OUTDOORSmagic Goes International

The first ever OM meet, and some would argue, the best ever, happened back in the summer of 2001 when the site was young and innocent and ten-odd slightly nervous OMers met up in Snowdonia for a weekend of near perfect weather. Back then, the idea of an international OM Meet-Up seemed, very, very distant. Four years later it's about to happen. OMer Dave Mycroft takes up the story...

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OK, it's a long way off, but the first international OM meet has been organised to bring in the new year this December 31st. Following on from the boom in meets over the last 12 months and a very successful New Years Eve meet on Snowdon at the end of 2004 we're off to sunny Spain.

Now when most people think of Spain they think "Costa Del Whatever, Sun, Sea Sand and Lager Louts", or if you're the OM type you think "Pyrenees" or maybe "Sierra Nevada" - but there's more to Spain than these traditional haunts. We're heading off to the two-and-a-half thousand metre peaks of the Gredos mountain range in central Spain.

The Gredos Mountains are an unspoilt and still relatively wild area, but are easily accessible to the British walker or climber with cheap flights available from budget airlines to either Madrid or Vallodolid. In summer the Sierra de Gredos, which forms part of the Sistema Central, boasts impressive walking, mountain biking and rock climbing. In winter the emphasis changes to guaranteed snow, with a choice of skiing, snowboarding, ice climbing or good old winter walking.

Vivagredos...

Although the area has an impressive list of quality refuges spread throughout the mountains, we're planning on staying at Casa Tio Juan in Hoyos del Espino in the heart of the Gredos. Casa Tio Juan is an impressive property boasting six twin bedded rooms, fully fitted kitchen/dining room and communal areas - so we're not exactly slumming it.

Fortunately the house is owned and run by an English couple, Adam and Barbara, who are only too willing to give us the benefit of their local knowledge and contacts and arrange luxuries like having essential provisions awaiting us on arrival.

Highlights of the meet are to include an ascent of Almanzor (8,504ft) - see pic - and a trek to the Laguna Grande lakes. Other plans include making the most of skills picked up at the Ice Factor to have a go at climbing a series of frozen waterfalls about 10 miles away from our base in Hoyos del Esdpino.

When the idea was first mooted it took less than two hours before people not only agreed that it was a great idea, but also put their money where their mouths were to fill all 12 available places. Unfortunately this means that the meet is presently full - but we're running a reserve list in case anyone drops out, and if there's enough extra interest we can also check out the availability of additional accommodation and camping in the same area to increase the numbers. [If you're interested, use the author link to e-mail Dave - Ed]

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