Family and friends of Blanca Fernandez Ochoa gathered in Cercedilla on Saturday for a mountain hike marking seven years since the skier died.
The memorial event, known as La Hora Blanca or The White Hour, saw participants set off at nine in the morning from the Las Dehesas area in the Madrid mountains. The group departed from near Casa Cirilo and walked along the trail towards Colladito del Rey.
The procession was led by her sister Lola Fernandez Ochoa, who revealed that she has established a new foundation to assist other athletes with mental health challenges.
The hike followed the exact mountain route that the family believes the Olympic medalist took during the summer of her death in 2019. Lola Fernandez Ochoa explained that the annual outing brings together village friends, relatives and anyone seeking to learn more about her sister's life.
A simple mountain tribute
Hikers assembled at nine in the morning at Las Dehesas, the location where the late athlete parked her car before disappearing into the Sierra de Guadarrama. From there, participants began a two-and-a-half-hour ascent through mountain terrain well known to local residents.
The group reached the summit area near La Peñota peak at noon, arriving at the location where Blanca Fernandez Ochoa was found dead. Attendees gathered at the site to share sandwiches, talk, read poetry and sing together to honour her memory.
The event includes no formal speeches or institutional protocol. Organizers noted that this unpretentious format has allowed the gathering to continue year after year without losing its personal meaning for participants.
The tribute attracts local friends, family members and independent mountaineers who make the climb on their own. Over the years, the mountain town of Cercedilla has created various acts of remembrance for the champion, making the surrounding peaks the central place where her memory endures.
Search operation and discovery
Blanca Fernandez Ochoa was last seen on 24 August 2019 in Cercedilla. She had driven to the town, parked at Las Dehesas and was spotted near a monument built in memory of her brother Paco.
Her family reported her missing several days later, prompting a major search operation across the Sierra de Guadarrama range. The 11-day search mobilized hundreds of emergency personnel, police officers and volunteers searching the rugged mountain terrain.
The operation concluded on 4 September 2019 when an off-duty Guardia Civil officer and his police dog discovered her body near La Peñota peak in a difficult area to access. A police investigation later ruled out an accidental fall as the cause of her death.
Mental health legacy
Following the investigation, her family spoke openly about the mental health struggles the athlete faced during her life and her diagnosis of bipolar disorder. Lola Fernandez Ochoa later shared that her sister endured deep suffering from the condition and found it extremely hard to talk about.
To honour her sister and help others in similar situations, Lola Fernandez Ochoa launched a dedicated foundation focused on providing mental health support to athletes facing emotional and psychological challenges.
Blanca Fernandez Ochoa was one of Spain's most distinguished winter sports figures. She won a bronze medal in the women's slalom at the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville, France, becoming the first Spanish woman to win a medal at the Winter Olympic Games. Her brother Francisco Paco Fernandez Ochoa won gold in the slalom at the 1972 Winter Olympics in Sapporo, Japan, establishing a remarkable family legacy in alpine skiing.
