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Kelsey Gray  > Europe > Spain 2007
I have spent the last 9 days in Mallorca and island off the Iberian Peninsula belonging to Spain. The island is considered a Mecca of deep water soloing which they call Psicobloc. Recently what is possibly one of the hardest routes in the world was put up by Chris Sharma on Es Pontas. It is considered to be 5.15a or 9a by Euro standards. Although he does not rate the climbs himself I'm sure the repeats will be few and far between.
I met up with Shasta in Wales and we tooled around that country for a while before deciding to head to warmer areas. Looking at tickets we decided to head to Spain for a week and a half and have some fun at deep water soloing, we had hoped to climb a 7 pitch route on a mountain called Sa Gubia but were set back by lack of gear.
We first arrived and found a bus to S. Arenal where we trying around for a hostel finding one for 30 Euros per night. The hostels here are not your normal hostel as they are bed and breakfasts and proper dorm hostels are pretty much non existent. The beach is 4 miles long and is sand all the way. Besides the sand is thousands of bodies lined on every little area. To me that is not a fun way to spend time so we decided to bail on the crowded beach scene and see if we couldn't find something a little more pleasant. We headed to town called Cala Dòr and had to settle on a an apartment style renting accommodation for the night which was 40 Euros, as cheap as any bed and breakfast was in the area. This was a really nice place with a kitchen and a living room! Still though we knew this was more then we wanted to spend and resolved the next day to finding some proper camping accommodation. We had however heard that it is illegal on the island so figured it could be tuff. We packed our bags for the walk to Cala Sa Nau. We walked to the beach to find a beautiful area surrounded by nice looking climbing. The cliffs got bigger as they went out and there were plenty of areas we could tent.
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Kelsey Gray > After some jumping of the course the reason we were there was to climb! This was a great route you could follow through the overhang or traverse out the right and over the top. The water was incredibly clear and beautiful and it was hard to climb over the top with the water so inviting.
Kelsey Gray > After a day or so there we met with a couple of German guys who were camping on the same beach. They were pretty daring jumpers and climbers and it was nice to climb around with them.
Kelsey Gray > Our apartment for the night.
Kelsey Gray > Around the corner of Cala Sa Nau
Kelsey Gray > We hiked back after spending the night in the apartment. It probably isn't that long but with a 50lb pack on pavement it was starting to feel long. We climbed around for a bit and was having a grand old time. there was a big cliff with a jump probably around 30 to 40 feet. There were two guys from Indiana trying to warm up to the jump off but hadn't yet and as I looked down from it I decided to give a shorter one a go first. Shasta however had other plans. She said "I'm going to do it. Yup here I go", and then our jaws dropped as she walked right off. Her previous highest jump had been around 15 feet. The Indiana guys and I looked at each other with amazement. "She went off like it was nothing" was all they could muster. I felt the need to follow in the footsteps (of course not to be left out) and decided what the heck as I tossed myself out into the water. Theres a certain rush after that first step that is Euphoric and addicting.
Shasta says goodbye to us wimpy men.
Kelsey Gray > Shasta described her first jump as something quite pleasurable. So it wouldn't have been easy to keep her from jumping again and again. What else to do but take pictures?
Kelsey Gray > We jumped through most of the day and found that our fun in this single area would last about 4 or 5 hours. You can really see the clarity of the water here as I shine through like it was glass with the German looking on. (Taken by Shasta)
Kelsey Gray > Moving around the corner from our last climbing spot the sea was a little more ruff and the climbing became harder. This route is rated at 8a and I have often struggled through a 6b. I didn´t get very far before diving off into the deep. (Taken by Shasta)
Kelsey Gray > Although this rope looked inviting after the jump to help get onto the rock it was a climb in itself. Not very thick with little knots and soaking wet. It took a fine rest period afterwards to climb again.(Taken by Shasta)
After some jumping of the course the reason we were there was to climb! This was a great route you could follow through the overhang or traverse out the right and over the top. The water was incredibly clear and beautiful and it was hard to climb over the top with the water so inviting.
 > After some jumping of the course the reason we were there was to climb! This was a great route you could follow through the overhang or traverse out the right and over the top. The water was incredibly clear and beautiful and it was hard to climb over the top with the water so inviting.
After some jumping of the course the reason we were there was to climb! This was a great route you could follow through the overhang or traverse out the right and over the top. The water was incredibly clear and beautiful and it was hard to climb over the top with the water so inviting.
Camera: Canon (Canon Eos 20d) |
More details: exif |
Original size: 2336px x 3504px |
Current: 200px x 300px |
Other sizes: Small • M • L |
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Keywords: mallorca
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