Climb to Sampol and La Picota or El Hermoso

Description of the Climb to Sampol and La Picota

From Morales to the bifurcation 2 Km

In the square of Morales (0h 00min), next to the road of Grañón, begins the route that crosses this road leaving behind the Fountain of the Romeros.

The Calle Real is used to say goodbye to the locality, which we will quickly leave behind.

The cement of the street soon gives way to the dirt track that, already in frank ascent, will take us away definitively from the population.

This cobblestone track leads us directly to the path that climbs from Corporales to the mountain. We follow the ascent facing a short but hard ramp that will make us gain the necessary height to enjoy the environment that surrounds us.

In front of us we have a long stretch of perfect track that, without such a marked slope, will take us without detours to the next crossroads where the Bifurcation (0h 35min) of the route is located.

At this point the route is at a crossroads where on our left we will see two options. The one on the right leads directly to La Picota, while the one on the left leads to Sampol.

Both options save the unevenness that separates us from the high area of the mountain although in a different way, one requires us from the beginning a wide effort to overcome the unevenness lowering the intensity as we approach the top, while the other saves for the end the most demanding area.

From the Bifurcation to Sampol 3,5 Km

If we decide to follow the path on the left almost immediately, we will be surrounded by the exuberant vegetation that surrounds most of the route.

Following the path without deviating in the paths or trails less defined that we are crossing, we arrive at the moment in which our track turns sharply to the left.

In front of us we find the possibility of continuing straight on following the path that maintains the line that marks the stream, usually dry, which runs to our left and will accompany us hidden by the vegetation in this part of the journey.

From this point the ascent is gradually gaining intensity without putting us in great difficulty for now. The path, from which we do not have to leave at any time, ascends through the interior of the forest interspersed with areas of good firm with other holes drilled by the water.

The stream gets in our path forcing us to cross it to undertake a hard ramp. The vegetation, which hardly lets even a ray of sunshine through, accompanies us at all times, giving us in very few areas something of margin where we can widen our field of vision.

It is in one of these clearings where our path suddenly disappears as if swallowed up by the bushes that surround us. Here in front of us we can see what looks like the trail where the journey continues, although actually our itinerary continues on the left.

Practically hidden by the vegetation we find as soon as we reach this clearing, to our left, the trail where we must continue. This part of the route, although it is usually cleared, alternates areas somewhat covered by vegetation with other more open areas.

Once the footpath is located, a hard stretch awaits us in which to the demanding slope we will have to add the particular struggle to make our way through the ferns that, no matter how much they clear, reclaim their space again.

The well-defined trail makes us gain height quickly, forcing us to take the ascent calmly, giving us the opportunity to enjoy the magnificent forest we are visiting.

After a while we reached the end of this ascent section, at the same time that the trail that brought us to this place comes to an end. To our right there is a wide track waiting for us that cuts through the dense forest we used to walk through.

When going out to the track the route continues through it started then a gradual descent that allows us to recover from the previous effort. This wide track crosses with others, which in turn act as firebreaks, leaving them behind.

When we begin to have the impression that we are heading down the mountain, our track draws a sharp turn, at which point we leave it to continue straight on following the path that begins at that same place.

This path leads us quickly to the short but imposing ramp that separates us from the summit of the Sampol (1h 50min), from where, if we go a few meters further along this same path, we can see the unbeatable views of Santo Domingo de la Calzada and its surroundings, from this place.

This same path, if followed, would take us without major complications to this very locality.

From Sampol to La Picota or El Hermoso 3,1 Km

Once enjoyed the deserved rest we headed to retrace part of what we had walked, returning on our steps.

Again we will see ourselves descending the strong ramp to go towards the wide track that we left before.

Now it's our turn to recover the lost height when we reach it. After a while we arrive at the detour (2h 15min), where the path took us before, here we can decide whether to continue towards La Picota or return descending the steep trail that hides among the vegetation.

The track will take us without major complications until the next summit of the day, but not before leaving to the left and right as many tracks and roads we find.

The route, an uncomfortable ascent and descent, no longer enjoys the pleasant shade that we were able to take advantage of our climb, fortunately we will not have to face any outstanding slope.

It is in one of these crossroads where, now, we will have to deviate to begin the short ascent that separates us from the summit of La Picota or El Hermoso (2h 40min), whose geodesic milestone we can already observe from below, serving as a reference to know when to leave the wide track.

From La Picota to the Bifurcation 2,6 Km

Once we have taken advantage of the location of this summit to contemplate, among many other options, the Sierra of La Demanda, we begin the descent that will take us to the end of the route.

Following the road that brought us here, which borders the milestone, we will see ourselves walking through a pleasant area of soft slides.

Almost at the moment we are in a new crossroads where our route continues for the option of the right of the two that are posed to us, beginning definitively the descent for now soft towards the valley.

An itinerary awaits us with no more detours, which gains inclination as we advance, leaving behind us the paths we find. The route already shows us clearly the strong slope that if we had followed this option at the beginning of the route we would have had to face.

Almost without warning we find ourselves at the bifurcation (3h 20min), where we meet again with the other part of the route. Now with no more variables we just have to follow the route we made at the beginning and that will take us to the detour with the road that leads to Morales (3h 40min).​

Where we leave the track that continues its rectilinear course that if we follow it would take us to the town of Corporales.

Technical data sheet of the route

Distance. 13.2Km

Return by the same route makes this figure increase significantly.

Time. 3:40h

Regardless of whether we choose one or the other route of ascent, we will not ostensibly see a variation in the total time that we will use for the route. If it is important to bear in mind that inside the forest we will pass through quite dense areas so that when the day falls the visibility will be much less than we might think.

Time of year

The characteristics of the forest through which the route runs make autumn one of the best times to visit these peaks as we will find a great and striking variety of reddish and ochre accompanying the usual greens of the area. Spring guarantees us the theoretical good weather that allows us to take full advantage of the wide panoramic views that these peaks have. The normally hot summer in these lands invites us to look for the freshness of the interior of the forest from which it will undoubtedly be difficult for us to get out.

Required equipment

It is advisable to wear long pants that protect us from direct contact with shrubs that grow in part of the journey, otherwise except the canteen with water and some food should not highlight anything more than usual. Clothing and footwear according to weather conditions, walking sticks and the usual sunscreen cream, sunglasses and cap or hat. For the large number of paths and trails that we will cross we can not miss the map and compass or failing that the GPS with its corresponding tracks that can serve as a query in case of doubt. Consult our list of material and equipment for hiking. Read more.

Difficulty. Medium

Physical

With some ramp of a certain magnitude, the route offers us the possibility of facing it calmly and finding areas where we can recover the forces lost in the strong ascents that are concentrated in certain points. It is not necessary to underestimate the heat that without a doubt will considerably increase the demand of the route.

Severity of the environment

Without difficulties of any kind we will only have to be attentive to avoid slips in the descent of the trail if we decide to go down it. The geodesic vertices are elevated on pillars that in turn are equipped with steps to climb up to them, this is where we must assess the need or not to climb and of course check the status of the steps before climbing them.

Orientation

An unmarked route with multiple crossroads that extend the different possibilities of reaching these summits from different places and that in some cases communicate one route with another. It is therefore advisable not to leave the route we know and always carry with us a map and compass, as well as the GPS with the tracks in case we need it. Even so, as we almost travel along well marked tracks, we should not have any problem to follow the proposed route and orientate ourselves. In case of fog one of the most important reasons to get close to the summits is lost, besides complicating us considerably to maintain the correct course.

Coordinates UTM Datum WGS84

Profile of the route

Cartography, maps and tracks

This sketch of the route is not made to scale nor does it contain all the information relating to the area, it is merely indicative.

This schematic with the path is approximate and has been created from the derived cartographic base © Instituto Geográfico Nacional "Cuadrante 201-1, 202-2, 202-3 y 202,4 1:25.000"

Senditur has manipulated the tracks to correct the aberrant points that may exist, caused by problems with the reception of the GPS signal. In any case the tracks are always approximate. SENDITUR encourages you to use the new technologies within your reach, using them as support and consultation in your activity, not basing the realization and orientation of the same only and exclusively on them, since they may see their functioning altered by very diverse causes, not functioning correctly and their indications may not be precise.