February round-up

The climbing still hasn't really kicked off this year, and having just dusted off my tennis racquet and also bought a new mountain bike it looks like it's going to stay on the back burner for a while longer!

Despite a few good trips to El Cogul and managing to do my long-term bouldering project at Mont-roig this month, my usual enthusiasm for climbing just hasn't been there recently. The only other highlights have been a decent day ticking off some of the new routes at Grau dels Masets Abaix in Siurana, and also a cool multipitch route at the extreme left hand end of La Mussara (sector Itaca).



Abbing down the superb 2nd pitch on 'Daima' (6c, 7a+, 7a, 7a+) at Sector Itaca, La Mussara - it's bigger than it looks here!

Nice traverse line - Arboli boulders



Cool overhanging ramp thing at Arboli

But all the while the weather has been quite simply superb....more or less wall to wall sunshine every day since Christmas! I was getting more and more frustrated at my lack of activity and also trying to force my climbing psyche to return, which just isn't right. So after a day of bushwhacking/climbing around Mont-ral, when I was actually getting more psyched by some of the awesome looking tracks around that area that you can see from the top of the routes, the decision was made...we left early and I went bike shopping!

And the first few rides out have been stunning. Surpassing my expectations even. It turns out that the Prades area, with its network of footpaths, forest and farm tracks criss-crossing the hills and crags, is actually as good for biking as it is for climbing...

Sick gnarly off (tarmac) roading duuude. The old Montsant haunts in the background from when I was a climber!