Extreme noun intensification

When a hike turns into a freezing, exhausting disaster, standard adjectives just won't cut it. To emphasize a noun to an extreme degree, Spanish uses colorful, idiomatic phrases built with the structure un or una + [noun] + de + [noun].

"...de mil demonios" (Hellish)

Adding de mil demonios (literally, "of a thousand demons") to a noun means the condition is absolutely unbearable.

It is hellishly cold in the mountain range.
Hace un frío de mil demonios en la cordillera.
I felt a hellish exhaustion because of the footwear.
Sentía un cansancio de mil demonios por el calzado.

"...de espanto" (Terrifying)

When an experience or the weather is so intense that it is frightening, use de espanto (of terror or fright).

It was a terrifying blizzard.
Fue una ventisca de espanto.
The tourists were shivering because of a terrifying wind.
Los turistas tiritaban por un viento de espanto.

"...de perros" (Miserable)

To describe awful, miserable conditions, use the phrase de perros (literally, "of dogs").

They say that yesterday we had a miserable day on the mountain.
Dicen que ayer tuvimos un día de perros en la montaña.