Rainy Riglos 3 | chossclimbers.com

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Moskitos.

Proceeding down the list of our planned climbs, we set out next morning to climb the Moskitos route (did first 6 pitches at 6a) on the amazingly steep face of Visera (The Hood). The huge face (think 8 pitch long routes here) has a parabolic profile: it starts out being less than vertical and ends up severely overhanging near its top. A couple of classic routes penetrate the overhanging upper reaches whereas Moskitos avoids the steepest bit by a rightward “escape”. We climbed Moskitos once again swapping leads. High fun, low stress sort of climbing. The highlight of the route was the rightward traverse followed by a mantle onto a huge cobblestone (VW Bug sized) sticking out of Visera’s face! As the proper sixth pitch (6b crux) was running with water, we opted for the short rap from the belay cobble and traversing escape pitch that put us on scrambling ground. A beautiful sunny day that made us think the weather had worked itself out. Not the case as it turned out…

Photos

Our favorite bakery in the village of Ayerbe (a few kilometers drive from Riglos) is just down the street and on the right (May 2010).

Shirley hiking through the village on the way up to La Visera (May 2010).

More of Shirley on the approach (May 2010).

Shirley starting up Moskitos (May 2010).

Shirley higher on pitch 1 (May 2010).

Following the first pitch (May 2010).

Shirley at the first belay on Moskitos (May 2010).

Starting up pitch 2 (May 2010).

Looking back at Shirley from the lead of pitch 2 of Moskitos (May 2010).

More of pitch 2 (May 2010).

Shirley on pitch 2 with unknown climbers on Fiesta de los Biceps (May 2010).

Views of the village from the second belay (May 2010).

Shirley arriving at the second belay (May 2010).

More of our neighbors on Fiesta de los Biceps (May 2010).

Shirley starting up pitch 3 of Moskitos (May 2010).

Shirley nearing the third belay on Moskitos (May 2010).

Following pitch 3 (May 2010).

Views from the route (May 2010).

Leading pitch 4 (May 2010).

Looking back at Shirley from the start of pitch 4 (May 2010).

Pitch 4 of Moskitos (May 2010).

More pitch 4 – look at those blocks (May 2010).

Shirley starting pitch 4 of Moskitos (May 2010).

Shirley arriving at the fourth belay (May 2010).

Getting buzzed by a Guarda Nacional chopper…check out these guys practicing rescues on youtube…rescues or drunken stunts…either way, fun stuff (May 2010).