Hey all
we are currently in Albarracin which is around 2 hours inland from valencia up in the highlands, at around 1200m its a super cool setting here above a medievel fortified village with big castle walls, you go a few miles up a little road away from the village and up into the forrest then you come to a sprawling expance of barren wilderness, a few fields where you can park, lots of rocks and trees and not much else. The bouldering is all on deep red sandstone boulders, its truely special here so many massive overhanging roofs and cool features. the climbing is super athletic and physical.
We also have 2 lodgers in the van in the form of clare and jason as there van blew up its engine on the way to meet us here so we have them in the van for the time being till they figure out whats going on with there Van, heading on to margaleff next where they plan to get a tent and head on on foot if there van is religated to being taken back to england. Fingers crossed something will happen and it will be fixable,
Our first day we warmed to the style and did a fair amount of volume + exploring managed to get super cool compression 6c+ then called it a day and save some skin for the next day. We met a cool american dude called Logan whos been here a few weeks and is super psyched to always climb. we arrange to meet him and climb + get the local knowledge of wheres good.
Next day we head to a 30 degree overhanging wall full of jugs and pockets, having warmed up here me and jason get to work on a 3 metre horisontal roof with 2 7as going strait through the middle of it, I almost flashed the first one getting to the finnishing hold but not controling the swing as my feet cut loose only to find this is the hardest move :) a few goes later it goes. i have a play on the next one but find it much harder and my stomach and back have ran out of strength so we decide to come back on another day to send it, We hard off to another sector with a few good verticly technical problems, here to is a super technical 7a. we figure out all but one of the moves quickly then faf for a bit trying to figure out how to go from 2 poor crimps to a side pull really far above us, Jason gets the move and we then proceed to all send it one after another, result. Day done we have a bit of an explore and find so many other amazing problems enough to last far more time than what we have.
Day 3 here is a rest day so we laze around in 20 degree sun till 1ish then head into the town find the local bakery and get the best fresh baguetts washed down with some pate and olives, moving on we explore the old town for a few hours and are enthrauled with the narrow streets and wonky architecture. after enduring scorching heat for then day we finnish with a cool beer in the local bar. heading back to the van we have a communal meal of stir fry with rice. fully satisfied we have a friendly game of poker that goes on late into the night a good end to a amazing day.
Day 4 starts off with a light dusting of snow and sub zero temperatures following the arrival of a cold front. Getting a late start we wait for the sun to melt the snow and dry everything off, gatthering our matts we head to techos 1 one of the further sectors hoping the weekend crouds would be in areas closer to the road. after taking ages to warm up in the arctic conditions we jump on another roof with a 7a+ going strait through the middle of it, very few but hard moves. Step onto the wall take a large flat edge reach to a small gaston crimp on the roof get feet up, reach for a small crimp way out in the roof, other foot up then jump really far to a mahoosive jug after around 15 goes im painfully close to getting it but again run out of core strenght and retreat to the van for tea and biscutes,
Ive been wandering and exploring when taking tala for her morning and evening walks theres so much good ravines and valleys to explore here you could spend hours poking around.
Its due to get to -6 tonight and -8 tomorrow night so snuggleing down to a warm evening in the van more updates soon.
Simon
xx
And words from me..........
Albarracin is AMAZING. Beautiful strong climbing on red boulders, Without a doubt the best bouldering I have done outside! am having a great time hanging out and climbing here with clare, Jason and Logan. There are loads of awesome problems here, some real good 5+'s and 6a's. have also been trying a 6b+ and 6c that r really cool problems, am hope 2 send them before we leave! Has been pretty cold today and alot of snow but is meant to be a bit better weather tommorow so should hopefully be a good sending day :) cannot wait!! Take care people
xxx Lucy xxx
we are currently in Albarracin which is around 2 hours inland from valencia up in the highlands, at around 1200m its a super cool setting here above a medievel fortified village with big castle walls, you go a few miles up a little road away from the village and up into the forrest then you come to a sprawling expance of barren wilderness, a few fields where you can park, lots of rocks and trees and not much else. The bouldering is all on deep red sandstone boulders, its truely special here so many massive overhanging roofs and cool features. the climbing is super athletic and physical.
We also have 2 lodgers in the van in the form of clare and jason as there van blew up its engine on the way to meet us here so we have them in the van for the time being till they figure out whats going on with there Van, heading on to margaleff next where they plan to get a tent and head on on foot if there van is religated to being taken back to england. Fingers crossed something will happen and it will be fixable,
Our first day we warmed to the style and did a fair amount of volume + exploring managed to get super cool compression 6c+ then called it a day and save some skin for the next day. We met a cool american dude called Logan whos been here a few weeks and is super psyched to always climb. we arrange to meet him and climb + get the local knowledge of wheres good.
Next day we head to a 30 degree overhanging wall full of jugs and pockets, having warmed up here me and jason get to work on a 3 metre horisontal roof with 2 7as going strait through the middle of it, I almost flashed the first one getting to the finnishing hold but not controling the swing as my feet cut loose only to find this is the hardest move :) a few goes later it goes. i have a play on the next one but find it much harder and my stomach and back have ran out of strength so we decide to come back on another day to send it, We hard off to another sector with a few good verticly technical problems, here to is a super technical 7a. we figure out all but one of the moves quickly then faf for a bit trying to figure out how to go from 2 poor crimps to a side pull really far above us, Jason gets the move and we then proceed to all send it one after another, result. Day done we have a bit of an explore and find so many other amazing problems enough to last far more time than what we have.
Day 3 here is a rest day so we laze around in 20 degree sun till 1ish then head into the town find the local bakery and get the best fresh baguetts washed down with some pate and olives, moving on we explore the old town for a few hours and are enthrauled with the narrow streets and wonky architecture. after enduring scorching heat for then day we finnish with a cool beer in the local bar. heading back to the van we have a communal meal of stir fry with rice. fully satisfied we have a friendly game of poker that goes on late into the night a good end to a amazing day.
Day 4 starts off with a light dusting of snow and sub zero temperatures following the arrival of a cold front. Getting a late start we wait for the sun to melt the snow and dry everything off, gatthering our matts we head to techos 1 one of the further sectors hoping the weekend crouds would be in areas closer to the road. after taking ages to warm up in the arctic conditions we jump on another roof with a 7a+ going strait through the middle of it, very few but hard moves. Step onto the wall take a large flat edge reach to a small gaston crimp on the roof get feet up, reach for a small crimp way out in the roof, other foot up then jump really far to a mahoosive jug after around 15 goes im painfully close to getting it but again run out of core strenght and retreat to the van for tea and biscutes,
Ive been wandering and exploring when taking tala for her morning and evening walks theres so much good ravines and valleys to explore here you could spend hours poking around.
Its due to get to -6 tonight and -8 tomorrow night so snuggleing down to a warm evening in the van more updates soon.
Simon
xx
And words from me..........
Albarracin is AMAZING. Beautiful strong climbing on red boulders, Without a doubt the best bouldering I have done outside! am having a great time hanging out and climbing here with clare, Jason and Logan. There are loads of awesome problems here, some real good 5+'s and 6a's. have also been trying a 6b+ and 6c that r really cool problems, am hope 2 send them before we leave! Has been pretty cold today and alot of snow but is meant to be a bit better weather tommorow so should hopefully be a good sending day :) cannot wait!! Take care people
xxx Lucy xxx
Sounds amazing, we have been thinking of going this Aug/Sept time - already have the guidebook which I bought last year!! Great photos too :D
ReplyDeleteLorraine xXx
great photos, you're both looking very professional :) take care Mum xxx
ReplyDeleteHey lorraine
ReplyDeleteyou guys should deffinatly check out albarracin its so good there loads of amazing problems all across the grades. and lots of steep roofs that jim would love + some 45 degree 6a roofs like the mothership at tca.
Si