Long weekend in Riglos...

The original plan for this weekend was to head up to the Pyrenees proper and do some long multipitch trad routes to get a taste for the imminent summer trip, but the forecast wasn't quite settled enough so we opted for some multipitch sport at Riglos instead. As Tash's parents were going up to visit this area on their way to the Picos de Europa it was also a good way to combine the two. Normally it's impossible to climb at Riglos at this time of year, especially on the south face of the towers, but with the temperatures surprisingly low it seemed like it might be possible.

Saturday morning we started the weekend with a route on the Pison tower. It was fairly cloudy all day and there was a nice breeze so the conditions on the route were pretty ideal.



Vixente Iñuxente (7a) on the Pison - our route on Saturday.



Tash on pitch 2 of Vixente Iñuxente.

Climbers high above the village on the classic Murciana route (6c) to the right of us.

The final ab down from the Pison tower.

Aguja Roja - the tower on the right - was our objective for Sunday. This is the most impressive of the smaller towers away to the right of the main ones.

On top of the tower. We climbed the route 'Pecho Lobo' (6c+/7a) - only five pitches on the West face of the tower but still a good route.

After doing the route in the shade in the morning it was starting to get pretty warm so we did the classic circular walk around the back of the towers.

The back of the Fire tower (right) and the Pison (left).







Admiring the views and birds of prey





Tash's parents on the way down for a well-earned cold drink and BBQ



Monday morning we visited some more towers above the village of Agüerro. Not quite as spectacular as Riglos but still a nice place.

In the afternoon we went down to check out the river.

Then in the evening to the spectacular Loarre Castle.

Big nasty bug!

The Mallos de Riglos from the campsite pool.

So all in all a nice relaxing weekend with a couple of quality routes on the towers, some sightseeing and relaxing in spectacular scenery (there's so much more to this area than just the climbing!). A bit more luxurious than our normal weekends away too!

A few weeks of playing tourist...

If you're only interested in climbing then read no further!! Due to a combination of some mixed weather in the last few weeks and having visitors from England (Tash's parents) it's given us a good excuse to explore some new places, go for nice walks and generally be spoilt with excellent food :-)

I won't bother with a long blog for each day. Hopefully the pics are enough...

This weekend we've got an extra day off but the forecast isn't quite looking good enough for our planned trip to Aiguestortes, but good in the pre-pyrenees so the plan is for Riglos :-)

Oh and one new feature on the blog is the 'Crag Finder' where you can find a list of places we visit and see where they are on the map (good suggestion Matt!)

Looking down on the coastal plains from La Mussara village.

The church at La Mussara looking from another derelict building - the village was abandoned in 1951 when most of the residents moved down the hill to nearby Vilaplana.

The Durhams at La Mussara village.

Coffee break on the way to the gorge.

Prades' answer to the Grand Canyon - the impressive Avencs de la Febro.

Lunch back at the refuge.

Fraguerau gorge, on the walk from the Ermita de Sant Antoni to Sant Bartomeu de Fraguerau.

The suspension bridge to get across to the Ermita de Sant Bartomeu.

The 13th Century Sant Bartomeu de Fraguerau church.

A monk called Fra Guerau apparently lived in this cave next to the church.
When he cured the then Queen after childbirth he was allowed to live in the church in return (if you believe the legend!).

The spring inside the cave where the monk got his water from.

After the church we walked up onto the ridge above.

Threatening skies on the ridge - thankfully they didn't come to anything.

Further up on the spectacular ridge - typical Montsant scenery.

Nice views over Ulldemolins in the distance.

Bird spotting at the Delta de l'Ebre.





Flamingos!!





Down to the beach.

Nice and sunny over us but not so inland - big storm brewing!

Pleasure boats on the delta.

Rice paddy fields at the Delta de l'Ebre.

Wind farm up above Colldejou.





Coffee in Colldejou village.

Cherry season!

All the 'giris' by the pool at Cambrils Park (what the locals call the foreign tourists that spend their nights in the club and the day turning into prawns sat on the beach!)