Tag: backpack

Hiking The Azores: The Mystery behind The Mistérios Negros

hikeminded9 Comments
The hike: wonderful and fascinating hike which is only around 6 kms long with an altitude change of only 100 meters, but heavens, those meters!
We started at Gruta do Natal. From here the hike starts very easily. If there was rain the days before, you should really consider to wear waterproof boots (I don’t say that frequently :)), the entire area is very wet and you won’t be able to not walk through puddles or mud on your way. Gradually the hike gets more complicated and shortly next to the misterios negros you will definitely use both of your hands and be happy about the good shoes, a pole and packing light.
You will be gratified with stunning views over silent lakes, dense and mystic underbrush and a real rainforest atmosphere. About 1,5 km before returning to Gruta do natal you’ll have a wonderful view over the hilly landscape and the misterios negros.
The Misterios Negros are streams of cold lava. People in former times weren’t able to explain what it is and so they called them Mistérios Negros – black mysteries.
If you want you can additionally climb Pico Gaspar (ca. 50m of elevation). Gruta do natal is not open on sundays and opens at 14:30 all the other days. If you are by car, go for the near fumaroles afterwards.

 

Terceira Misterios Negros 05Terceira Misterios Negros 039Terceira Misterios Negros 030Terceira Misterios Negros 037Terceira Misterios Negros 018Terceira Misterios Negros 033Terceira Misterios Negros 025Terceira Misterios Negros 022Terceira Misterios Negros 020Terceira Misterios Negros 01Terceira Misterios Negros 08Terceira Misterios Negros 019Terceira Misterios Negros 09Terceira Misterios Negros 012Terceira Misterios Negros 03Terceira Misterios Negros 013Terceira Misterios Negros 07Terceira Misterios Negros 011Terceira Misterios Negros 06Terceira Misterios Negros 014Terceira Misterios Negros 015Terceira Misterios Negros 017Terceira Misterios Negros 021Terceira Misterios Negros 028Terceira Misterios Negros 034Terceira Misterios Negros 016Terceira Misterios Negros 032Terceira Misterios Negros 0Terceira Misterios Negros 029Terceira Misterios Negros 038

The misterios negros

Terceira Misterios Negros 036Terceira Misterios Negros 035

Terceira Misterios Negros 045misterios negros terceiraTerceira Misterios Negros 040

Bye-bye Azores, we had a great time!

IMG_7641[1]

Azores: Impressions Of Beautiful Terceira Island

hikeminded3 Comments

DSC_9183DSC_9315DSC_9172DSC_9215DSC_9318DSC_9162DSC_9304DSC_9131DSC_9177DSC_9145

At the crater (Star Wars Edition :-))

DSC_9232DSC_9238DSC_9225DSC_9256DSC_9243DSC_9252

At A Farmers Market

DSC_8898DSC_8895DSC_8901DSC_8890DSC_8888DSC_8887DSC_8893DSC_8884

The Fumaroles

DSC_9380DSC_9408DSC_9339DSC_9349DSC_9341DSC_9384DSC_9412

Azores: Impressions of Pico Island

hikeminded2 Comments

Stormy coast

DSC_8297Pico_Azores_03DSC_8271Pico_Azores_01Pico_Azores_06Pico_Azores_10DSC_8313Pico_Azores_07DSC_8316DSC_8311DSC_8264DSC_8261DSC_8314

 

Through the mountains

DSC_7921Pico_Azores_04DSC_7916DSC_7911DSC_7901DSC_7904DSC_7908DSC_7895DSC_7893DSC_7900Pico_Azores_11Pico_Azores_05

 

 

Old things in a museum

A cimeteary

Azores: Rainbows And Fog In The Highlands Of Pico Island

Gallery hikeminded6 Comments

Pico, the island, has the same name as its mountain. With 2531m, Pico Mountain is the highest mountain in Portugal and one of the biggest European volcanoes. The last eruption has been in 1720. One of the former eruptions created another tiny mountain inside of the caldera (I’m quite sure that geologists would chose different words for this outcome :-), which gives Pico its characteristic appearance. It looks like the mountain would wear a too small party hat. Despite this funny exterior, Pico has a diginfied and wise aura. 

Hiking The Azores: Along The Coast And Through Picos Vinyards

hikeminded4 Comments

Azores Pico Vineyards Hike_0Azores Pico Vineyards Hike_03Azores Pico Vineyards Hike_04Azores Pico Vineyards Hike_01Azores Pico Vineyards Hike_08Azores Pico Vineyards Hike_07Azores Pico Vineyards Hike_13Azores Pico Vineyards Hike_10Azores Pico Vineyards Hike_11Azores Pico Vineyards Hike_12Azores Pico Vineyards Hike_14Azores Pico Vineyards Hike_15Azores Pico Vineyards Hike_16Azores Pico Vineyards Hike_014Azores Pico Vineyards Hike_17Azores Pico Vineyards Hike_019Azores Pico Vineyards Hike_018Azores Pico Vineyards Hike_017Azores Pico Vineyards Hike_19Azores Pico Vineyards Hike_021

Hiking The Azores: Along Levada do Serra do Faial

hikeminded9 Comments

This trail was clearly one of our hiking highlights on the Azores. It follows an old water channel (Levada) through dense jungle-like forests and grasslands. As there was a hurricane just some weeks earlier, we had to climb over fallen trees a lot and there was even a bridge which was hit by a tree. On time we had to pass trough a tunnel.
As we have parked our car at the beginning of the trail we had to take a taxi to bring us back to our initial point. I guess it would have been much more exhausting if we hadn’t found one because the climb to the start was rather steep.
DSC_7161DSC_7221DSC_7154DSC_7148DSC_7152DSC_7149DSC_7156DSC_7186DSC_7182DSC_7169DSC_7174DSC_7187DSC_7177DSC_7197DSC_7217DSC_7229DSC_7233DSC_7199DSC_7224DSC_7235DSC_7247DSC_7248DSC_7287DSC_7278DSC_7280DSC_7283DSC_7296DSC_7292DSC_7300DSC_7302DSC_7305DSC_7307DSC_7309IMG_7678

Azores: Capelinhos – When An Island Grows

hikeminded2 Comments
Capelinhos on Faial Islands was the latest volcanic eruption of the Azores. It happened in the 1950s over a couple of month. First an undersea volcano erupted and build up a landmass some meters in front of the island. Later, the gap between the new landmass and the island was closed by further eruptions. At the beginning the inhabitants of the island didn’t notice much of it but when the wind turned, and the ashes were spread all over the island, ignoring it wasn’t an option anymore and normal farming wasn’t possible for years.
There is a story about the lighthouse keeper who would have stood in his lighthouse during all the eruptions. He even would have had a long spoon to spoon some Lava out of the stream.

The underground documentation center architecturally is a great building. The museum (8€ pP) itself is ok but not great. The most important part (the eruption) is only documented on one wall, the festivity and marketing of 60 years of eruption is a huge room.

capelinhos faial_23capelinhos faial_20capelinhos faial_06capelinhos faial_05capelinhos faial_04capelinhos faial_03capelinhos faial_02capelinhos faial_07capelinhos faial_19capelinhos faial_15capelinhos faial_22capelinhos faial_21capelinhos faial_14capelinhos faial_18capelinhos faial_17capelinhos faial_10capelinhos faial_09capelinhos faial_08capelinhos faial_16capelinhos faial_25capelinhos faial_24capelinhos faial_13

Azores: Glorious Lights On Faial Island

hikeminded2 Comments

Faial_24Faial_23Faial_27Faial_02Faial_01Faial_03Faial_11Faial_22Faial_04

 

 

Faial_10Faial_16Faial_15Faial_14Faial_13Faial_12Faial_029Faial_30

 

 

 

Faial_17Faial_20Faial_05Faial_19