advisable to get up early to avoid saturation of the parking lot and warmer hours, which can increase the risk of landslides or cornices. The park has regular controls of the state of the snowpack by forestry agents to prevent incidents and assess the safety of the routes.
If you plan to climb this bridge to Peñalara or any other corner of the Sierra de Guadarrama, the main recommendation is to be well informed, check the material and be cautious in the mountains.