Subida desde Capileria al Refugio del Poqueira por la central eléctrica.

Climb from the town of Capileria to the Poqueira Refuge near Mulhacén in the Sierra Nevada, via the power plant. To reach the power plant by car, cross the village of Capileira and follow the Sierra Highway, gaining altitude. About 3 km from the village, turn left onto a track (Endesa sign) near some stables where horses are usually kept. Follow this dirt track to the end and leave the car at the entrance to the power plant (approximately 6 km from the village by car). Reaching this point with a car should be easy. This access route runs through the Poqueira Ravine from the power plant to the refuge. Along this path, you'll enjoy the water and vegetation, immersed in the depths of the Poqueira ravine, which has already collected the waters of the Mulhacén River, the Seco River, and the Veleta River. This is the most recommended route to access the Refuge during the winter, as it will allow us to avoid the snow as much as possible and also provide protection from the wind at most times. Therefore, despite being the steepest access route, it is almost always the shortest route in winter. Keep in mind that there may be certain days during the winter when the Power Plant cannot be reached by vehicle. In this case, we would have to start from the town of Capileira (1 hour) or from the detour off the track that leads to the Power Plant (45 minutes). From the Power Plant gate, we continue walking to the end of the track (50 meters), where we cross the river over a bridge. From there, the path that leads to the Refuge begins to our right. We begin with a steep slope along a cobbled path, which after a 20-30 minute climb will take us to a flat area, passing several farmhouses until we reach the Cortijo del Naute (30-45 minutes). There, we will lose a little altitude to descend to the river, which we will cross over another bridge and follow a short stretch along the left bank until we reach another bridge. We will cross it again and follow its path along the right bank. We will continue to gain altitude until we cross the Veleta River (1h30-2h). From there, and without stopping the climb, we will arrive in 10 or 15 minutes at Hoya del Capitán, where the Mulhacén River (which has already been joined by the Río Seco a little further upstream) and the Peñon Grande, Peñon Gordo, and Posteruelo ravines meet. At this point, the toughest part of the route begins. In just 2 km, we will have to overcome approximately 650 meters of elevation gain. We'll cross the river, finally abandoning it, and begin to gain altitude, leaving the Mulhacén River on our left. We'll cross the Acequia Baja over a bridge and reach the Cortijo de Las Tomas (2:30–3:00 p.m.). We'll then cross another bridge marked with a marker, the Acequia Alta, and continue climbing until we reach Hoya de Peñon Negro (3:00–3:45 p.m.), where the refuge is located. From this point, we'll already be able to see it, and we'll have 10–15 minutes of false flat terrain to reach the refuge. Note: The route from the Power Plant to the Cortijo de Las Tomas is marked with signs for PR A-23, a circular route called the "Ruta Acequias del Poqueira." At this farmhouse, we must abandon this PR and continue ascending (as clearly indicated by the post next to the gate) along the path marked with orange markers, which will take us to the Refuge. Although this access route is the most difficult (in summer) to reach the Poqueira from Capileira, it is worth the effort for the beauty of its landscapes, its waters, its aromas, and the feeling of walking back in time among farmhouses and animals.