Go back to Central Mexico Quickie.
Go back to Aculco The Crag.
The famous shot from Bernal.
The following day we climbed the highly recommended Filo Noroccidental route which follows the northwest ridge of Pena de Bernal. It is indeed a super fun route: about 7 pitches and 10a, though it’s mostly easy climbing and fully bolted. It traverses some knife edge ridges and offers a spectacular setting. We had tried to find this one five years earlier but were unsuccessful with the limited beta we had back then. After tagging the summit for the third time, we fought human traffic jams on the hike down. Though we were back in our hotel before 2pm, we decided not to drive anywhere as the streets of Bernal were absolutely clogged with tourists. Instead, we walked into town and ate and drank the afternoon away.
Photos
Our strategically located hotel – right next to the Pena and compared to some shithole in Vegas, quite cheap (Dec. 2018).
Hiking to the Pena on our first day in Bernal (Dec. 2018).
West face of Pena de Bernal. Filo Noroccidental follows the left skyline from just above the low point saddle (Dec. 2018).
Cacti on approach to Filo Noroccidental (Dec. 2018).
Along the pretty hike (Dec. 2018).
With the shadow of the Pena (Dec. 2018).
Almost there (Dec. 2018).
Starting up Filo Noroccidental (Northwest Ridge) on Pena de Bernal (Dec. 2018).
Higher on pitch one (Dec. 2018).
Shirley arriving at the first belay (Dec. 2018).
A nip of mescal (Dec. 2018).
And off she goes on pitch 2 (Dec. 2018).
Looking SW from the route (Dec. 2018).
Shirley higher on pitch 2 (Dec. 2018).
Almost there (Dec. 2018).
Starting up pitch 3 (Dec. 2018).
Looking back at Shirley from the lead of pitch 3 (Dec. 2018).
Leading pitch 3 – easy but fun (Dec. 2018).
Shirley starting up pitch 3 of Filo Noroccidental (Dec. 2018).
Views to the NW. Chichidho Ecopark is at the center I think (Dec. 2018).
A bit higher on pitch 3 (Dec. 2018).
Arriving at the third belay (Dec. 2018).
Shirley starting up pitch 4. I think the climbers who re-bolted the route ran out glue-ins at this point as the only pro was an ancient 3/8″ bolt early on the pitch (Dec. 2018).
Looking for the easiest way to top out on the ridge of pitch 4 (Dec. 2018).
Shirley on the easy but runout ridge of pitch 4 (Dec. 2018).
Following the narrowing ridge on pitch 4 of Filo Noroccidental (Dec. 2018).
Looking up at Shirley at the 4th belay (Dec. 2018).
Arriving at the 4th belay (Dec. 2018).
Shirley belaying me at the start of pitch 5 (Dec. 2018).
Shirley on pitch 5 of Filo Noroccidental (Dec. 2018).
Views from pitch 5 (Dec. 2018).
Shirley on the 5th pitch (Dec. 2018).
And arriving at the airy 5th belay (Dec. 2018).
Shirley starting the lead of the very cool pitch 6 (Dec. 2018).
A bit of oxidation on a belay bolt (Dec. 2018).
Shirley about to gain the easy ridge at the start of pitch 6 (Dec. 2018).
View of the King Kong summit that we’d climb the next day (Dec. 2018).
Pitch 6 (Dec. 2018).
Shirley higher on pitch 6 (Dec. 2018).
Following pitch 6. A very cool, narrow ridge hike for the most part (Dec. 2018).
Arriving at the 6th belay (Dec. 2018).
Leading the 7th pitch which we linked with 8th all the way to the summit (Dec. 2018).
Looking back at Shirley from the lead (Dec. 2018).
Shirley arriving on the summit (Dec. 2018).
Shirley on the spacious summit of Pena de Bernal hiking towards the descent route (Dec. 2018).
Bernal from the summit (Dec. 2018).
The summit (Dec. 2018).
Shirley on one of the two short raps off the summit. Look at those crowds (Dec. 2018).
Shirley starting the jammed up and sloooow hike down after 2 short rappels (Dec. 2018).
On the hike back to the hotel (Dec. 2018).
Pena de Bernal from the hike down (Dec. 2018).
Busy streets on the Sunday before New Years Eve (Dec. 2018).
Hiking into town (Dec. 2018).
Bernal (Dec. 2018).
Bernal (Dec. 2018).
Strolling the streets of Bernal with Pena looking on (Dec. 2018).
View of the old church (Dec. 2018).
Abuelas of Bernal in central square by the church (Dec. 2018).
Nopal (type of cactus) being grilled (Dec. 2018).
Nopal being served (Dec. 2018).
Busy Bernal on the eve of New Years Eve (Dec. 2018).
Much more crowded than we remember it from 5 years ago (Dec. 2018).
Street musician (Dec. 2018).
The iconic shot of Pena from Bernal (Dec. 2018).
Bernal (Dec. 2018).
Go to King Kong.
Go to Central Mexico Quickie.