Ground Control to Major Tom: "Landed on Mars?" We really ask ourselves this question as we stagger out of the shuttle bus after an hour's journey and look around: red sand everywhere. Observatories arch their silver domes into the blue sky, their parabolic mirrors pointed into space like giant ears. They are listening to see if anyone is out there. We are almost at the summit of the Roque de los Muchachos, La Palma's highest mountain, 2426 metres above sea level. We can't see the Atlantic, just a hint of it in the haze and clouds deep below us. The longest descent on the island starts here: the Roque Trail down to zero on the beach at Tazacorte.
Our guide, freeride pro and La Palma winter refugee Daniel Schäfer, tells us that the view into space is particularly good from up here because of the clear air. After a few bends on the tarmac road, we turn onto the trail. It undulates gently down the slope on red sand, flanked by earthy brown lava rubble. We roll along like probes from Mars, bumping over boulders, sand crunching under our studded tyres. Short technical climbs require some skill, but hardly any muscle fat. The momentum is enough - we surf as if through an eternal pump track, push through bumps, hop over small ledges.
After about 20 minutes, it gets steeper. We have reached the edge of the crater and will now slide down the mountain flank to the sea. Sometimes the tyres float in the volcanic sand, sometimes they rumble over rocks and stones. The trail often takes bends. Precise steering is required if you want to keep your feet on the pedals. The bends are not really flowy, but they are fun. Sometimes steep and blocked, sometimes fast, then rocky, sandy, bumpy, even steeper, choppy - the next test of skill lurks around every corner. At some point, the Martian landscape is left behind and the trail slips into the pine forest. Here the flow barometer shoots up. The ground becomes softer and faster.
We've been travelling for a long time now, but we're not even halfway through, Daniel reassures us. Dark ash and light green trees - the scent of pine needles in our nostrils, we rush along the trail and marvel. He keeps changing his character. A moment ago it was tame, now it becomes angry and tilts meanly into the depths, pushing rock edges in front of our front wheel or treacherously slippery pine needles. Geologists believe that this mountain flank will slide into the sea during the next volcanic eruption. Then the same thing will happen as when you plunge into the bathtub: on the other side of the Atlantic, the water will slosh upwards. Geologists predict that this super tsunami will overrun the USA. According to science, this could happen tomorrow or in 10 million years' time.
The trail spits us out after 2 hours in Tijarafe. A short descent on the tarmac road and we're standing in front of the "Deathwall". That's the name of the last stage, a super steep hairpin bend trail down to Tazacorte. Black cobblestones right on the precipice. So once again, full concentration. We can already see the beach bar. Mars mission completed!
Conclusion: Roque Trail on La Palma
The Roque Trail on the Canary Island of La Palma is a super trail like no other - a must-do for every freerider. Over 2000 metres of riding fun in one go - where else can you find that? If you don't have fun here, you won't have fun anywhere. We guarantee stokeness!
INFO: LA PALMA
Best time to travel: November to May Ideal bike: Enduro, fat tyres
Flights: Direct flights from approx. 300 euros (bike bag approx. 75 € each way)
Organiser e.g:
- dansdesktop.com
- atlantic-cycling.com
- magic-bike-lapalma.com
PLUS Weather, Spain, Flair, Direct flights
MINUS Shuttle only, hardly any flow trails
Dimitri Lehner
Editor
