La Mira (2343m) from Nogal del Barranco via the Refugio Victory.
The walk to the Refugio Victory from the roadhead above Guisando follows a very well-made path in the main. The continuation to the summit of La Mira requires more complex route-finding through loose scree and boulder fields to emerge from a steep gully on to an extensive granite plateau, uncannily similar to the Cairngorms! All-in-all it makes a very satisfying mountain day.
The path progresses from pine forest through a zone of fragrant scrub, including juniper and lavender, overlooked by spectacular cliffs and pinnacles. The hut is very popular with rock climbers, giving easy access to routes on the pinnacles of Gran Galayo, and makes a very convenient stopping-point on the ascent and descent with a source of clean water which was very welcome on a hot day. The plateau by contrast was swept by a familiar-feeling NW wind, giving a wind chill down to low single figures.
A good complement to our trip to the Cirque de Gredos: the approach is from the south rather than the north of the watershed, with contrasting landscape and a more diverse geology and flora.
