Day In Montserrat

Montserrat

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Mas-Brullet
Topping out on Mas-Brullet.
That afternoon, we drove up along the coast in the direction of Barcelona and its nearby Montserrat with the promise of at least one day of dry weather there. Here once again we relied on Ferran’s route recommendation and headed up to the Mas-Brullet line on Serrat del Moro (6b+ and 9 pitches) the next morning. With Punsola-Reniu being our only other Montserrat climbing experience, we were surprised at just how trad this line turned out to be. I absolutely did not think that I’d be shoulder deep in some very slick off-width on this Euro trip – the crux pitch high on the route (upper portion ultimately got aided). Or that I’d be plugging away hybrid Aliens into pin scars. Another good dinner, another bottle of wine and we were trying to decide on the last climb of the trip.

Photos

Mas-Brullet
Setting out from the Santa Cecilia Refuge in Montserrat (Sept. 2017).
Mas-Brullet
On the approach to Mas-Brullet with Cavall Bernat looking on (Sept. 2017).
Mas-Brullet
Serrat del Moro formation. Mas-Brullet route climbs up to the summit of the left (taller) of two “horns” (Sept. 2017).
Mas-Brullet
Approaching Serrat del Moro and its Mas-Brullet route (Sept. 2017).
Mas-Brullet
Leading the first pitch of Mas-Brullet. A nice 6a crack (bit polished but sub-vertical) in a unique cave-like setting (Sept. 2017).
Mas-Brullet
Looking down from the lead of pitch 1 of Mas-Brullet (Sept. 2017).
Mas-Brullet
Shirley topping out on pitch 1 (Sept. 2017).
Mas-Brullet
Starting up pitch 2: nice flake to a delicate dihedral above (Sept. 2017).
Mas-Brullet
Shirley on pitch 2 of Mas-Brullet (Sept. 2017).
Mas-Brullet
Views from low on Mas-Brullet route. Clouds kept rolling over us and we were expecting to get rained off on every pitch. Fortunately never happened (Sept. 2017).
Mas-Brullet
Almost done with a brief crux of the pitch (Sept. 2017).
Mas-Brullet
Shirley enjoying a bit of gardening at the top of pitch 3 of Mas-Brullet…I screwed up here (Sept. 2017).
Mas-Brullet
Leading pitch 5 of Mas-Brullet (Sept. 2017).
Mas-Brullet
Shirley topping out on pitch 5 (Sept. 2017).
Mas-Brullet
Shirley finishing up pitch 6 (Sept. 2017).
Mas-Brullet
Dissipating clouds and Cavall Bernat from high on Mas-Brullet (Sept. 2017).
Mas-Brullet
Leading pitch 7 of Mas-Brullet (Sept. 2017).
Mas-Brullet
Fixed protection on Mas-Brullet…whoever said that Euros bolt everything just hasn’t climbed there enough (Sept. 2017).
Mas-Brullet
The leader from the French party (of Pyrenean search and rescue apparently) ahead of us did a nice (clean) job on this crux, 9th pitch (Sept. 2017).
Mas-Brullet
Shirley following the 7th pitch (Sept. 2017).
Mas-Brullet
One more of the party ahead of us (thank you for the cookies gents).
Mas-Brullet
Shirley topping out on pitch 7 of Mas-Brullet (Sept. 2017).
Mas-Brullet
Leading pitch 8 with the second from the French team above starting the crux 9th pitch (Sept. 2017).
Mas-Brullet
Shirley starting up the brief pitch 8 (Sept. 2017).
Mas-Brullet
After the opening boulder moves, a bit of a respite before things really kick up a few notches. Pitch 9 and the crux of Mas-Brullet (Sept. 2017).
Mas-Brullet
In the thick of it…actually the slightly overhanging and slick OW above got aided by me (Sept. 2017).
Mas-Brullet
Shirley topping out on pitch 9 of Mas-Brullet (Sept. 2017).
Mas-Brullet
One of the guys from the other party starting their descent (Sept. 2017).
Mas-Brullet
Views from atop pitch 9 (Sept. 2017).
Mas-Brullet
Leading the 10th and final pitch to the summit of Serrat del Moro (Sept. 2017).
Mas-Brullet
Looking back at Shirley from the lead of the final pitch of Mas-Brullet (Sept. 2017).
Mas-Brullet
Cavall Bernat from summit of Serrat del Moro (Sept. 2017).
Mas-Brullet
Shirley topping out on Mas-Brullet (Sept. 2017).
Mas-Brullet
Climbers (and the statue of Mary) on the summit of Cavall Bernat (Sept. 2017).
Mas-Brullet
…and a closer look (Sept. 2017).
Mas-Brullet
Shirley on the summit of Serrat del Moro (Sept. 2017).
Mas-Brullet
A couple of scramblers doing a via ferrata on a formation next door (Sept. 2017).
Mas-Brullet
Starting the raps off the summit (Sept. 2017).
Mas-Brullet
A (not the) monastery structure (or some such) seen from Mas-Brullet (Sept. 2017).
Mas-Brullet
Our route companions left us a parting gift: couple cookies (and our mismatched shoes with shoe laces tied together…hahaha).
Mas-Brullet
A bit of bushwhacking to regain the trail on the descent (Sept. 2017).
Mas-Brullet
One last look at Serrat del Moro (Sept. 2017).
Montserrat
The colorful village of Monistrol de Montserrat at the foot of the mountain (Sept. 2017).
Montserrat
Two residents of Monistrol (Sept. 2017).
Montserrat
A close up of one of them (Sept. 2017).
Montserrat
Where should we go next?

Go to Half Day In Montserrat.
Go to back to Spanish Road Trip.