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6/22 Spaggiari

Our first real multipitch was Spaggiari (6a,5a,5a,6b/6,5a,5a, 100m, #925, p.133) in the Surbottes Sector of L'Escales (the main cliffs on the right side of the gorge). The rapel probably took about an hour, and we climbed from 12:30pm to 3:30pm. Trad gear was recommended, but we climbed it with sport gear, looping slings through a few rock handles and over small spires along the way. Amos lead the first pitch which is not well-protected and gets a bit scary at the end where you climb a crack over a bulge. In general, the bolts are sparsely placed, but climbing is mostly easy. The 6b pitch is really nice, not hard, and ends with a long grade 6 stem. We rapped down Bottes Surbottes (route #923) as recommended, and Spaggiari is a short walk through some thorny bushes to the left (when facing the wall). It's name is written on the wall at its bottom.

Routefinding at the base of Surbottes Amos prepares to conquer another route

With tissues tucked in his belt, Eric answers a pressing call of nature

The poet-climber reflects on the challenges to come

The belay station after the second pitch of Spaggiari

INSERT PANORAMA HERE 300 thru 304

The third pitch of Spaggiari

Topping out...

... and the last clip

At the top of Spaggiari

The poet-climber reflects on challenges past The path out

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