A Couple Of Spanish Crags – Part 2

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Espolon del Adamelo (5c, 7 P) & Normal Route (5c, 3P)

Wandering the streets of Pamplona in northern Spain (Sept. 2010).

The next day’s forecast was calling for rain. Based on our experience from May, a 40% chance was a sure bet in Riglos. We woke up late, enjoyed the great pastries and good coffee in a bakery in Ayerbe and then drove three hours up north to Pamplona. We walked around town for half a day including the stretch of narrow streets where they run the bulls. We drove back and spent the rest of the day checking out nearby villages, including the nearby Aguero with its own set of (relatively) miniature towers. We flipped through the guidebook trying to decide what to climb next…the Chooper ass-kicking was modifying our “list.”

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Shirley somewhere midway up the nice Espolon del Adamelo route (Sept. 2010).

Our third day, we went for an easy line up a ridge just right of Pison, Espolon del Adamelo. Seven pitches with nothing harder than 5c (5.8-5.9). Fun, low-stress sort of climbing that joins up with the same finishing pitch of two days prior. This time however, instead of rappelling right away, we followed the three pitch (5c) Normal Route to the summit of The Pison. A spacious meadow a thousand feet above the village with amazing views of the nearby Fire and Visera formations and the Aragon countryside.

Photos

Welcome to Pamplona (Sept. 2010).

Pamplona (Sept. 2010).

Wandering the streets of Pamplona in northern Spain (Sept. 2010).

The 1000 foot tall El Pison tower above Riglos the village. On the left, I’ve highlighted the last two pitches of the Normal Route on El Puro (note the climbers on its summit). The 5-pitch route on the right is Chooper with two climbers highlighted in red circles (zoomed in shot of the duo is here). To its right is the Espolon del Adamelo line. Both routes converge and one then has the option of continuing to the summit of Pison via its indicated Normal Route (Sept. 2010).

Starting up the nice Espolon del Adamelo route in Riglos (Sept. 2010).

Shirley atop pitch 1 or 2 of the Espolon Del Adamelo route. The village of Riglos is waking up below (Sept. 2010).

Shirley somewhere midway up the nice Espolon del Adamelo route (Sept. 2010).

Shirley at the fifth belay on Espolon Del Adamelo (Sept. 2010).

Starting the lead of the 6th pitch of Espolon Del Adamelo (Sept. 2010).

Shirley at the col atop Espolon Del Adamelo route (Sept. 2010).

Starting the lead of the Normal Route on El Pison…typical (if easier) “bellies” are encountered here as well (Sept. 2010).

Shirley a pitch below the summit of El Pison.

Off-route on pitch 2 of the Normal Route on Mallo Pison. Mallo Fire is in the background (Sept. 2010).

Shirley looking for the 2nd pitch of the Normal Route just below the summit of El Pison.

Shirley topping out on the Pison tower via its Normal Route…a large knoll a 1000 feet above the Aragon countryside (Sept. 2010).

Mallo Fire from the summit of El Pison (Sept. 2010).

Some asshole on the summit of El Pison with Mallo Fire in the background (Sept. 2010).

Shirley rapping off the summit of Pison with Mallo Fire in the background (Sept. 2010).

Unknown climbers on al “Trono” of the Moskitos route on La Visera. This is the escape from Moskitos actually (Sept. 2010).

Mallos De Aguero formations above the village by the same name (Sept. 2010).

Relocating to Montserrat (…after some good bakery breakfast). This is the charming little town (village?) of Ayerbe in Aragon (Sept. 2010).

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