Europe

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South Arete – Spigolo Giallo

Spigolo Giallo (Italy).

Riglos

Riglos (Spain).


In 2008, our trip to the Dolomites and Meteora proved to be the entry drug to the world of climbing outside of the US. We’ve been off to the races since then. This is a slowly growing list of places we’ve climbed on the continent.

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Pixari - Archimedes

Meteora (Greece).

Skeleton Ridge

Skeleton Ridge (UK).

Though there may not be much in the way of true wilderness, the Old World charm still makes it seem like a worthwhile effort. I have to say that we find the geographic peripheries of Europe much more appealing than the traditional “heart” of the continent these days; Scotland, Portugal, portions of Scandinavia and Ukraine seem more fascinating than a trip to Switzerland or Austria (but we would not pass up on going there either).

Trip Reports Listed Chronologically

Cima Piccolissima - Cassin

Cassin on Cima Piccolissima.

Cima Grande Di Lavaredo - Comici

Waiting out the weather in Rifugio Auronzo.

  • “Euro Sampler – Dolomites” (August to September 2008)
  • “Euro Sampler – Meteora” (September 2008)
  • “Rainy Riglos” (May 2010)
  • “Revisiting The Dolomites” (July 2010)
  • “A Couple Of Spanish Crags” (September 2010)
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    Kleine Herkulessaule

    Kleine Herkulessaule (Germany).

    Montserrat

    Montserrat (Spain).

  • “Spanish Road Trip” (September 2017)
  • “British Chalk” (July 2018)
  • “French Failure” (August 2019)
  • “Saxon Sandstone” (August 2021)
  • “Polished Limestone” (May 2022)
  • “Croatia Appetizer” (August 2022)
  • “Lovely Lofoten” (July 2023)
  • “British Road Trip” (May 2024)
  • Listings By Area and Route

    The Dolomites (Italy)

    Tissi

    Sella Pass.

    Tofana Di Rozes - Pillar Rib

    Buttress Two of Tofana Di Rozes.

    So many great (and long) moderates, so many hard (and long) classics! We do love the place. Weather can be a bit shifty (based on our two trips there and a total duration of about 5 weeks) but overall not too bad. We’ve been known to have worse weather luck elsewhere.

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    Sella Pass

    Third Sella Tower.

    Cinque Torri

    Cinque Torri.

  • South-West Corner, Trenker on First Sella Tower (V-)
  • W.S.W. Arete, Tissi on First Sella Tower (VI)
  • West Face, Vinatzer on Third Sella Tower (V+)
  • Gross-Fuhre on Piz Pordoi (V)
  • South Face Buttress 2, Pillar Rib on Tofana Di Rozes (VI-)
  • South-West Face, Via delle Guide on Torre Grande (IV)
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    Cima Grande Di Lavaredo - Comici

    Tre Cime di Lavaredo.

    Cima Catinaccio - Steger

    Cima Catinaccio.

  • South Face, Via Miriam on Torre Grande (V+)
  • North Face, Comici on Cima Grande Di Lavaredo (VII-)
  • South Arete, The Yellow Edge on Cima Piccola (VI)
  • South Face, Cassin on Cima Piccolissima (VII-)
  • South Face, Tissi on Torre Venezia (VI-)
  • East Face, Steger on Cima Catinaccio (VI-)
  • Meteora (Greece)

    Sourloti - Hypotenuse

    Hypotenuse.

    Meteora

    A Meteora tower-top monastery.

    We spent about two weeks there during the early fall (September to early October) of 2008…and probably had like 4 sunny days in total. All other days involved dodging rain showers or just not being able to climb because of sustained rain. Fortunately, the table wine was cheap, there were monasteries to see, Greek coffee was decent and Internet readily available…did I mention cheap booze? When we did get to climb, it was stellar! Reasonably well protected (based on routes we’ve done) and seemingly well maintained routes at almost any (weekend warrior) grade level. Awesome spires and an other-worldly kind of setting.

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    Heiliger Geist - Traumpfeiler

    Pillar Of Dreams.


    Pixari - Archimedes

    Pixari.

  • Eiertanz on Kelch (VI- A0)
  • Ostkante Doupianifels (VI)
  • Sudostwand on Doupianifels (VII-)
  • Traumpfeiler on Heiliger Geist (V+)
  • Nordostweg on Heiliggeistwachter (V+)
  • Sudwestkante on Heiliggeistwachter (VI-)
  • Via Scorpion on Spindel (V- A0)
  • Archimedes on Pixari (V)
  • Hypotenuse on Sourloti (VI)
  • Linie Des Fallenden Tropfens on Sourloti (VI)
  • Hartetest on Kumarieskopf (VI+)
  • Westkante on Ypsiloterafels (VI-)
  • Riglos (Spain)

    Chooper

    Chooper route.

    Riglos

    Riglos at sunset.

    Intimidating place! For us anyway. Exactly the sort of climbing we’ve successfully managed to avoid here in the US: steep, sustained, and juggy. All arms it seemed. Really had to knock down our hopes and expectations. On the flip side, it’s so much of what we love: multipitch climbing, wild exposure, and proud summits sitting atop huge (1000-foot tall) towers! Will go back…barely scratched the surface.

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    Galletas

    Galletas.

    Riglos

    The magical Riglos (Spain).

  • Normal Route on El Puro (6b)
  • Moskitos on La Visera (6a – last pitch skipped, wet)
  • Galletas on Mallo Fire (6a)
  • Chooper (bail) on El Pison (6a C1)
  • Chooper on El Pison (6a C1)
  • Espolon del Adamelo & Normal Route on El Pison (5c)
  • Seron-Millan on El Pison (6a+ A0)
  • Montserrat (Spain)

    Punsola Reniu

    Cavall Bernat.

    Mas-Brullet

    Montserrat.

    Sort of seemed like Meteora (beyond just the obvious similarities in rock type) in the relaxed atmosphere and fun, low-stress climbing. Would love to go back for a third trip.

  • Punsola-Reniu on Cavall Bernat (6b A0)
  • Mas-Brullet on Serrat del Moro (6b A0)
  • Cerda-Riera on Bandereta (6a)
  • Costa Blanca (Spain)

    Diedro UBSA

    Diedro UBSA.

    Diedro UBSA

    Diedro UBSA.

    One route so far. White (and polished!) limestone; blue Mediterranean; good seafood. What’s not to like…except perhaps for out of control sprawl.

  • Diedro UBSA on Penon de Ifach (5c)
  • Isle Of Wight (England)

    Skeleton Ridge

    Skeleton Ridge.

    Isle Of Wight

    Isle Of Wight.

    I mean where else do you get to climb chalk above a sea? Loved it! Probably won’t be back to the Island though.

  • Skeleton Ridge on The Needles (HVS 4c)
  • Scotland

    The Old Man Of Hoy

    The Old Man Of Hoy.

    Scotland

    Stones of Stenness on Orkney.

    A long standing dream to climb the three classic sea stacks finally realized. Small packages but awesome adventures! Would definitely go back to Scotland for more seaside climbing.

  • Original Route on The Old Man Of Hoy (E1 5b)
  • Original Route on The Old Man Of Stoer (VS 5a)
  • Original Route on Am Buachaille (HVS 4c)
  • Gogarth (Wales)

    Lighthouse Arete Direct

    Lighthouse Arete Direct.

    A Dream Of White Horses

    A Dream Of White Horses.

    Two nice routes squeezed into a week of family time. They were both amazing, especially Dream – a true world classic!

  • Lighthouse Arete Direct (VS 4c)
  • A Dream Of White Horses (HVS 5a)
  • Verdon (France)

    Arete du Belvedere

    Verdon Gorge.

    France

    La Palud Sur Verdon.

    Rain, drinking, eating, more rain, trace quantity of climbing…

  • Arete du Belvedere (5c)
  • Saxony (Germany)

    Brosinnadel

    Brosinnadel.

    Decin

    Decin, Czech Republic.

    We’ve always wanted to try climbing there. Strict and very unique ethics (probably one of a kind in the world) making the climbing of the little sandstone towers a fright fest. Combined with a family reunion, we did have a great time though!

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    Schusterweg

    Falkenstein.

    Dreifingerturm

    Dreifingerturm.

  • Winkelriss on Daxenstein
  • Loschnerwand on Daxenstein
  • Alter Weg on Chinesischer Turm
  • Sudriss on Sonnenwendstein
  • Alter Weg on Kleine Herkulessaule
  • Direkte Westkante on Vorderer Schroffer
  • Alter Weg on Brosinnadel
  • Schusterweg on Falkenstein
  • Hintere Reibung on Schrammsteinkegel
  • Alter Weg on Dreifingerturm
  • Polish Jura

    Lewy Komin

    Sokolica.

    Sokolica

    Sokolica.

    Family, sightseeing, slick limestone climbing (just OK).

  • Lewy Komin (3P, V+)
  • Spoko – To Nie Maroko (4P IV)
  • Croatia

    Stigma

    Stogaj.

    Centralni Kamin

    Paklenica National Park.

    Safe (even by Euro standards) country with OK climbing and pretty nice beaches. Seafood was fresh and pretty good; Dubrovnik was worth a day. Highlight was the little tower of Stogaj: unique setting and rock.

  • Mosoraski (10P, 6a)
  • Centralni Kamin (7P, 5b)
  • Stigma on Stogaj (2P, 5b)
  • Lofoten Islands (Norway)

    Vestpillaren

    Vestpillaren on Presten.

    Reine

    Lofoten Islands.

    Unstable weather but great and very trad climbing! Nice beaches to boot and – during the optimal weather months – no darkness to worry about.

  • Bare Blåbær
  • Vestpillaren on The Presten
  • Forsida on Svolværgeita
  • Puffrisset on Honnikornsvaet
  • Euro Cityscapes

    Venice

    Venice.

    Amsterdam

    Amsterdam.

    Not that we seek out those urban encounters but they do happen on occasion. Always useful for having a pint or a decent meal (but without fail, tiresome after about a half a day).

  • Venice
  • Munich & Wroclaw
  • Barcelona
  • Pamplona
  • Amsterdam & Amsterdam
  • Calpe
  • .
    London

    London.

    Prague

    Prague.

  • London
  • Helsinki
  • Moscow & Moscow
  • Frankfurt
  • Prague
  • Krakow
  • Dubrovnik
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    Barcelona

    Barcelona.

    Moscow

    Moscow.

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    Wroclaw

    Wroclaw.

    Dubrovnik

    Dubrovnik.

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