New Route

Roberto and I made a new 10 pitch route in Aranjuez.  It is rated 6b+ which is about 5.11a but most of the climbing is much easier.  The rock varies from pretty good to absolutely horrible.  It's good adventure requiring a range of skills and provided a much needed distraction during this rainy season.

The route follows the obvious rock ridge:

Looking down on La Galleta a popular sport climbing cliff from the top of the first pitch:

Roberto on the first pitch which is a romp up a low angle arete:

The second pitch is quite loose at the bottom:

Look, another low angled ridge for pitch 3:

Pitch 4 is a bit steeper and steeper than it looks in this photo:

Pitch 6 climbs this proud tower:

Roberto celebrates, perhaps because the rock is a wee bit scary:

Looking down at La Galleta again:

Top of pitch 6:

We got some nice light but were afraid we might get rained out:

Not so:

Pitch 9:

Your extremely humble narrator:

And the ever humbling landscape:

La Paz:

Roberto is already psyched for another route:

The crux is at the end:

Looking at the ridge from the other side: