Winter Sun Meet Costa Blanca – Feb 2009

The first official BMASC sponsored winter sun meet was attended by 5 members plus 2 prospective members. The Sunsea Village at Calpe provided a fine base to come back to after a hard days cragging. The week chosen proved an inspired choice as we avoided one of the worst weeks for weather in many years back in the UK (Brilliant).

 

I am sure all who attended assess the week as a great success; even though a winter sun, rain and windy (the weather not the people) meet would have been more appropriate. The changeable weather did little to reduce the considerable volume of   high quality ascents made, climbing as we did every day, the conditions merely imposing an early finish to the first two days avoiding early fatigue and the usual overheating at Gandia.

 

Many of the team are regular visitors to this area during winter; so it was pleasing to visit 3 climbing areas new to all. The Mascarat Gorge, often driven through, never climbed, Alcalali and Reconco, where I thought  the climbing was quite superb, in addition to the usual venues of Sella, Gandia, and Toix, were all experienced..

 

It was inspiring to see all who attended climb so well, with most of us setting new personal standards. Special mention has to go to Mhairi Cameron and Peter Kelly who forged a formidable climbing partnership; Mhairi climbing with considerable style and Peter putting relative youngsters like myself to shame.

 

Peter and Mhairi managed to onsight 3 F6a+, F6b and F6b+ in addition to numerous easier routes; a performance that left me quite literally speechless. (People who have not climbed in Spain should bear in mind that grades are generally regarded to be on the hard side and bear little resemblance to indoor wall grades).

Mhairi Cameron on the Bernia Ridge