[TR] French Pyrenees- Bielsa Dorada Wall 1/15/2006

[TimL]

Climb: French Pyrenees-Bielsa Dorada Wall

 

Date of Climb: 1/15/2006

 

Trip Report:

Spent a couple days over the New Year in Bielsa just across the Spanish border in the French Pyrenees. It is a nice little ice climbing area with a bunch of moderates from WI 3 to 4 with a couple 5's and some drytooling. Nice place to start the season.

This is a shot of the French Pyrenees from Bielsa.

 

This is a WI 2 and 3 that is partially formed.

 

 

Dorada Wall. One of the main climbs in the area. These are about 40 meters wide and about 30 meters tall. There are about for or five routes ranging from WI 2 to 5. The WI 5 is called Americano Direct and was put up by Mark Twight in the 90's.

 

Easy route on the Dorada Wall.

 

Dorada Wall

 

Spanish Pyrenees.The side of the Spanish Pyrenees that I saw looked like a mix between the Cascades and the Canadian Rockies.

 

The snow storm that stopped us from climbing the last day of the trip.

 

Pineta Valley on the Spanish side. The refuge that we slept in is located in this beautiful valley.

Edited January 15, 2006 by TimL

[Dru]

wicked, Tim!!

[ken4ord]

Very nice! Damn I miss ice climbing.

[RocNoggin]

sweet! I miss France!

[JoshK]

sweet! I miss the French!

 

Oh wait...nevermind, I don't...

[dbb]

go back to eating your freedom fries josh. nothing to see here. stay in USA please.

[jhamaker]

2" of snow stopped you? or am I missing something.

 

I'd be interested in knowing what towns are close, esp if you know one big enough to be on a map. Approach from wich side/ wich rd?

[TimL]

The actual climbing area is in France. The town of Bielsa is on the Spanish side and should be on a map. We approached from the Spanish side. I can look up the roads, but its in the middle of the mountains with no actual big roads around. Two inches of snow didn't stop us, but it was snowing more at the climbing area and the French closed the roads on their side so we couldn't get to the climbs.