Zaldiaran

Zaldiaran (Spanish pronunciation: [θalˈdjaɾan], Basque pronunciation: [s̻aldi.aɾan]) is a mountain in the Montes de Vitoria range, in the province of Álava, Basque Country, Spain. Even if part of the south face of the mountain is on the Treviño exclave, Burgos; the summit itself lies in Álava.^{[citation needed]} At the top of the mountain, apart from a tall metallic cross that was placed in 1950 by the Manuel Iradier hiking club,^[2] there are a few big aerials that transmit television and radio signal to Vitoria-Gasteiz.^[3]

Zaldiaran
Summit of Zaldiaran
Highest point
Elevation	978 m (3,209 ft)
Prominence	175[1] m (574 ft)
Coordinates	42°47′45″N 2°44′07″W
Geography
Location	Álava, Basque Country, Spain
Parent range	Montes de Vitoria [es]
Climbing
Easiest route	Hike

Close to the summit lies the Zaldiaran pass [es], with a height of 780 metres (2,560 ft), it links Álava with the Treviño exclave. The roads that communicate the two provinces are the A-3102 in Álava^[4] and the BU-742 in Treviño. The northern slopes are covered by beeches (Fagus sylvatica) that give way to Portuguese oak (Quercus faginea) woods on the lower parts.^{[citation needed]}

Due to the proximity of the summit to Vitoria-Gasteiz and its easy access, it is popular among hikers. On New Year's Day, the hiking clubs of the city organize hikes to the mountain to celebrate the new year.^[5]

Access points and trails

The most popular trail starts in Berrostegieta, on the road that leads to the Zaldiaran pass. This route goes through the secondary Errogana summit.^[6] Another popular starting point is the nearby hamlet of Eskibel. The shortest route starts at the Zaldiaran pass, and follows the paved track that leads to the summit.^[7]

References

1. "Zaldiaran". peakbagger.com. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
2. Armentia, Iñaki (29 December 2016). "Así se construyó e inauguró la cruz del Zaldiaran". Cadena SER (in Spanish). Retrieved 3 January 2023.
3. Góngora, Francisco (13 February 2017). "El intento de cobrar una tasa por antenas en el monte abre una guerra entre Diputación y Gobierno vasco". El Correo (in Spanish). Retrieved 3 January 2023.
4. "Hallan el cadáver de un varón en la carretera A-3102". Europa Press (in Spanish). 28 October 2011. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
5. Echezarra, Saioa (1 January 2023). "Año Nuevo en el Zaldiaran «en bermudas»". El Correo (in Spanish). Retrieved 3 January 2023.
6. Lobera, Joseba (16 April 2008). "Zaldiaran (978 m), Busto (976 m) y Ezkibel (815 m)". El Correo (in Spanish). Retrieved 3 January 2023.
7. Gil García, Josean (December 2008). Montes de Araba (in Spanish). Bilbao: Sua Edizioak. pp. 135–142. ISBN 978-84-8216-313-0.

External links

• Media related to Zaldiaran at Wikimedia Commons
• Zaldiaran at the Mendikat website (in Spanish)