How to get there:
This mountain is best accessed from the road to Teide, but
before entering the caldera. From the village of Vilaflor on
the south side of the national park, proceed up the highway for
8.5 kilometer. That is, the trailhead is located between kilometer
markers 60 and 59, just before a large left curve. On your right
hand side, locate a couple of old stone buildings, pull off the
highway and park here. There is parking for about 5 cars in this
area. Route description:
The trail starts out from the stonehouses, walk just on the upside
of the house that is closer to the downhill direction of the
highway. At first, the trail runs parallel with the highway (in the
direction of Vilaflor), but without loosing much elevation. The trail
is marked by
white paint and stone cairns. Shortly, there is a fork in the trail,
pick the uphill (left fork). The trail now climbs a ridge, then
follows this ridge further uphill. The slope eases off before the
last climb to the caldera rim. There is a trail running more or less
along the edge of the rim. Head towards the right and descend slightly
to a small saddle. The mountain Sombrero de Chasna is the flat feature
that is slightly downhill to your right as you head east while descending
only a few vertical meters. There is a clear trail turning the first
few rocks on the left side, then entering a small, short gully where
the trail is (YDS) class 2 for about 5 meters (otherwise, this hike
is a class 1 hike everywhere). One should hike around the circumference
of the circular formed mountain in order to enjoy the views down the
south slope of Tenerife to Vilaflor and further all the way to the
ocean.
For the return hike, locate the trail that descends to your left shortly after
descending the short class 2 gully. That is, down the valley on the west side
of the mountain. You do not climb back onto the rim of the caldera. This trail
descends in the valley, then contours right around the ridge that was followed
going uphill, before merging with the outgoing trail shortly before the
trailhead. Comments:
This was a half day family hike, we started around 10 and were back
by the car around 1230.
This mountain is an excellent example showing how
the primary factor or prominence may not be very meaningful.
This mountain, overlooking the village of Vilaflor, is dominating
the skyline when viewed from the populated areas. What nobody sees
is that the rim behind is slightly higher. The same effect is often
observed in Norway and elsewhere, the highest, perhaps most characteristic
peaks, that are visible from populated areas are named
while possibly higher mountains that cannot be seen from below, hardly
have names at all.
Resources:
Images
Sombrero de Chasna,
as seen from the populated areas near the village of Vilaflor.