Rainy Riglos 3

Riglos

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Moskitos
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

Spain
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).
Moskitos
Shirley hiking through the village on the way up to La Visera (May 2010).
Moskitos
More of Shirley on the approach (May 2010).
Moskitos
Shirley starting up Moskitos (May 2010).
Moskitos
Shirley higher on pitch 1 (May 2010).
Moskitos
Following the first pitch (May 2010).
Moskitos
Shirley at the first belay on Moskitos (May 2010).
Moskitos
Starting up pitch 2 (May 2010).
Moskitos
Looking back at Shirley from the lead of pitch 2 of Moskitos (May 2010).
Moskitos
More of pitch 2 (May 2010).
Moskitos
Shirley on pitch 2 with unknown climbers on Fiesta de los Biceps (May 2010).
Moskitos
Views of the village from the second belay (May 2010).
Moskitos
Shirley arriving at the second belay (May 2010).
Moskitos
More of our neighbors on Fiesta de los Biceps (May 2010).
Moskitos
Shirley starting up pitch 3 of Moskitos (May 2010).
Moskitos
Shirley nearing the third belay on Moskitos (May 2010).
Moskitos
Following pitch 3 (May 2010).
Moskitos
Views from the route (May 2010).
Moskitos
Leading pitch 4 (May 2010).
Moskitos
Looking back at Shirley from the start of pitch 4 (May 2010).
Moskitos
Pitch 4 of Moskitos (May 2010).
Moskitos
More pitch 4 – look at those blocks (May 2010).
Moskitos
Shirley starting pitch 4 of Moskitos (May 2010).
Moskitos
Shirley arriving at the fourth belay (May 2010).
Moskitos
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).
Moskitos
Shirley starting up pitch 5 (May 2010).
Moskitos
Making progress on pitch 5 (May 2010).
Moskitos
Following pitch 5 (May 2010).
Moskitos
Mantling onto the huge conglomerate boulder atop pitch 5 of Moskitos on Visera. Climber in the background is on Fiesta de los Biceps (7a; May 2010).
Moskitos
Rapping off the huge embedded stone (El Trono) high on Moskitos route on La Visera…the next pitches were running with water (May 2010).
Moskitos
Shirley belaying me on the “escape pitch” from Moskitos (May 2010).
Moskitos
Shirley following the escape pitch (May 2010).
Moskitos
Scrambling a gully to the top of La Visera (May 2010).
Moskitos
The views (May 2010).
Moskitos
On the hike down (May 2010).
Moskitos
Off route (May 2010).
Moskitos
Back at the base and looking up at La Visera. Click photo for full res. to see the multiple parties on it (May 2010).
Moskitos
A closer look – click photo (May 2010).
Riglos
Climbing parties on La Visera. Click for full res. (May 2010).
Riglos
Unknown climbers on Zulu Demente on Visera (May 2010).
Riglos
Riglos (May 2010).
Riglos
El Pison towering above the village (May 2010).

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