Specialized units of the Spanish Guardia Civil carried out a complex overnight rescue operation from Friday to Saturday on the north face of Peñalara peak in the Sierra de Guadarrama mountains. Four young men – three teenagers and a minor – slid on ice, and one of them stopped the group by plunging an ice axe into the slope, preventing a fall into an approximately 300-meter-deep abyss. Rescuers reached the victims, who were conscious but showed signs of hypothermia after being trapped for hours in extreme conditions.
Critical Use of an Ice Axe
One of the youths stopped the entire group by plunging an ice axe into the icy surface. Thanks to this maneuver, they avoided tumbling into a 300-meter abyss and remained in place until help arrived.
Nighttime Operation in Extremis
The rescue operation lasted many hours and ended in the early morning. Rescuers had to operate in darkness, at very low temperatures, and on steep, icy terrain.
Condition of the Victims
The young people were conscious when the team reached them, but showed symptoms of hypothermia after prolonged exposure to the cold. Their condition allowed for evacuation without immediate life-threatening danger.
Location of the Incident
The accident occurred on the north face of Peñalara peak, which is the highest summit (2428 m above sea level) of the Sierra de Guadarrama range in central Spain. This area is known for difficult winter conditions.
The Spanish Guardia Civil carried out a complex and dangerous rescue operation overnight from February 20 to 21, 2026 in the Sierra de Guadarrama mountains. Four young people, including three teenagers and one minor boy, got into serious trouble while attempting to descend the north, steep and icy face of Peñalara peak. The group slid on ice, and the situation was saved by one of the expedition participants who managed to plunge an ice axe into the ice, stopping his companions. This allowed them to avoid tumbling into an abyss about 300 meters deep, which in these conditions would almost certainly have ended tragically. Pico de Peñalara, at an altitude of 2428 meters above sea level, is the highest peak of the Sierra de Guadarrama range, which is part of the larger mountain system of the Central System. Its northern slopes, where the accident occurred, are characterized by significant steepness and often persistent snow and ice cover until late spring, posing a danger to ill-prepared hikers. The incident occurred on Friday evening. The young people, most likely while descending, lost traction on the icy slope and began to slide. One of them reacted instinctively, using an ice axe as an anchor, which stopped the uncontrolled slide of all four. However, they found themselves trapped – unable to either get up or descend safely, and nighttime temperatures in this region drop well below freezing. Help was called, and specialists from the mountain rescue unit of the Guardia Civil were dispatched to the scene. The operation, due to the time of day, difficult access, and weather conditions, lasted until the early hours of Saturday morning. Rescuers reached the trapped individuals, who were conscious but suffering from hypothermia. They were given first aid and then evacuated to a safe location. The young people were placed under medical care to assess the extent of any injuries and the effects of hypothermia. „Uno de ellos logró detener al grupo con un piolet, evitando una caída de 300 metros.” (One of them managed to stop the group with an ice axe, preventing a 300-meter fall.) — Guardia Civil The media emphasize the effectiveness of the rescue services and the heroic act of one of the victims, which prevented a tragedy. The narrative focuses on the professionalism of the operation and the happy ending. | A critical comment is possible regarding the irresponsibility of the young people who ventured into difficult terrain without proper preparation or after dark, endangering themselves and the rescuers.