Hello! AJ here,
Late Tuesday morning, myself and Richy set off on our long journey to El Chorro. After a 2 hour drive to the airport, 3 hour wait at the airport, 2 1/2 hour flight and an hour drive from Malaga airport we arrived at our home for the week, The Olive Branch B&B.
Wednesday we woke up to a cloudy sky but this didn't stop us on our adventures! After we had packed our climbing gear and made some lunch we set off to our first European crag, Frontales- Sector Austria. We managed to bag 3 routes before the rain came down.
Edelweiss F4
Finkastinker F4
Nitti F5+ (First pitch only)
Photo of our first European Climb!
Thursday we woke after a tiring day so we decided to hide away from the rain that was pouring out of the sky!
After not climbing the day before we woke up early on Friday morning to get a full day in. At breakfast we looked out side and it had started to rain but we didn't let this ruin our plans. We quickly packed our bags and made lunch then made our way to the entrance to the gorge. As we walked down the steep road the rain kept falling, heavy. This made us feel miserable. As soon as we got to the start of the traverse the rain stopped and the clouds started to thin! We put our harnesses and helmets on and clipped our Via Ferrata lanyards on and made our way across the traverse and Via Ferrata to get to Caminito Del Rey, 'The Kings Walkway'.
The start of the walkway saw us clipping on to the safety wire then make our way across the metre wide walkway which is 100 metres (300+ ft) high. The walk was incredible!! the views, the adrenaline and the golden eagles flying high above us just made the experience even more exciting! After a few 3 inch wide steel pole (Photo to the right) which looms above the river rapids below and bridge crosses we exited the lower gorge.
The walk along the path contouring above the river was beautiful. We were stopped on the path when around 10 mountain goats with BIG horns on their heads were on our path. after a quick D tour to dodge them we were back on track. after a half hour walk we eventually got to the Upper Gorge.
This gorge was completely different to the lower gorge as it was narrower. this made it feel even more gnarly. Only the most dangerous parts were protected with wire and the rest wasn't! When the cloud started to come over and time passed very quickly we decided to turn back and head to the lower gorge in order to leave before dark.
Saturday morning we had a nice healthy continental breakfast and then packed our bags to go to our local crag Las Encantadas, 'The Enchanted Crag'. We were very luck with the weather today as the sun was out and shining on the crag the whole day! We only managed another 3 climbs then we headed to the pool.
Play Mobil F6a
Atenea F4
Geisha F6a
The sky is clear tonight with a full moon and the weather looks good for our last 2 days so we are going to go to Escalera Arabe tomorrow to do lots of climbing then to the upper gorge and maybe some climbing in the gorge.
Bye for now!
AJ Harrison
