This year my christmas break was way shorter, that's what full-time employment does for you. I tried to make some plans, but it was obviously pushing it too hard and at the end I decided that for once, not have a plan. As it turned out, I had too many plans once I got here to Spain. I managed to hook up with friends of friends who are pretty keen climbers and got up to Montgrony, which a crag about 1hrs drive from my hometown and is blessed with some amazing tufas. The thing with this crag is that despite it proximity to the Pyrenees and its altitude, 1500mts, it's great for winter sport climbing. We were climbing without tshirts all day and were sweating like in summer time. What a contrast from London a few days ago! I did a couple of 6b's, a 6c+, a 7b+ which I was well pleased with considering I broke a pulley tendon about only a month ago, mind you, with 8 Ibuprofens and lot of finger tape. The 8a+ I tried proved too much and called it a day. I'm going back for some more tomorrow.
Is there a better looking 8a+? "Aromes de Montgrony", the jewel of the crown
Low winter sun at the end of a great day with new friends. I love climbing...
The amazing view from Montgrony, it makes you love the life you live, I tell ya ;)...
Popi ride, a modified cheapo Berlingo, does the job
The good stuff, this is THE life
Some climber enjoying summer conditions at 1500mts altitude in xmas. It was way too hot, Popi got sunstroke
Popi on "Espantaocells" and awesome 6c+ which I did as well
Popi working "Pacte Satanic" 8a+. I tried the first moves, bloody desperate in my current shape
And this is a photo-dump of a day's skiing with my bro to Grandvalira, it's the yearly ritual we do to remember the good old days of both of us being ski instructor. We use to be badass on skis, now we average-ass, that's life. But that doesn't mean we don't go hard, 5hrs non-stop of charging down the slopes, 3 days later my legs and back are still hurting! They say that skiing is like riding a bike, you never forget it, and it's so true.
Muppet face
A very lean looking Pas de la Casa. With pow, this place is rad, check out the free terrain
Back in the days we'd be lifting those fences and charging down...
Marin Bros.
You see the ridge to the peak? The lift leaves you on the little shoulder on the left and you hike up the ridge, and pick you line to bomb down
Mega-fooking-sunny, welcome to Spain (well, Andorra)
Here is the slope that taught me a lesson: to go real hard you have to be practised, otherwise you break collar-bones. Thanks bro for remind me
Thanks for checking in folks
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