[TR] Monteserat, Spain

[archenemy]

Climb: Somewhere in Monterserat

 

Date of Climb: Sometime around 4/17/2006

 

 

 

I decided to embark on a grueling epic climb in the rough part of Spain. To gird my loins for this endeavour, I decided I would bivy in a two-hundred-year-old French vinyard.

 

 

Fortunately, the room was equipped with a huge soak tub and came with a bottle of wine made in the area. I felt ready.

 

The next day I took off for Monterserat. The drive ended up at this:

 

 

It was already afternoon, so it didn't make sense to start climbing. My partner and I decided to walk around a bit and just take a peek. This is what we saw:

 

 

and this:

 

 

We ran--yes, actually ran--back to the car and got the gear. I was so excited to climb that I actually ripped a piece of the climb right off.

 

 

Here it is:

 

 

Somewhere underneath it is the evidence of me shitting myself; I carried on, without the undercling I had removed, and topped out all too quickly.

 

I looked over and saw the most interesting formation

 

 

We decided maybe we might just want to get another climb in that day, so we walked a little ways and started up the next one we saw--it looked pretty short and easy to handle.

 

Here is the first pitch:

 

 

And the second pitch:

 

 

and the surprise third pitch:

 

 

After topping out, I looked up and saw a stone hut with a fire going. Other smelly climbers were there and a whole shitload of gear was stored inside. I wondered how most folks got up there (I hadn't seen one single solitary other climbing person actually climbing the whole time I was there), and looked down and saw this:

 

 

 

 

Gear Notes: A handful of draws, an old rope, the same clothes I'd been wearing all week.

 

Approach Notes: Take KLM to Amsterdam. Be sure to have a long enough layover to enjoy Amsterdam. Hang out in France long enough to gain 3 kilos and then head to Spain.

[Chad_A]

Epic! How have you ever dealt with such adversity?

 

Nice pics

[TheOtter]

 

You otter post some pics from the beach!

 

Oooo la la!

 

Yes you otter!

[catbirdseat]

What do you call that sort of rock? It looks like a conglomerate.

 

Those are very good pictures, but how about some pictures with people in them?

[olyclimber]

NICE!!! Archenemy, I didn't know you posted here!

 

Where do those step lead to? Did you bring me back a bottle of wine? Would you recommend the climbing there, or was it just exotique.

[ZimZam]

I wanna climb with you. I love Amsterdam, hence the bike thing. Nice pics.

[G-spotter]

Do you think the 3 kilos and the ripping off holds part were connected

[Camilo]

Montserrat rules. Nice pics!

[archenemy]

vw4ever: by staying buzzed--one way or another

TheOtter: the only beach I hit was the Med--and it was windy and shitty that day

CBS: it was conglomerate, and I do have an outstanding shot of me hamming it up on a via ferrata

oly: For you, anything

ZZ: anytime.

G-Spot: I hadn't thought about that--thanks for deepening my depression

Camilo: Montserrat is in the Carribean; Monteserat is in Spain

 

Glad you guys liked my first attempt at a TR. It is a lot of work for a crappy write up. I'll try better on the next one!

[slothrop]

Ooh, we need more via ferrata shots!

 

That third photo makes me dizzy.

[Camilo]

Camilo: Montserrat is in the Carribean; Monteserat is in Spain

Google Spain search "monteserat"

I think we're both right. You about the Carribean, me about Spain. Either way it's an amazing place