A year of travels in snow, tarmac, rock & dirt summarized in 17 pics.

2018 started with a big dump on the Guadarrama hills. We went out for a bimble, oddly unaware of the chaos that ensued when major roads blocked and thousands were trapped, wondering where everybody was while we had the hills for ourselves for hours of falling powder and silence. It was magic.

Guadarrama

Ski

Winter was high in snow, low in light in central Iberia. I went through nothing but grey and white for weeks in a row and it was beautiful. The trees were bearing the load and taking odd shapes:

Guadarrama

There were shiny days after all. Here the old telecom buildings once again conspiring with the mist for some atmospheric vibe.

Guadarrama

A calm weather window for a classic high camp:

Guadarrama

The Pyrenees were also in cloud mode when I visited but after several hours of climbing into the grey, the mist just shifted on the summit ridge:

Western Pyrenees

1500 vertical feet of deep Pyrenean powder, so pure it almost hurts to ski on it:

Western Pyrenees

Bike

Hokkaido has the most cycle-friendly summer weather in Japan. It also has caldera lakes, sulphur springs and great camping opportunities, among countless other features of interest to the touring cyclist that didn’t make it to this selection of four:

Hokkaido

Hokkaido

Hokkaido

Hokkaido

Back in Iberia, we’ve been exploring some back roads. There are so many we’ll never finish them. We went through some cold spells in the process.

Segura

Alcaraz

Hike

My summer long hike took place in the Swiss Alps. I walked happy among the landscapes of Heidi girl.

Swiss Alps

Swiss Alps

Swiss Alps

Fall, woods, mist

I find autumn the most emotional part of the year to hike. Bring back the enveloping cloud, hide in the woods, see the colours, smell the air and find some early season snow to announce the new winter.

Guadarrama

Guadarrama

I love putting these together. It gives me perspective over my own trips and life in general, which is a basic tool to keep learning and get closer to the best version of oneself. Roll on 2019.