SOUTHERN SPAIN

Summary

---

This hike takes you along the ridge line behind Mijas Pueblo. It’s a fairly exposed hike with unbeatable views in all directions, once you ascend to the ridge.

Trail Stats

---

Trail Details

---

Wanting an early start, we hired a cab for the short drive up to Mijas. The earliest bus wouldn’t have picked us up until 10. By 10 am we were well on our way up the mountain, happily avoiding direct sun by our early start. Granted, we were still huffing and puffing.

The first (and last as we came out this way as well) section was quite familiar as we had already gone through it on our hike from Benalmadena to Mijas.  It’s largely exposed, lots of loose rocks on the trail and rather steep. Pretty much sums it up. Lovely views though. Glad the sun wasn’t beating down on us on the way up!

Once again we passed by the Alzheimer’s memorial bench. It has a stunning view of the Mediterranean, though I chose not to sit there as it was in the sun and already hot. Instead I plopped down on a nice cool rock. Doug joined me and nearly squished a giant beetle. Imagine just minding your day and a ginormous rump comes flying toward you and just about flattens you. Yikes. Poor bug. Doug found a bug free rock to settle down on for a quick respite.

Hitting the trail again, we headed for the first peak of the day, Pico Mendoza. Or at least that’s what our Gaia app called it. Signs said something entirely different, Cerro Malaga. Whatever the name, we headed up and up, basically to the ridge line connecting all the day’s peaks.

Upon reaching the ridge, we turned right and found ourselves on a lovely shaded path under the low canopy of rather short trees. As the path heads toward the peak, it becomes more rocky and uncertain. The latter quickly became the theme of the day. One of those, “where did the trail go” days. Some route finding skills, or at a minimum, comfort with bush whacking would be advised. The trail will fade in and out quite a bit. For the most part you just need to follow along the ridge, toward Mijas Peak.

From the first peak, as with them all, we had 360 degree views. Mediterranean on one side, valleys and mountains on the other. You can see down the ridge line where we were eventually headed. Funny thing about hiking when there aren’t a ton of trees. You can see where you’re headed, so weird. And it looks SO far away. Yet it really isn’t all that far.

Back down along the ridge we hit a minor inconvenience. On our handy dandy Gaia map, we needed to head left off the main trail in order to hit the peaks. Seems simple enough. Except there was no obvious trail. No signs. No clear wide path. So we took a questionable offshoot that likely is the trail but might just be a goat path. As in Ibex. Or possibly wild pig. Turns out the hills are loaded with wild pigs in Spain.

Regardless, we walked through the rocks on possible trails, following the ridge. Sometimes we saw cairns and knew we were on a real trail. At some points the trail full on disappeared. Whatever. Keep on trucking. Loads of big rocks up there. Most excellent if you love hopping from rock to rock. I sure do! So much more fun than simply walking. Guess I’ve never outgrown this particular childhood delight.

I believe we were supposed to hit 5 peaks along this ridge line. We counted seven, though I’m not sure which two aren’t considered real “peaks”. As with finding the trail, determining what was the official peak between Mendoza and Mijas was difficult. Each mini (or real, who know’s) peak was marked with a pile of rocks. So they have either fooled other people, they are peaks without names, OR they simply have names we couldn’t find. All are equally likely possibilities. Regardless, each one gave an excellent excuse for a snack, with stellar views.

Mijas Peak is an obvious one. It has a bunch of stuff on it. Towers. A little cement platform you can sit on. Not sure what that’s actually meant for but it provides a great seat. Having been here recently, we chose to bypass this one and head out toward the remaining two peaks.

Here the trail is fairly obvious initially. Then it fades in and out as well. On the way out we skirted the ridge line edge. At points there are rather steep drop offs. Very pretty. Somewhere along the way I saw a perfect sitting rock. Wide enough for two rear ends, with a lower rock perfectly placed to rest feet upon. It was decided this would be a perfect lunch spot, if we didn’t like the upcoming summits.

At the first peak (after Mijas Peak) there were about a billion miniature wildflowers growing between the rocks. Quite lovely, though we decided to press on to the last peak. Which, it turns out, is a ways away. Loads of rock hopping and we definitely lost the trail and simply followed that ridge. The last peak is a rather wide grass covered (and yet still rocky) knoll. There’s a tower atop it. Nice views. Not the prettiest peak. Loads of bugs. Really annoying bugs flying all over the place. We decided we’d rather head back to my “perfect” spot than sit here and fight the flies for our sandwiches.

Heading back toward Mijas Peak we swung downhill a bit, having presumably found a genuine trail. A few minutes in Doug paused for a quick pit stop as we were in some trees. I kept going alone. Shortly thereafter, I was startled from hearing a snort and rustling in the bushes just below me on the trail. Those wild pigs are a thing. I very clearly saw one, luckily high tailing it out of there. Hooves pounding the ground in its escape. Pigs are surprisingly large. I don’t like pigs very much. Ever watch Old Yeller? Scary. Heard a story about a psychopath in Canada who fed their victims to the pigs. Turns out they eat everything. Bleh. No thanks. I like miniature pigs. Or potbelly pigs. Or jamon…. Or Iberian pork…. Doug seemed disappointed to have missed said pig. Tusks and all.

Not wanting to accidentally head too far downhill we were keeping our eyes peeled for a supposed connector trail back up to the ridge. We never found it. Ensue bush whacking our way up. I’m fairly certain the plants in Spain have it out for humankind. EVERYTHING is spiny, thorny, prickly or stings you. No joke. Stinging nettle is quite prevalent in the hills. Wading through the brush I came out with thorny brush all over my shirt and pants. Yuck. Each time I’ve had to peel that ridiculousness off me I’ve wound up with tiny thorns in my skin. So tiny I can’t get them out and they remain an irritation for a few days. So, naturally, there might have been some grumbling along with delicately plucking them out of my clothing and skin.

Back to the ridge line we quickly found my perfect spot. We were mighty hungry by now. Those very basic sandwiches tasted divine. Or at least edible. Getting pretty tired of ham sandwiches. However, the view was worth the wait. PERFECT spot for a sandwich.

When we returned to Mijas Peak we headed downhill, instead of retracing our way along the ridge. The initial downhill section we’d already done on a previous hike. So naturally I wasn’t paying 100% attention to my surroundings. A ways down the mountain, an Ibex leaped to its feet on the trail. Provided a nice surprise. We stared at it. The Ibex stared at us. We must not be seen as threatening because, with its beady eyes still trained on us, it lay back down in its dug out dust bowl. Providing a mild problem for us. The Ibex was in the way. And panting heavily. We did not want to disturb it. So we carefully went straight down the hill off the trail a little ways and then back over to the trail. The Ibex judged us heavily. It’s ok. I judged the Ibex right back. Why not pick one of the many spots in the shade if you’re hot and panting? Instead of laying in the hot sun on a dusty hot trail? No clue. I’d choose the shade.

After quite awhile of trotting down the same trail, we had a decision to make. Stay on the trail we’d already done or take a new trail. This new trail was faint and possibly steep. I had been trying to convince Doug to take this one for most of the way down. We took the little new trail.

This trail took us out to a point of sorts. Pretty up there. And then it dropped us down, eventually back onto the main trail out. Except this one went down at a shockingly rapid rate. Doug was not particularly pleased. For the most part the trail was apparent, only a few places did it fade out and require looking around. We survived just fine.

Eventually we made it back to Mijas Pueblo. Not really sure why coming back down always seems to take so long. This one felt like it took forever. Luckily, we arrived in Mijas with plenty of time to hit up our favorite Nougat shop, Sabor a Espana, and load up on tasty treats before catching a bus back “home”. The delectable smells coming out of that shop are oh so tempting. The aromas of caramelizing sugar and roasting nuts dominate the street.

Heading down the mountain, comfortably seated on the bus, we decided the Mijas Peaks were well worth the effort. While we saw one other person on the trail in the distance, we never actually came across anyone. Just a pig and goat. Go figure.

---