yadam.de - Gipfeltouren: Morro del Guirre (1258m)

Morro del Guirre (1258m) Camino del Pinar
Region: Canarian Islands -> Gran Canaria -> Parque Natural de Pilancones

Character: Morro del Guirre is the name of a neat but humble peak at the northern verge of the Pilancones reservation which proves a worthwile excursion when hiking the Pinar way at San Bartolomé. Beside the impressive vista at the central highland with the Pico de las Nieves (1951m) the Guirre grants - due to its minor height - easy access even for "beach corpses" in no good shape. An actual ascent path to the summit doesn't exist so you will have to do some trailblazing work. Only sparsely occuring footprints will reveal the fact that you - as always - are not the first one.
Data: Ascent: 2.75h Descent: 2h Height difference: 400m	Skill level:
	Gear: Day trip
Starting point: San Bartolomé de Tiranjana (891m)
Course: In San Bartolomé follow the road up to the playing field. Behind the Mirador branches a gravel road off to the right (watch for the sign "Camino del Pinar"). A few minutes later you will pass a grunting hog factory. Hence the path narrows and ascends - first slightly, later a bit steeper - underneath the impressive rockfaces of the Morro de las Vacas ("Cow Muzzle", 1428m) to Manzanilla Pass (1182m). A sign points to the beginning of the nature reservation (hence please do not deposit any more toxic waste). At the junction you will have to turn right. The path becomes a broad and easy to go road, which winds around the Pilancones glen and a spur of the Morro Guanil (1376m). This is where the Guirre first comes in sight. Ignore the path branching off to the left a kilometer further on and stay on the main road. Eventually you will meet a small vantage crest to the left. Just before that leave the Camino del Pinar and head on for the Morro del Guirre. You will have to negotiate two hills before reaching the foot. The most conveniant ascent route leads over the northeastern slope. Oddly appearing footprints may prove if you are on the right way or not. The summit turns out to be a narrow ridge and the highest point is easy to figure out (marked by a towering splinter of rock). The panorama is magnificent: to the north there lie the steep crags of the central massif with the famous rock needle Roque Nublo and the island's main peak Pico de las Nieves, in the southwest the big water reservoires. Descent: back to where you left the Camino del Pinar, pursue it to the road at Cruz Grande. A fancy Camino real ("royal way") leads back to San Bartolomé from there.
Hints: The almost picturesque village San Bartolomé is accessible from the southern tourists' strongholds (Maspalomas y Playa del Inglés) via bus (No.18). Start: San Fernando; Travel time: nearly an hour; Costs: a mite
Links: Touristic walks in the south of Gran Canaria El Guirre se extingue en Canarias - The Guirre, better known as Neophron percnopterus percnopterus, is a vulture, which was indigenous on the Canaries but which is meanwhile nearly extinguished. An appreciable population only exists on Fuerteventura now.
[Alpenreport]