We’ve taken a break from the Peak District winter climbing season for a week’s Dad and Jake trip to El Chorro. 4.30am alarm for an early Jet2.com flight had us at the crag by 2pm for a quick session to help shake the rust off. 

It’s a very sunny spot and we were quickly into shorts to “warm up” on La Ley de Cateto, 6c+ a fab route up a steep groove when I last did it about 25 years ago – showing its age now and I was pleased to have opted for a top rope.

Seeking less polished terrain and a bit of solitude away from a team of noisy Germans we headed to the upper crag which we had to ourselves. A couple of excellent routes Fiebra de Sur 7a and the Top 50 Sara 7a+. Both very sharp lower down, with pockets through bulges and a corner finger jamming crack respectively towards the top. Very handy having the clip-putting-in-machine along 🙂 

Not a bad start to the trip so we tootled back down through the village and over the dam to our palatial Airbnb pad just opposite. Not too shabby view of Frontales and Encantadas!