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Spain for the Summer

Original Post
Nick Tait · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jan 2012 · Points: 0

I plan on spending most of June and July climbing in Spain. Could anyone point me in the direction of online resources or give me advice on some of the following topics.

I have been climbing seriously for the past 5 years. I climb indoors 2-4 times a week indoors. It is rare (once / 2 months) that I get the chance to climb outdoors. Recently my skills have started pushing into the 5.12c area. I don't own or have enough experience to place Trad gear also I am not a fan of Bouldering. So, where would be a good place to climb some 5.8 to 5.12 Sport routes? For this area, would it be better to get a train pass or rent a car? What guide book(s) would you recommend?

My Spanish is good enough, but I will be reviewing and improving my skills over the next few months. What online/software would help me?

Are there any specific crags/routes that you think are "must climb" in Spain?

I'm looking for a lower bound cost estimate. So, if I were only camping, about how much money could I survive on?

Anything else I should consider or plan for?

Thanks in advance,
~Nick Tait

Ryan Williams · · London (sort of) · Joined May 2009 · Points: 1,245

Spain gets HOT in summer. Many sport climbing areas will be cooking, but shade can be found. Forget about the southern part of the country, look for high elevation areas in Catalunya and the Pyrenees.

LeeAB Brinckerhoff · · Austin, TX · Joined Aug 2008 · Points: 10,288
Rodellar it will be hot, but since the canyon runs north-south you can always find shade, see the comments.

There are a couple of must do routes in the 5.12+ grade, Pince sans Rire and L'any que ve Tambe.

Be aware that in the north east, Basque country people prefer to speak basque not spanish, and they are not the same.
Vidal · · Boulder, CO · Joined Oct 2010 · Points: 0

I don't know that I'd want to do anything in Spain in June or July but drink with pretty Spanish girls in the city. It really does get hot there--In February we were consistently climbing in 70F weather.

I did the tour-de Spanish Crags over the course of 2 months--I would say that El Chorro had the highest value/climbing. You can take a train directly to the climber's campground and spend $500 or so USD/month if you are thrifty. However, there will routinely be 100F days in the South of Spain in June-July.

North of Spain is a good option, but probably still not "sending temps." Also, I don't remember being able to survive as cheaply.

Alex

davidbr · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Apr 2008 · Points: 190

NIck - THere's so much diverstity of climing in SPain that any time of year is a good time to go. As others have said, summer is the time to go up into the Pyrenees or the Cordillera Cantabrica.

There are areas that you can get to on public transport, but your options would really be limited.

While many don't use Spanish as their first language in the Basque country and Catalonia, Spanish will get you by just fine in both areas.

Tzilla Rapdrilla · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jan 2006 · Points: 955

Get a copy of Lleida Climbs by Dani Andrada, it's chock full of sweet crags & worth very penny for the book. We went in early June & it was fine then, but the weather was cooler & cloudier than normal. I didn't like Rodellar as well as some other areas as it was crowded & somewhat unsanitary down in the canyon. Rodellar is Spanish for Rifle. Other really good areas in the Pyrennes are: Terradets (steep & lots of tufa), Camarasa, Villanova de Meia (good multi-pitch), Perles, Tres Ponts, Oliana (Sharmaland), Saint Llorenc de Montegai (caves), Tartareau, Alquezar 1200 year old castle),& Santa Linya (super steep cave). You'll need a car to get to the crags for sure & a few cams are helpful to supplement the bolts on multipitch stuff, but pretty much the entire country is bolted. You'll have a blast!!

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

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