23 de Agosto del 2023 | ESCALADA
PEDRAFORCA. ESCALADA EN LA MONTAÑA ENCANTADA
El Pedraforca es una de las montañas con más mitos y leyendas que existen.
El Pedraforca es una de las montañas con más mitos y leyendas que existen.
El Pollegó Superior (2.506 metros) es la cima más alta del macizo del Pedraforca, localizado en la comarca del Berguedà, entre los pueblos de Gósol i Saldes. El Pedraforca ha sido escenario a lo largo de los años de escaladas legendarias, tanto en roca como en hielo, aunque a la cima también se puede acceder andando. A pie, existen dos caminos clásicos: uno remonta una larga, vertical y desafiante tartera, a los pies de la cual se accede pocos kilómetros después de partir desde el Refugio Lluís Estasen, situado en una bella pradera a 1.675 metros de altitud. El otro camino sube por la Canal del Verdet, un trazado vertical y exigente, en el que incluso habrá que utilizar las manos para progresar en algún momento.
Si tienes conocimientos de escalada y te apetece disfrutar de un ambiente de alta montaña en todos los sentidos, la manera más elegante de llegar hasta alguno de los puntos culminantes del Pedraforca es escalando.
La historia de la escalada en el macizo del Pedraforca la empezaron a escribir Lluís Estasen, Josep Puntas, Jofre Vila i Josep Rovira, que tras varios intentos, el 30 de junio de 1928, consiguieron abrir un inteligente trazado a lo largo de la cara norte de la montaña para acabar coronando la cima del Calderer.
La “Vía Estasen”, nombre de la ruta, es un itinerario de unos 600 metros aproximadamente, con dificultades de hasta IV+. La vía está escasamente equipada y a pesar de lo que pueda aparentar la reseña, es necesario saber navegar por la pared para seguir siempre el recorrido más lógico. El ambiente es salvaje y alpino, hecho que convierte a la actividad en una jornada de escalada clásica con mayúsculas.
Si quieres saber más sobre la historia de la primera ascensión de la cara norte del Pedraforca puedes ver el documental “L’altra cara de la forca” (2008), una recreación histórica de la escalada de Estasen, Vila y Rovira. Puedes verlo aquí.
Aunque sin duda alguna la “Vía Estasen” es la vía de escalada más conocida del Pedraforca, en el macizo existen otras muchas posibilidades para disfrutar de una de las mejores rocas calizas de toda la Península Ibérica.
También en la cara norte, una de las alternativas a la “Vía Estasen” durante los meses más cálidos del año es la “Homedes” (430m V+/AO). Es vía llega a hasta la cima del Gat, característica cumbre conocida con ese nombre por recordar a un gato.
La primera ascensión de la “Homedes” data del año, cuando la realizaron Francesc Homedes, Bernard Boixeda, Ramon Albareda un 8 de septiembre. La vía está semi equipada y además de unas cuantas cintas exprés harán falta un juego completo de aliens, friends hasta el #3 y algún empotrador. La dificultad es muy mantenida en el IV+, con pasajes puntuales de V/V+.
Para descender de la cima del Gat primero haremos un rápel, que nos dejará en la omnipresente tartera, por donde también bajaremos si hemos escalado la “Vía Estasen”.
Muchas veces pensamos que para disfrutar de la alta montaña tenemos que viajar hasta los Pirineos, Alpes o Dolomitas, pero nos olvidamos de otros lugares de visita obligada. El macizo del Pedraforca es uno de ellos. Una montaña con un punto culminante a 2.506 metros de altura sobre el nivel del mar, unas vistas impresionantes y un ambiente alpino excepcional. Una vez en la vida hay que escalar en el Pedraforca.
Pasamos 4 días increíbles de viaje de escalada en Siurana y Margalef.
VER MASLlega el invierno y apetece escalar al sol. Os dejamos tres sectores imprescindibles de Margalef para escalar a gusto en los días más fríos del año.
VER MASNos puedes contactar via email a [email protected] o por teléfono al (+34) 645 432 307. O rellenando el formulario de contacto en el siguiente link.
I had a great day climbing in Montserrat with Santiago. He picked a great route that was fun and challenging without being overwhelming. I improved my multipitch skills and got to see some beautiful scenery and interesting rock. Santiago was very knowledgeable and helpful, and most importantly is a fun person to spend a day with. I'd highly recommend booking a climb if you're in the area!
(Translated by Google) Always a fantastic day, the various outings we have done with Santi we have had a great time. Great professional, learning and fun guaranteed. Patience and great motivation for children and adults! 100% recommended. We will repeat!
(Original) Día fantástico siempre, las varias salidas que hemos hecho con Santi lo hemos pasado genial. Gran profesional, aprendizaje y diversión asegurados. Paciencia y gran motivación para niños y mayores! Recomendable 100%. Repetiremos!
(Translated by Google) Perfect to start climbing. Totally recommended.
(Original) Perfecto para iniciarse en la escalada. Totalmente recomendable.
Santi is the best climbing guide you can imagine. As a reference, we two are 6a-7a climbers, but we wanted a local guide to help maximize efficiency in a foreign area. He was highly recommended to us by a friend who Santi guided a few months back, and he was as wonderful as described. He takes his role as Guide seriously and comprehensively, from helping you plan ideas for areas to concentrate on, considerations of weather and season, logistics for where to stay and how to get there (he picked us up one day, and we met him in our car another), as well as making himself available to help with any other questions or needs for the trip as a whole (not just the climbing part). Our long chain of detailed texts show how dedicated and sincere he is in wanting to help plan the best trip possible for you. This was highly unique, unexpected, above and beyond, and much appreciated. Before you've even met, he treats you more like a friend coming to visit Spain than a client that he is just doing business with, and that warmth goes a long way and sets him apart from most any other guide I've experienced (i've had great guides in my life, so this just reinforces Santi's particularly special character). Like I really felt like we were friends, and still feel like we are, as he reaches out and keeps in touch still and I really appreciate that relationship. Humanity, sincerity, and kindness in business--what a crazy (wonderful) concept! As a climbing guide specifically: he is consummately professional, impressively knowledgable and safe, as well as comfortingly sensitive to your climbing abilities and needs, and tailors each day with climbs that are perfect for you--if you want to be comfortable or if you want a little/big challenge, if you want to experience highlights of an area by switching up crags in the same day. He knows the areas so well and of course knows how to choose the walls that are in the shade or in the sun for whatever time of day or season you are climbing. There is so much variety and fun for either multi or single pitch too. In addition, when we were all climbed out for the day, he took the opportunity to show us the beauty of the local areas, playing also a photographer and travel guide. He also went home to let us borrow his guide book to other areas that we were headed to later, and kept in touch to make sure the rest of our trip went smoothly. So nice! Here is a person who treats his job as a climbing guide and ambassador for the area with such deep consideration and earnestness, and who treats his role as a human being with exceptional kindness and faith. We are so grateful that he came into our lives as a climbing guide and as a friend. Thank you Santi for being you, and please everyone call him now for any guiding adventures (he travels to guide too!) Also, his rates are so fair and reasonable. And you will be so happy if he is available to take you on an adventure with him! Cheers!
(Translated by Google) Totally recommended! A great experience at the hands of Santi, very professional and friendly. We will definitely see each other again soon. 🤘🏿
(Original) Totalmente recomendable! Una experiencia buenísima de la mano de Santi, muy profesional y simpático. Sin duda nos volveremos a ver pronto. 🤘🏿
This was, without a doubt, an incredible climbing experience - and all because we hired Santi of SouthClimb in Barcelona. He was kind, helpful, considerate, knowledgeable, encouraging, and made this an awesome day of multi-pitch climbing at Montserrat. Highly highly highly recommend him!!!!👍🤗🤩
Had a blast on my multipitch course with Southclimb! Everything was clearly explained and I had enough opportunities to practice. Good athmosphere and awesome routes, would definitely recommend!!
My family was in Barcelona on vacation and wanted to go climbing. Santi picked us and took us on what we all thought was the BEST day of our vacation. He asked what kind of climbing we wanted and found the perfect spot. He offered to take us to a restaurant for lunch that had amazing food, perfect atmosphere and the best sangria you could find. Without a doubt I would highly recommend Santi for any activities you may want to do. He is very attentive and offers a lot of local advice! Thank you Santi!
(Translated by Google) We are a family with two young children and we stayed with Southclimb for a day of sport climbing. We felt safe at all times, and we were struck by the great professionalism and very friendly treatment. We spent an unforgettable day!
(Original) Somos una familia con dos niños pequeños y estuvimos con Southclimb para disfrutar de un día de escalada deportiva. Nos sentimos seguros en todo momento, y nos llamó la atención la gran profesionalidad y el trato muy amable. Pasamos un día inolvidable!
(Translated by Google) We did the initiation course with Santi and he was super useful to get in touch with rock climbing and have all the security measures. The routes that we did were very cool and Santi is a very nice and professional person. Now for the second course!!!
(Original) Hicimos el curso de iniciación con Santi y fue super útil para entrar en contacto con la escalada en roca y tener todas las medidas de seguridad. Las vías que hicimls fueron muy chulas y Santi es una persona muy agradable y profesional. ¡¡¡Ahora a por el segundo curso!!!
