Los Pinos

It rained into the morning here, so we all took advantage of a lazy morning here at the Orange House to drink a lot of coffee and scour our guidebooks for fast-drying routes. I set out around 10:30 with two other climbers, and we pin-balled between cliffs in the Xalo Valley looking for dry crags. We finally settled on Los Pinos, a series of short but tough cliffs on the side of a very twisted mountain road. The routes there start at 6a (5.10b), so while the guys cruised I had my own struggle-fest. It was good climbing, though, and I enjoyed being pushed. The best way to become a better climber is by climbing with people who can kick your ass all day long.

The last route we tried was a newly bolted project, not in the guidebook, but looked very fun. The moves were extremely difficult but great climbing; lots of side pulls, crimps, and reachy (kelly-reachy) jugs. We found out later it is rated at 7a (5.11d). None of us sent it, and it will definitely be a project-something to fuel my now nightly climbing dreams. Hello, future climbing withdrawal, it's hideous to meet you. Does anyone know any climbers in Rome? I'm considering putting out want ad when I get there.

At the crag today I spotted one of Spain's tiny hummingbirds. Or maybe it's a moth that acts like a hummingbird, I can't read the spanish Wikipedia too well. Either way, it was about the size of my thumb, and zipped around us for a little while getting nectar form the rosemary bushes that grow wild here.

Time for hot wine with the Germans! Night ya'll