Perhaps inspiration for your trip to the canaries?
Just before New Years I travelled to the Canary Islands for some hot weather and hiking. I wanted to briefly escape the England winter, and make friends to explore with.
Was there from the 31st Dec all the way to Friday 9th Jan. I stayed at the same hostel just outside Anaga National Park. The weather was pretty cold and wet, though thankfully the hostel was awesome. I was never alone, ate with new pals, and even found friends to game with! I’ve probably never gamed so hard in my life. The Mind, Splendor, and Spy were particular favourites.
Ended up spending one day swimming, another exploring the capital Santa Cruz, two days resting, and four days hiking. I think I would have hiked more had the weather been better.
The trip was a perfect occasion to test my gear. The tough, rainy conditions provided an unexpected challenge. Being 500m high up, within a forest microclimate, it was far colder than I’d planned for. The hikes involved sudden rainfall, crossing streams, and changing altitudes. I did love the variety! Hiking as a group meant we tackled the challenges together. One memorable trip involved a four-hour incline with someone who had never hiked before! (He left for a bus halfway through)
I packed pretty light. Just a 40x30x20 rucksack to avoid airline fees. This meant no space for spare shoes, or extra socks. I did do the trick of wearing all my layers on the plane to save space though!
My expectation was hot weather. So i’d packed mainly shorts, though did have some warm clothes in case I took on Teide, the tallest peak at 3718m high. In the end I wore the same trousers almost everyday since they were the only ones i’d packed.
When it rained it poured! My synthetic kalenji running shoes, bought from Decathalon, soaked through to my socks after a small pouring of rain. So they were constantly drying! Later in the trip, I fell in a stream and my shoes were drenched through. Six days later—one hair dryer and a load of toilet paper later—they are still not dry. Having uncomfortable feet for a large part of the trip probably wasn’t worth the amount saved in airline fees for a larger bag. Especially in the evening where I wanted to be warm enough to relax.
I’ve learnt from this experience and have now invested in a pair of Altberg Fremington’s. Hopefully these fare better. They aren’t glued together, so a cobbler can easily repair them. ChatGPT said, with regular resoles and care, they can last 15-25 years. Oh, and i’d definitely just cross a stream barefoot next time.
Skin tight, full length thermals would have been a key layer to help me stay warm. Especially at night. Also, just having an alternative pair of shoes would have given the other pair time to dry too. More socks, especially quick drying ones like merino wool, would have helped extremities like my feet stay warm. I’ve ordered some socks from Darn Tough for my next adventure.
Wooly hat and gloves also missed!
Jacket wise, the Froggs Toggs jacket was pretty solid. The polypropylene material provides a continuous waterproof barrier against the rain. Lightweight too! Though I did find that if the layer underneath is pressed against it, moisture will come through. My friend had a £600 patagonia jacket yet we both were shielding in a cave from the heavy rain! Perhaps cheap and cheerful wins for a rain shell?
Lots of learnings from a fun trip to Tenerife. Especially researching the weather more. Getting footwear and layers right is crucial!
I’d still recommend Canary Islands for a hiking trip over the winter. Maybe just have more flexibility with where you stay. I’d already booked 9 nights so there was little I could adjust in search for the sunshine.
Thanks for reading!
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