Espolon Central

Mexico

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Espolon Central
Espolon Central.

On Monday morning, we drove around the formation to the Chichidho Compound (very nice if a bit removed from the conveniences of town) and hiked up to the “backside” of the Pena. We climbed the Espolon Central route (6 pitch, 5.9) to its top out point on a buttress below the summit. Although the online beta mentions rapping down a difficult (but straight) route, we opted to rap our climbing line instead. Smooth with just a bit of care. Nice route, a bit off the beaten path, even if the first two pitches are uninspiring. Soon enough we were back in Bernal eating more gorditas.

Photos

Bernal
Pena as seen from the drive to Chichidho Compound (Feb. 2023).
Espolon Central
Approach from Chichidho to the start of Espolon Central route (Feb. 2023).
Espolon Central
Some flora (Feb. 2023).
Espolon Central
Starting up Espolon Central route (6 pitch 5.9). Don’t let the first pitch (or two) turn you off; climbing is pretty decent and most of the hardware is modern (Feb. 2023).
Espolon Central
Espolon Central (Feb. 2023).
Espolon Central
Shirley on pitch 1 (Feb. 2023).
Espolon Central
Views from low on the route (Feb. 2023).
Espolon Central
Arriving at the first belay (Feb. 2023).
Espolon Central
Starting up pitch 2 (Feb. 2023).
Espolon Central
Chichidho (Feb. 2023).
Espolon Central
Higher on pitch 2 (Feb. 2023).
Espolon Central
Shirley on pitch 3 of Espolon Central (Feb. 2023).
Espolon Central
Views from low on the route (Feb. 2023).
Espolon Central
Nearing the third belay (Feb. 2023).
Espolon Central
Pitch 4 (Feb. 2023).
Espolon Central
Shirley on pitch 4 (Feb. 2023).
Espolon Central
More of the slabby pitch 4 (Feb. 2023).
Espolon Central
Looking back from the lead of pitch 5. Climbing is (a little) better than it looks (Feb. 2023).
Espolon Central
Shirley on pitch 5 (Feb. 2023).
Espolon Central
Shirley arriving at the fifth belay (Feb. 2023).
Espolon Central
Starting up the sixth and final pitch of Espolon Central (Feb. 2023).
Espolon Central
Antiques Road Show – Queretaro (Feb. 2023).
Espolon Central
Pitch 6 (Feb. 2023).
Espolon Central
Shirley topping out on the route (Feb. 2023).
Espolon Central
Unknown climber on the next door Filo Noroccidental (Feb. 2023).
Espolon Central
A closer look (Feb. 2023).
Espolon Central
Views from the top of the route (Feb. 2023).
Espolon Central
Shirley rapping down pitch 2 (Feb. 2023).
Espolon Central
Hiking down (Feb. 2023).
Espolon Central
Shirley and some cacti (Feb. 2023).
Espolon Central
A look back at the nice looking line of Espolon Central (Feb. 2023).
Espolon Central
Shirley and the Pena (Feb. 2023).
Espolon Central
Back in Chichidho (Feb. 2023).
Pena De Bernal
Pena de Bernal from the east (Feb. 2023).
Bernal
Rehydrating at a liquor shop in the non-tourist part of Bernal (Feb. 2023).
Bernal
The functional part of Bernal (Feb. 2023).
Bernal
Magico part of Bernal (Feb. 2023).
Bernal
On a hunt for some dinner (Feb. 2023).
Bernal
This is the place we ate at during our first Bernal visit a decade earlier (Feb. 2023).
Bernal
Cool place inside (Feb. 2023).
Bernal
Bernal (Feb. 2023).
Bernal
Sharp looking ride, dawg (Feb. 2023).
Bernal
Bernal (Feb. 2023).
Bernal
Bernal (Feb. 2023).
Bernal
Bernal (Feb. 2023).
Bernal
Pena from Bernal (Feb. 2023).
Bernal
Bernal (Feb. 2023).
Bernal
Bernal (Feb. 2023).

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