02. Degollada de Becerra - Cueva Grande
GENERAL CHARACTERIZATION.
This area is exposed to the influence of the trade winds, which bring almost constant humidity to the entire area. As the trail runs from the summit to the upper mid-mountains, a vertical gradient can be seen in both the vegetation and the climatic conditions.
Generally, the area experiences abundant rainfall, even with occasional snowfall, accompanied by moderate winds, especially in winter. The rest of the year, except during the summer months, temperatures are usually cool, usually dropping at night.
The vegetation adapts to the climatic variations, also varying in temperature. The Canary Island pine forest dominates in the highest areas, which exist here thanks to reforestation—such as the Llanos de Ana López pine forest, currently used as a leisure and recreational area. Reforestation was carried out in the middle of the last century, as until just 40 years ago, this area was frequented by livestock that regularly grazed on its slopes. The pine forest has an understory consisting primarily of broom, rockrose, and other species typical of the scrubland associated with this ecosystem. It also hosts species of the Hypericum genus and ferns, plants that are bioindicators of the excellent humidity conditions in the area.
As we descend in altitude and approach the area surrounding Cueva Grande, the vegetation changes. The pine forest almost disappears, giving way to shrubby and sub-shrub vegetation. The rock roses, brooms, tajinastes, and some brooms then become more prominent.
From the middle section of the route onward, the landscape reveals intense human activity, with dandelion grasses (grasses for fresh animal consumption), ancient dry-stone walls, and terraces no longer in use. In Cueva Grande, flocks of sheep can still be seen. As the pastures become exhausted, they are moved to other areas where they can continue feeding (transhumance).
Agricultural activity persists in the Cueva Grande area, although less intensely than in the past. Agriculture supplements the family income. Livestock farming, which is merely a mere anecdote today, continues to produce exquisite goat and sheep cheeses. The population remains relatively stable and is characterized by its welcoming nature and a sense of "folk knowledge" that has survived through oral tradition.
Degollada de Becerra - Cueva Grande
From the Degollada Becerra viewpoint, we ascend along a somewhat winding dirt road (heading south) and then, flattening through pine trees, approach a house located to the left of our route. As we pass this house, we see the cobblestone path that leads from this summit area down to the La Culata neighborhood. We continue to the paved road, along which we continue for about 700 meters. A second entrance to our left leads to a dirt track where we can see a drinking trough.
We continue along this track (heading NE), once we leave the paved road, passing forks to the left and right, as well as entrances to private properties, some of which are fenced. About five minutes later, we pass a pond on the right side of the path. Broom, rock rose, chestnut, and apple trees now dominate the surrounding vegetation.
The track leads us to a pigsty, from where we turn left. We pass by a eucalyptus tree and two poplars. We walk toward a well covered with a gabled roof, opposite which we see two columns of blocks blocking the path with a chain. Here the path begins along a narrow ravine surrounded by a stone wall and a fence on the right side of the path.
When we reach a wider path, to the right of our path, we see a pine forest with an undergrowth of ferns and sagebrush, a clear indicator that this is the shady slope. On the other hand, to the left, we find the sunny side, dominated by broom and cod-rose bushes. We discover another watering hole and take a narrower path next to it that, leveling out, runs parallel to the bed of the ravine. Here, there is also a fence that we will continue to pass on our left.
The path gradually moves away from the bottom of the ravine, which deepens as we advance—this is the Barranco del Sao—until we reach a small ravine from which we can see the core of Cueva Grande to our right.
From here, the path continues descending in altitude, accompanied in sections by a small dry-stone wall. In the distance, we can see San Mateo. Once we have left the pine forest, only a few isolated pine trees appear during this section. The path continues winding downhill until it reaches the entrance track to a farm, where we turn left and, at another fork on the right, continue along a concrete track. We continue along this track until we see the La Siberia reservoir. Ignoring the entrance to the dam on the right, we continue along the track until we reach the paved road. This takes us to Cueva Grande.
