30.06.2022 Anspruchsvolle Besteigung des Pico do Meio Dia

Course

Unfortunately our only tour in 2022 with our trusted guides from Madeira Wonder Hikes; all the others literally fell through in the rain...

We climbed the usual access from the road to the Miradouro do Pastel up to the Levada da Achada Grande.

The start of the path onto the Pico do Meio Dia is immediately opposite, and then it went up onto the ridge and on along the ridge to the summit.

There are actually several summits; it goes more or less always up and down, until the short descent towards Poio das Rabacas begins. You meet the relatively broad path along the Ribeira dos Moinhos.

On this as far as the Madre of the Levada da Achada Grande.

From here along the Levada da Achada Grande to an alternative descent that had recently been cleared.

At the end we were back on the road to the Miradouro do Pastel.

Distance: 6.1 Km, 546 Hm ascent, 546 Hm descent

Start: 09.05 road to the Miradouro do Pastel

End

16.50 road to the Miradouro do Pastel

Condition

The ascent really should only be done with guides who know the ground.

In places nicely open, but in between a fair amount of work was needed before you could get through the undergrowth.

The ridge is in places nicely broad, but in others only 50 cm wide and exposed on both sides; that calls for absolute sure footing and a head for heights. Sometimes you also have to climb on the narrow ridge!

The descent on the, as always, slippery path along the Ribeira dos Moinhos was then positively restful....

The alternative descent from the Levada da Achada Grande is clearly more pleasant, because it is less slippery.

Remarks

A spectacular but very demanding walk; warm thanks to our guides Marcio and Jorge!