European mountains
La Gomera, Canary Islands, Spain

"Las Toscas", 1045m
Montaña de Yerta, 1170m
Tagamiche, 980m
 

See also the La Gomera index page for a list of all tops visited. Also note that mountain elevations have been taken from the TOPO_España Insular y Ciudades de Ceuta y Melilla GPS map.

"Las Toscas"

Las Toscas is perhaps not the correct name for Point 1045m, located between Vegaipala and Benchijigua/Lo Del Gato (just south of TF-713 on the San Sebastian side of Garajonay National Park), but this was what a woman at the Peraza restaurant (Degollado de Peraza pass) said when we pointed towards the mountain.

Point 1045m and the lower tops
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With only 200 vertical meters between the road and the summit, this is an easy mountain to hike. And although it doesn't look very spectacular when seen from TF-713, this mountain has a spectacular drop towards the west. But the main reason for visiting this mountain is the amazing sandstone ridge (at least we think it is sandstone...) that runs from the tunnel (on the south side of the mountain) and to point 977m (located between the tunnel and point 1045m).

This is for the most part an easy ridge, with lots of easy (and fun) scrambling, but the "crux" of the route is very exposed. Those with little tolerance for heights will not enjoy the most challenging point on the ridge route.

Back to the trailhead
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Once on the mesa-looking summit on point 1045m, the easiest route down seems to be down to the east. Consider visiting points 1035m and 1039m for additional views towards the grand valley to the west - and not least - Roque de Agando to the north. (A description of a round trip hike can be found further down on this page)

Lo del Gato to the west
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Montaña de Yerta (1170m)...

...is a twin-topped forest hill 1,7km north of point 1045m and close to TF-713 and the Garmin map says that the north top is 1 metre higher than the south top. Upon visiting this hill, you may find this hard to believe, but it's nevertheless very convenient as the south top seems to be impossible to reach due to thick bush. There is also plenty of bush on the north top, but a (vague) path runs up to the top - described further down on this page.

Montaña de Yerta
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Montaña de Yerta is an easy top to reach (30 minutes or less), and is - along with Tagamiche (see below) - an excellent walk if you are driving around on La Gomera and want to stretch your legs. And the view towards Los Roques - with Roque de Agando as the most prominent plug - is awesome!

Roque de Agando seen from Montaña de Yerta
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Tagamiche (980m)

Tagamiche is a fine viewpoint just above pass Degollada de Peraza. The road to Playa de Santiago forks from TF-713 at this pass. A service road runs up to the top and you'll reach the summit within 10 minutes. The 360 deg. panorama from the top is well worth the effort!

Tagamiche
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Heights & Primary factor:

The mountain heights vary depending on which map you have. Below is a table of heights, collected from various sources. The Garmin GPS map has been chosen as source for computing the primary factors.

Throughout our stay, personal GPS readings were in average 10-13m above the map heights. Even at sea level, the GPS read 10-13m. This may indicate that the GEOID model is not very accurate for this island.

Montaña de Yerta (Garmin GPS: 1170m, N28.10277 W17.20528) has a primary factor of 102m towards the higher parent Roque de Agando (1251m). The defining saddle (approx. N28.10577 W17.21094) is found along TF-713, just east of Agando. The saddle height is 1068m on the Garmin map.

GPS measurement read 1175m (on the summit), averaged over a 5-minute period (error margin < +/- 2m).

Point 1045m (Garmin GPS: 1045m, N28.08756 W17.20356) has a primary factor of 97m towards the higher parent Montaña de Yerta (1170m). The defining saddle (approx. N28.09247 W17.20480) is found on the mountain ridge just south of Vegaipala. The saddle height is 948m on the Garmin map.

GPS measurement read 1055m (on the summit), averaged over a 5-minute period (error margin < +/- 2m). The other tops neighbouring to point 1045m are; (height, primary factor) Point 977m (27m), Point 1039m (32m) and Point 1035m (25m)

Tagamiche (Garmin GPS: 980m, N28.09941 W17.17895) has a primary factor of 52m towards the higher parent Montaña de Yerta (1170m). The defining saddle (approx. N28.09869 W17.18034) is found near the trailhead. Ref. the Garmin map, the saddle height is 928m.

GPS measurement read 955m (on the summit marker - 2m high), averaged over a 5-minute period (error margin < +/- 2m).

El Teide (Tenerife) seen from La Gomera
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Google map

Google's interactive map. You can zoom, pan and click on the markers.
 

Trail descriptions

The normal way to get to La Gomera, is to fly to Tenerife and take a jetfoil or ferry from Los Cristianos. Some ferries only run to San Sebastian de la Gomera, while others stop by San Sebastian and Playa de Santiago before arriving at Vueltas in Valle Gran Rey.

These route description are valid per Dec 2009. All distances are approx.

Access

From San Sebastian de la Gomera, follow road TF-713 up to the Degollada de Peraza pass and turn left onto the road to Playa de Santiago. Follow this road approx 5km (passing Vegaipala along the way) and turn left just before a tunnel. Drive on the back side of the tunnel and find parking along the road.

The route

The route - as seen in Google Earth
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From the parking, scramble directly up to the ridge and enjoy varied scrambling on your way towards point 977m. Take the time to find the best route. The route's crux is found halfway along the ridge. A tricky section forces you to either advance through an exposed climbing move (without fully knowing what the terrain above looks like) or go left, and follow a narrow ledge until you can get back onto the ridge. This is an exposed detour and dangerous when wet! The rest of the route to point 977m is easy.

Be careful as you descend the steep section down from 977m. Then follows an easy walk up to point 1045m (no cairn). Proceed north to point 1039m and point 1035m before you descend east back to the road. Look for the best route through the bush while aiming for the forest above the road. Once on the road, the distance to the trailhead is approx. 1km.

The route - as seen in Google Earth
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Access

Along TF-713, halfway between the Los Roques and the Degollada de Peraza pass, locate a large parking area on the south side of the road. Park here.

The route

The route - as seen in Google Earth
(Click for larger image)

Cross the road and follow a stairway and a path leading up to a house (a road leads to this house from the east). Turn left and follow a forest path that runs all the way back to TF-713, further north. Approx. 300m after you turned right (and before you enter the thicker forest), look for a vague path leading through the bush on your right-hand side. The path runs up between Montaña de Yerta and point 1157m. Turn left for the high point (1170m).

From here, you can enjoy fine views and ponder on if the south top (1169m) looks higher. Due to thick bush, access to the south top seems to be out of the question.

Access

From the TF-713/road to Playa de Santiago at Degollada de Peraza pass, drive east (in the direction of San Sebastian) 550m. Find parking at the beginning of the mountain service road.

The route

Follow the road to the top and the summit marker. Tagamiche is a very nice viewpoint, and on a clear day you can easily see El Teide on Tenerife.

The route - as seen in Google Earth
(Click for larger image)

Pictures and Trip reports:

• "Las Toscas", Montaña de Yerta and Tagamiche, Dec 30 2009

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