Spain Winter 22

19 Dec

Flew Teesside – Alicante. Car Hire Centauro was lemon squeezy pick up as Jenny uploaded all docs etc. at home.

20 Dec Route 52

Run out to Castell del Granadella, lunch in Granadella Bay then a dip in the Med.

21 Dec Route 15 Ponoig VF

Met Adele, Jim & Dave Hanna on the walk-in.

Zoom to see the other party further down the route

Great steep route with continuation scramble after, then an hour’s walk to the summit. Started the VF about 11:00 and were on summit for 15:00. Because (I) didn’t read the guidebook we came down the east flank instead of west, getting back to car at 17:30.

22 Dec Route 34 Climbing Ambolo

Oh my god it was cold, i was still shivering after breakfast

Climbing and a dip then more climbing. Chats with Tom & Penny Philips whose house we rented in Abdet in 2018.

All cliffs undercut so knotted rope exit only option

23 Dec Route 33 Sonjannika 5+

Excellent adventure route

Pitch 4: Step out of the cave in a seaward direction and marvel at the fantastic exposure

24 Dec Walk 22 (from Walking on the Costa Blanca) 10,000 Steps – Mozarabic Trails

Spot Jenny – we descended (and climbed out of) 3 of these ravines

Spot Jenny again in the dry bed of the baranco

Then we went for tapas and i ate a whole squid.

Xmas day – social single pitch sport Echo Valley

With Adele, Jim, Dave Hanna & Linda, then cup of tea, and maybe a whisky, with Adele & Jim.

26 Dec Route 40 Via Gene VS

From bottom left, diagonally up to middle finishing top left then ab off the back

27 Dec Route 22 Barranco del Infierno

Canyon route with Adele, Jim & Dave Hanna. Parked Juvees d’Enmig. 6 hours car to car.

Jenny scoped out the next wade which turned into a swim with a knotted rope exit

… the feet were smears on smooth limestone

Passengers walked some of the 3km offroad to lightnen the load

29 Dec Walk 24 Almadic Ledge Circuit

As a trail run. 14km & 730m ascent.

Erm… along those Almadic Ledges to those distant peaks

… across an abandoned airfield then down through terraces.

29 Dec Route 4 – Segaria Ridge (1st section)

1st section: ok, not gonna lie, 7hrs car to car and we didn’t hang about on rhe climbing, moving together except for pitching up to the double bolt belay and the V scoop. We had couple of lunch stops but found the approach and descent harder than the route. On the approach we followed some cairns on a leftward traverse which took us to a cave with a warm draft coming out of it woooh. For the escape from Portlet de Ondara (Portella Ampla) descend directly from the marker post ///birthday.posting.cantered and if you lose the yellow & white markers retrace.

30 Dec Walk 5 Castell d’Aixa

As a trail run. The spikiest run ever in the smallest of shorts, ouchy.

then up to the Castell ruin on left peak and along the ridge

Avoiding the nests of the Pine Processionary Caterpillar which cause severe irritation and they can harpoon their hairs when threatened. It is a major economic pest, responsible for pine defoliation. They overwinter in these tents.

31 Dec Cueva de los Arcos

Beach day, swimming in the salt water soothed our bites and scratches.

Packed up just as 3 women embarked on topless selfies and swimming next to us but could hardly unpack again and stay. Then to a beach resort and beat hasty retreat, then to the hills to sit half an hour and not be served then lunch at Xallo Bodega aka Squid II.