A Little Taste

Here's a little teaser from Spain. I plan to do more little vids rather that one long one so they are more timely. Maybe I'll do a longer one at some point. Hope you enjoy.



The Spain Trip: Trailer from Walker Kearney on Vimeo.

Spain Pics: La Pedriza

La Pedriza is "de puta madre". Escorial and Zarzalejos are good but it's the endless granite boulders of Pedriza that keeps bringing me back to Spain. An extensive national park that is more well known for trad and sport, Pedriza holds an impressive amount of bouldering. The development is mostly limited to areas close to the car but the granite extend for miles and anyone willing walk has an unlimited supply of fa's. It's my favorite area in Spain and, as always, I can't wait to go back.

The Puntos Azules project (aka Sky Walker)

Rafa on Evanescence

Suyapa stretches out on First Impression

John on El Belen, getting his roof-climb on

David on Groucho

Spain Pics: Zarzalejos

Just a few kilometers from Escorial is Zaralejos. Pulling on the unique intrusions called "patatas" (potatoes) makes for a nice variation and compliments the usually unforgiving granite.

Fredrik takes a big potato

Warm up arete

David (one of many) on El Mundo Feliz

Nueva Revolution

El Telefono Rojo

Spain Pics: El Escorial

El Escorial is known widely for it's giant monastery but it also home to one of Spain's better known bouldering areas. I spent a couple days there sacrificing skin and hanging in the beautiful surroundings. There is actually quite a lot of bouldering there but one might not find the best stuff if they don't have someone to show them the hidden gems. Fortunately for me I've got some amazing Spanish friends to take me off the beaten path and tell me about the bouldering history and random tidbits concerning the area. Good times.
Oh yeah, technically there is not climbing here.

Rafa tries a beautiful prow. I forget the name.

A heinous dyno from slopey crimps. Name?

Don't remember the name of this one either. Super cool.

This one is called "Cara Culo" (aka Ass Face) do to the expression you get when gunning for the top.

Spain Trip: Random Animals

Before inundating everyone with climbing spray from Spain I'd thought I'd post some picks of something else.
While in Spain I happened upon some wildlife. The mountain goats were a common site on my morning walks and at one point I managed to corner a family and snap some pics. Pretty sweet animals.
The weirdest thing was these caterpillars that were everywhere and formed long lines as they crawled around in search of a place to start their metamorphose. Here's a link with some cool info about them.

Mountain Goat Family

Stork

Line up

Spain Trip Part 1: Dad Camp

As an expectant father I thought it fitting that much of my time in Spain would be spent with a couple dads and their young daughters. It was pretty bold of John and Fredrik to attempt a trip away from the moms in the firsts place but to expect to get any climbing done seemed either disillusion or highly optimistic. I guess that's were I came in as the general rule is that at least 3 adults are required to get any climbing done when 2 toddlers are involved. The whole thing actually worked out quite well and was a great learning experience for me. It was certainly a memorable trip and many thanks go out to Siri and Hedda (oh yeah, and their dad's too).

The gang gearing up for what looks to be a long day

Father and Daughter. Awwwwwww!

Hey dad you have something in your hair.

In Spain there is no legal drinking age

A constant party

Spain Update

The weather has been perfect and the climbing is incredible. I´ve climbed 9 out of 10 days and it looks like a planned off day will be postponed by the prospect of a new area. I can´t help myself.
Here´s a couple pics from yesterday.

La Pedriza can be unforgiving after multiple days of climbing and tape becomes your new best friend.

David wonders if a little more tape can get him up the next problem.

A fun steep problem.

Rafa

Helena eyeballs the next crimper