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Albarracin, Spain
So for my first trip abroad this year, it’s off to Albarracin in Spain. Having seen this place on one of the Dosage bouldering DVD’s, I had an insight to what was there. It is very much my style of gymnastic bouldering, very over hanging and big moves. We flew in on the 7th January. We heard it might be a bit snowy but we took our chances anyway as we found cheap flights. Arriving at the airport I decided to just go and check how much snow-chains were and at 45euros we decided not to bother…
Always helps being an ex gymnast so your mate can reach to brush the snow off!
Hungry mouse!
Arriving there it was quite snowy but mainly making everything look pretty rather than getting in the way. Our first glance at the place was only an hour as we arrived late so checked into our bunkhouse.
The first day climbing we went to a sector called Peninsula, a massive, long roof with big moves. Temperature getting quite warm we were worried that it might be too hot. Over the next couple of days the snow started to fall… and fall… and fall. Bummer!! Half way through the trip we decided to go to the main city to get a proper shop as the village of Albarracin was quite expensive. What we didn’t realise was how epic this journey was going to be.
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Peninsula Sector
7b at Techos
Random boulder at techos
On the way back the police stopped us going down the only road back to Albarracin and where we were staying as we didn’t have snow-chains and the roads were too bad. Though after much pleading and partly because we didn’t understand each other, the policeman let us go warning us to drive VERY slowly. I think we managed three more corners before the car just followed the right hand camber of the road and took us into the ditch. Oh dear. Maybe 45euros for snow chains wasn’t bad after all…
oooops! getting towed out the ditch
Many phone calls, and 3 very cold -3degree hours later, Hertz finally sorted us out, pulling the car out of the ditch and paying for our hotel and taxi back the next morning to our abandoned car. We learnt our lesson and bought snow-chains at the next garage. The rest of the trip was good, though with no topping out on the boulders unless you wanted to fight through A LOT of snow. But there are so many roofs in Albarracin we had plenty to go at. I will definitely be returning there soon and hopefully in better weather!!
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