We are still in Spain and on our way to see a giant, the alluring Sierra de Cazorla which is Spains largest protected area.
Having spent the weekend in Sta Elena high in the Desfiladero de Despeñaperros, enjoying the food wine and brandy at El Mesón and of course, catching up on the laundry, (one of those necessities)
Monday morning we were back on the road early and enjoying the views towards the mountains of Mágina with its peak at 2167 meters.

As we climbed higher we can see towns like Santisteban del Puerto sitting high above the crop of endless Olive trees.

By lunchtime, we are on a very small road on the North face of the Sierra de Cazorla and stop for our lunch at the Embalse de Aguascebas. The peace is complete just vultures soaring overhead.

During the afternoon the road had deteriorated considerably and we were encountering patches of snow and ice covering the surface, not melting away due to the long mountain shadows. It was still a fairly long journey to the town of Tranco and we were hoping to visit the Garganta on the way.

Luck was not with us and after crossing a lengthy patch of ice and snow followed by a blind right bend, we could see the road impassable, we could see sunshine across the valley but there in the shadow of the steep mountain, snow, and thick ice blocking the road, not helped by the steep gradient of the road.
We had no alternative other than turn round, a precarious experience on the narrow mountain road. Our problems were not over though, as we could not get the grip upwards through the ice and snow that we had crossed coming down. The only chance of getting out before the temperatures dropped again was to dig through the ice and snow. Taking it in turns with our emergency shovel we both cleared snow and chipped through the ice, followed by three attempts to drive out we eventually made it some hours after arriving.

The following morning still licking our wounds but feeling upbeat, we set off on a new route around the Sierra,
Our upbeat feeling bolstered further when Linda spotted a herd of Female Ibex and their young on the mountainside.

Ibex are herd animals dictated by gender. Males in one herd, females and their young in another. Sometimes a male will roam alone, they come together mainly in the breeding season.
This is a female herd, it seems, otherwise quite difficult to tell them apart as they both, male and females have large curved horns, which are used at the breeding time for sexual selection and of course for defending their territories.

By lunchtime, we were close to the Sierra Cazorla visitors center
 (Torre del Vinagre) and a good time to stop for Lunch. The river Guadalquivir passes below the center so a good place to park, probably too early in the year to see a Dipper or countless dragonflies and butterflies that can be found here.
 The setting was serene and it appeared impossible that this small waterway would soon become that mighty river that we have seen causing destructive flooding through Cordoba and its environs in past years, eventually giving life to the Donana National Park, Europes most important wetlands.
   

On the opposite river bank, a fawn makes a hasty departure, following Mum and sibling who have already disappeared.

Refreshed we spend the afternoon climbing, passing towns like Hornos constructed around the cliff face.

Sadly we are looking directly into the strong sunshine, "I know you cannot have everything and we are just so happy to have seen them" 

At last! with the sun starting to set we had made it across the mountain. Opening out in front of us the beginnings of Andalucia's badlands and our night stop at Puebla de Don Fadrique.

The next morning view was magnificent, we could see in the far distance the Sierra Nevada.

On the roadside above Castril, we find an Olive Oil co-operative and can't resist buying some of their fresh pressed oil.
  

Above Castril, the Embalse del Portillo.

Our journey has again turned us North, leaving the Sierra Nevada behind us. 

From the narrow mountain road, we looked down on the heavily eroded and semi-barren mesa.

The road crosses deep gorges with no winter sun as it snakes higher.

A fine view towards the Puerto de Tiscar and the watchtower Alalaya del Infante Don Enrique. Also the Church of Santuario de Nuestra Señora de Tiscar the historical patron of Cazorla and the most religious figure in these mountains.
Both dwarfed by the towering Picón del Rayal rising to 1835 meters and the highest mountain in this Southern section of the park. The name "Rayal" meaning "frontier" during the Middle Ages. Along with the watchtower are a reminder that this was the border between the Morrish Kingdom of Granada and Christian Spain for almost three centuries
Today a good place for observing large numbers of Vultures and Eagles and also these beautiful Spanish Ibex.

Ibex are herbivores and have to spend most of their day eating the mountain shrubs, bushes, and grass which is of low nutritional worth, so it is quite surprising to see a few of them laying in the warm sunshine.

They have a lifespan of approximately 17 years.
This quite surprising when you see the precarious positions they get themselves into whilst looking for food.
They are actually able to jump 6 feet (1.8metres) straight up without having to move forward!

This kid and its Mother are using their interestingly formed hoofs to stand on the mountains sheer face. The hoofs have sharp edges and concave undersides which act like suction caps on the rock.
  

With another day nearing its end we must find somewhere to stop for the night.

What a great day!