23 de Agosto del 2019 | VIAJES
UN DÍA EN EL MONTE ROSA
La experiencia de guiar en los Alpes Suizos
La experiencia de guiar en los Alpes Suizos
El Monte Rosa, Punta Dufour 4634 msnm es una montaña relativamente fácil, pero con algunos condimentos que la convierten en una montaña muy interesante. De por sí es la segunda montaña más alta de los Alpes, por detrás del Mont Blanc. Su primera ascension fue en 1855. Las vistas constantes del Matterhorn y toda la cordillera Lynksman regalan una postal única durante todo el ascenso.
El recorrido hasta el refugio, partiendo desde Zermatt es sencillo. Primero un pequeño tren que nos hace ganar algo de altura y luego unas 3 horas hasta el Refugio del Monte Rosa. Bien señalizado y con poco desnivel, resulta ser una jornada tranquila. El segundo día en la montaña es el que convierte esto en una verdadera odisea. A las 2:30am se sirve el desayuno en el refugio. Ni bien abrir los ojos ya hay más de un centenar de personas preparándose para salir. Todos quieren ganar tiempo, así que arnes, ropa, todo puesto y a desayunar. Enseguida, a colocarse las botas, cascos y frontales y salir lo más rápido posible. A las 3am salimos del refugio. Ibamos tranquilos, pero sin perder ritmo. Sabíamos que sería una jornada larga y debíamos llegar a pillar el último tren que baja a Zermatt antes de las 8:30pm.
La primera parte del recorrido transcurre por roca, hasta que alcanzamos el glaciar. Aquí nos colocamos grampones y nos encordamos. Dividimos el team entre los 3 guías. David y Albert van con dos clientes cada uno y yo voy con uno, Jaume. Todos encordados, revisamos grampones y nos ponemos en marcha con el piolet en mano. Ahora toca sortear grietas bajo una luna llena espectacular y un cielo calmo y despejado. Somos muy afortunados.
Poco a poco el terreno comienza a complicarse. No solo estamos ganando altura, Jaume comienza a sentirlo un poco, le duele un poco la cabeza y noto como el ritmo comienza a ser más lento. También comienza a pararse un poco más. Nos toca superar una arista bien parada, de nieve y hielo bastante duro. Concentración al máximo. Por dentro sé que ante cualquier tropezón de Jaume debo reaccionar muy rápido para detener la caída antes de que tenga mayores consecuencias. No le digo nada, agarro la cuerda bien corta, lo llevo con un poco más de tensión, y seguimos tirando. Enseguida llegamos a un tramo de cresta, sin mucha dificultad pero donde comienza a apelotonarse la gente. La exposición es alta para un lado y otro de la cresta. Vamos pasando y llega otra arista de hielo más parada que la anterior. La superamos a ritmo lento pero continuo. Ya estamos sobre los 4000 m de altura, el frío se empieza a sentir. Sabemos que estamos cerca de la cumbre, pero esta montaña no regala nada. Queda aún una última cresta para llegar a la cima. Aquí es donde se empiezan a cruzar las cordadas que bajan con las que suben. Se genera un tapón que por momentos parece la hora punta de trafico en Barcelona. Hay que ser pacientes, mantener la calma y aguantar el frío.
Al fin logramos alcanzar la cumbre. Nos paramos los 8 allí arriba. Los clientes se relajan un poco, aunque saben que esto es solo la mitad de la montaña, aún nos queda un largo camino de vuelta. Disfrutamos de las vistas, sacamos fotos, comemos algo. Mientras tanto vamos analizando las posibilidades de descenso. Sabemos que hay una linea de rapeles y maromas en algún sitio que nos evitaría desandar las crestas y aristas. Decidimos que es mejor buscar esos rápeles. Los encontramos rápido y comenzamos el descenso. Dos rapeles, unas cuerdas fijas y estamos sobre el glaciar. Ahora toca encordarse de vuelta y desandar todo el glaciar hasta el refugio.
A las 4pm llegamos al refugio. Estamos cansados, hace calor y hemos comido poco. Pero sabemos que ya estamos en terreno menos comprometido y nos relajamos. Preparamos las mochilas y luego de comer algo, salimos corriendo para alcanzar el último tren. A las 19:30 pillamos el tren y ahora sí, podemos celebrar un gran día en la montaña.
La escalada en rocódromo está de moda. Durante los últimos cinco años se han abierto en España decenas de salas de escalada indoor, siguiendo la tendencia de otros países europeos como Alemania, Austria o Francia.
La escalada es una mezcla épica de emoción, desafío y pasión. Pero, seamos sinceros: hay días en los que simplemente no sale, y acabas sintiendo que la roca está conspirando en tu contra. El movimiento clave no sale, las fuerzas te abandonan y la frustración se dispara como si estuvieras en una caída infinita. ¡No te preocupes, es algo que todos hemos sentido! La clave está en cómo gestionar esa frustración y transformarla en motivación.
Nos 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.
We had an amazing experience with Southclimb. Santi, our guide, was friendly, patient and clear throughout our three days together. He kept things moving at a pace that was ideal for our level of experience, and made sure we were able to cover all the things we were looking for help with. We’re looking forward to coming back in the future for the next steps in our climbing journey. Thanks again Santi!
(Translated by Google) Highly recommended. The explanations were clear, you learn very quickly and the place is perfect for beginners. The day flies by! 👏🏼👏🏼😊😊
(Original) Muy recomendable. Las explicaciones fueron claras, aprendes muy rápido y el lugar es perfecto para principiantes. El día se pasa volando! 👏🏼👏🏼😊😊
(Translated by Google) I did a climbing baptism with them. Both the place where we went, the Mussara, the equipment provided and the attention of the monitors was excellent.
(Original) Hice un bautizo de escalada con ellos. Tanto el sitio a donde fuimos, la Mussara, el equipo facilitado y la atención de los monitores fue excelente.
(Translated by Google) Perfect to start climbing. Totally recommended.
(Original) Perfecto para iniciarse en la escalada. Totalmente recomendable.
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!
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!
Messaged Santi to teach us lead climbing outside as it was our first time. He was very responsive with his communication and we sorted out a day to climb. We climbed at a really scenic location. Santi tought us most of the aspects required to perform lead climbing and was very patient, effective and an all round down to earth person. By the end of the day we were almost competent lead climbers. I would definitely recommend him if you want it learn how to climb or need a challenging route to climb with assistance.
(Translated by Google) Great climbing course! Santi knows how to transmit all his experience, he also explains very well and makes the most of each one by transmitting confidence. Great experience!! A great group!
(Original) Gran curso de escalada! Santi sabe transmitir toda su experiencia, además explica muy bien y hace sacar el máximo de cada uno transmitiendo confianza. Gran experiencia!! Un grupo genial!
(Translated by Google) I did a climbing course with my two children, everything was very well organized and we had a great time. I'm sure we'll do it again.
(Original) Hice un curso de escalada con mis dos hijos , todo muy bien organizado lo pasamos muy bien .Seguro que repetimos .
Climbing with Santi/Southclimb is a stellar experience with a consummate coach. He’s extremely knowledge, supportive, and able to tailor experiences to your needs. He gets the best climbs and climber out of you. I’ve climbed with him on one-day and weeklong trips. For the longer one, he also puts much care into the full experience - lodging, dining and downtime - all good quality and well orchestrated.
