Filo Noroccidental

Go back to Central Mexico Quickie.
Go back to Aculco The Crag.

Pena de Bernal

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

Pena de Bernal

Our strategically located hotel – right next to the Pena and compared to some shithole in Vegas, quite cheap (Dec. 2018).

Filo Noroccidental

Hiking to the Pena on our first day in Bernal (Dec. 2018).

Filo Noroccidental

West face of Pena de Bernal. Filo Noroccidental follows the left skyline from just above the low point saddle (Dec. 2018).

Filo Noroccidental

Cacti on approach to Filo Noroccidental (Dec. 2018).

Filo Noroccidental

Along the pretty hike (Dec. 2018).

Filo Noroccidental

With the shadow of the Pena (Dec. 2018).

Filo Noroccidental

Almost there (Dec. 2018).

Filo Noroccidental

Starting up Filo Noroccidental (Northwest Ridge) on Pena de Bernal (Dec. 2018).

Filo Noroccidental

Higher on pitch one (Dec. 2018).

Filo Noroccidental

Shirley arriving at the first belay (Dec. 2018).

Filo Noroccidental

A nip of mescal (Dec. 2018).

Filo Noroccidental

And off she goes on pitch 2 (Dec. 2018).

Filo Noroccidental

Looking SW from the route (Dec. 2018).

Filo Noroccidental

Shirley higher on pitch 2 (Dec. 2018).

Filo Noroccidental

Almost there (Dec. 2018).

Filo Noroccidental

Starting up pitch 3 (Dec. 2018).

Filo Noroccidental

Looking back at Shirley from the lead of pitch 3 (Dec. 2018).

Filo Noroccidental

Leading pitch 3 – easy but fun (Dec. 2018).

Filo Noroccidental

Shirley starting up pitch 3 of Filo Noroccidental (Dec. 2018).

Filo Noroccidental

Views to the NW. Chichidho Ecopark is at the center I think (Dec. 2018).

Filo Noroccidental

A bit higher on pitch 3 (Dec. 2018).

Filo Noroccidental

Arriving at the third belay (Dec. 2018).

Filo Noroccidental

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).

Filo Noroccidental

Looking for the easiest way to top out on the ridge of pitch 4 (Dec. 2018).

Filo Noroccidental

Shirley on the easy but runout ridge of pitch 4 (Dec. 2018).

Filo Noroccidental

Following the narrowing ridge on pitch 4 of Filo Noroccidental (Dec. 2018).

Filo Noroccidental

Looking up at Shirley at the 4th belay (Dec. 2018).

Filo Noroccidental

Arriving at the 4th belay (Dec. 2018).

Filo Noroccidental

Shirley belaying me at the start of pitch 5 (Dec. 2018).

Filo Noroccidental

Shirley on pitch 5 of Filo Noroccidental (Dec. 2018).

Filo Noroccidental

Views from pitch 5 (Dec. 2018).

Filo Noroccidental

Shirley on the 5th pitch (Dec. 2018).

Filo Noroccidental

And arriving at the airy 5th belay (Dec. 2018).

Filo Noroccidental

Shirley starting the lead of the very cool pitch 6 (Dec. 2018).

Filo Noroccidental

A bit of oxidation on a belay bolt (Dec. 2018).

Filo Noroccidental

Shirley about to gain the easy ridge at the start of pitch 6 (Dec. 2018).

Filo Noroccidental

View of the King Kong summit that we’d climb the next day (Dec. 2018).

Filo Noroccidental

Pitch 6 (Dec. 2018).

Filo Noroccidental

Shirley higher on pitch 6 (Dec. 2018).

Filo Noroccidental

Following pitch 6. A very cool, narrow ridge hike for the most part (Dec. 2018).

Filo Noroccidental

Arriving at the 6th belay (Dec. 2018).

Filo Noroccidental

Leading the 7th pitch which we linked with 8th all the way to the summit (Dec. 2018).

Filo Noroccidental

Looking back at Shirley from the lead (Dec. 2018).

Filo Noroccidental

Shirley arriving on the summit (Dec. 2018).

Filo Noroccidental

Shirley on the spacious summit of Pena de Bernal hiking towards the descent route (Dec. 2018).

Filo Noroccidental

Bernal from the summit (Dec. 2018).

Filo Noroccidental

The summit (Dec. 2018).

Pena de Bernal

Shirley on one of the two short raps off the summit. Look at those crowds (Dec. 2018).

Pena de Bernal

Shirley starting the jammed up and sloooow hike down after 2 short rappels (Dec. 2018).

Pena de Bernal

On the hike back to the hotel (Dec. 2018).

Pena de Bernal

Pena de Bernal from the hike down (Dec. 2018).

Pena de Bernal

Busy streets on the Sunday before New Years Eve (Dec. 2018).

Pena de Bernal

Hiking into town (Dec. 2018).

Pena de Bernal

Bernal (Dec. 2018).

Pena de Bernal

Bernal (Dec. 2018).

Pena de Bernal

Strolling the streets of Bernal with Pena looking on (Dec. 2018).

Pena de Bernal

View of the old church (Dec. 2018).

Pena de Bernal

Abuelas of Bernal in central square by the church (Dec. 2018).

Pena de Bernal

Nopal (type of cactus) being grilled (Dec. 2018).

Pena de Bernal

Nopal being served (Dec. 2018).

Pena de Bernal

Busy Bernal on the eve of New Years Eve (Dec. 2018).

Pena de Bernal

Much more crowded than we remember it from 5 years ago (Dec. 2018).

Pena de Bernal

Street musician (Dec. 2018).

Pena de Bernal

The iconic shot of Pena from Bernal (Dec. 2018).

Pena de Bernal

Bernal (Dec. 2018).

Go to King Kong.
Go to Central Mexico Quickie.