Raco de les Espadelles  Photos:  Recent | Best | Popular Elevation:  1,834' Lat, Long:  41.3019, 0.7739 Map Page Views:  2,802. Good page?    Administrator:  Tom Erickson Submitted By:  Monomaniac on Dec 18, 2009 Make this area a Favorite What's New   Print a Mini-Guide with routes Add Route  Add Photo  Add Comment  Add Event

The Espadelles cliffline from near the highway.

Description 

The eye of every first-time visitor to Margalef is instantly drawn to the striking orange cliffband that towers above the crags of the valley below. This is Raco de les Espadelles, and its one of the best cliffs in the region. The rock is excellent, covered in beautiful colored streaks, and featuring some of the best tufa climbing at Margalef. There are over 50 routes here, ranging from 5.10 to 5.14c, with several open projects and potential for many more.

Must do routes here include Perepunyetes, 5.10+, a juggy near-vertical wall, Draculin, 5.12a, a sustained pocket route, Malasombra, 5.13a, a gently overhanging pocket line, and Transilvania, 5.13b, considered the best 8a at Margalef.

The cliff faces South-Southwest, and therefore receives sun most of the day. There are five or six routes at the far left end that begin from a grove of tall tress & receive a good bit of shade. The cliff undulates quite a bit, and has some steep overhangs, so you may be able to find pockets of shade at certain times.

Getting There 

This crag is easy to see but harder to reach. Head Northeast out of Margalef on the T713 for about 1.5 Km. Turn right onto a paved road signed for "Embassement", passing under large power lines. Follow the paved road around the first hairpin, to a set of colorful dumpsters ~50 yds beyond. Turn left onto a good dirt road at the dumpsters. This road is very steep in spots, but generally good, & no problem for passenger cars in normal conditions. Wind up the road for what seems like too long, until the road gains a big plateau at a left hairpin turn. Park at the pullout at this hairpin. There is an abandoned stone shack ~50 yds South of the parking lot.

Follow a good trail South, past the shack, to a low-angle slab. Downclimb the slab (fixed rope & metal rungs), then turn left (East) & follow the trail a short bit to another short downclimb. Continue a few yards thru trees to the cliff.

The Classics

Featured Route For Raco de les Espadelles

Memoria Histerica 5.11a  International : Spain : ... : Raco de les Espadelles

The best moderate at Espadelles, beginning with a stout boulder problem and finishing with pumpy climbing up the ultra-featured gray face. The moderate center offers easy climbing on big jugs on tan rock.Begin in a cirque of five routes. Use the cheater tower to reach a sinker pocket 4" below the first bolt. Hike your feet up, hit the vertical slot & mantle into the sloping bowl. Easy terrain leads up & right to the corner. Continue up & right to the gray panel, where juggy flakes & pockets...[more]   Browse More Classics in International

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The left end of the Espadelles cliffline.	Part of the right end of Espadelles. The climber ...	Raco de les Espadelles awesomeness.