The majority of the week was spent on high quality single pitch bolted routes; there were however two notable exceptions. New member Derick Webster and I climbed the classic 7 pitch HVS in the Mascarat Gorge, where, to prove we had not forgotten over winter, we had to place most of our own protection!

It was a particular pleasure to climb with Derick as I first climbed with him over 25 years ago and over the years we have entertained ourselves diving, caving, skiing and fell running, as well as on countless climbs.

 

 

The other notable exception was the impressive completion of the Bernia Ridge by Mhairi and Dave Kyles who knocked nearly an hour off the usual 7 hours taken. The ridge was a great adventure with lots of exposure, several long absails and a 20m 4+ (VS) rock pitch: a great effort. 

 

The last day was spent at Gandia with its tremendous selection of steep, often very overhanging routes; this proved a great foil to the rest of the week which had been mainly spent dancing around on tiny holds on very steep slabs.  I had a particular fun here on-sighting some of my hardest routes of the week, including a 3* F6b, F6b+ and top roping a classic F6c clean first go. (Should have led it but was put off by it being described as very hard for the grade). Gandia proved a great last crag as most people almost had to crawl back down after finishing climbing.

 

The last day was spent sitting in the sun outside cafes before catching early afternoon flight back home.

 

All in all a superb trip.  

                                                                                Peter Holland

Pete Kelly climbing at Alcalali

Geoff Schofield abseiling from Toix West