What bigger disappointment! When going to Rock & Block at Buñol, we thought everything was going to end up with a fabulous mini-tomatina. Nothing at all. There were only world-class climbers really struggling. There were even prizes and a podium. We refuse to return to a so serious event.

Photogalery of Rock&Block

Video of Rock&Block

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it is Sputnik Climbing sending “El Matador” at full speed. It’s hard to condense a place like this in a handful of phrases and a few photos. Always misses some image or some anecdote. But once again when you see on paper you are satisfied. A very personal look of great site that will hopefully encourage someone to visit.

Desnivel nº 311
Devil’s Tower Article

It is called Bulder King, but its name does not matter at all, as there are plenty of places like this everywhere. Usually a local garage or basement that after a few months of sawing and drilling, becomes climbing gym. From that moment and on amazing things begin to happen down there. For regular visitors is just routine, but anyone coming from the outside world think he just found a group of Aliens. Hands full of magnesium, shouts and people jumping from side to side or by suspension or pull ups.

Photogalery of Bulder King

But are not extrange people at all: They are your neighbor, your office mate or your children’s teacher. At first they felt the distrust of people in the outside world, but now look at everything with the confidence to be a companion training.

People from Bulder King

Devil’s Tower was built by Martians. Sure, so extrage place can not appear by chance. It is not yet clear what was its function: a communications antenna, an UFO landing place or a positron cannon. Fortunately, since it was out of service, climbers have been able to use it. Clearly, ther must be extraterrestrial emanation remaining there, that makes this place so absurd as fun.

Photo galery of Devil’s Tower

It is always a joy to see the work printed on paper, especially when you’re a dinosaur that has not adapted completely to digital. The script does not change: climbing, travel and take to heart as much as possible ourselves, but it seems that some would have liked it: some pictures in Desnivel nº 300 and an article from our walk through Needles in the number 301. So you want to work!

Desnivel nº 300
Desnivel nº 301
Needles Article

Two months of careful planning for the Italy climbing trip are, suddenly, in danger. It rains, but not a couple of showers. Hole week! Don’t panic. The cousin of a friend of my mechanic had told me the close to Roma there is a great cave, where it is possible to climb even in the rain. And it is fully true. A great place to climb in the rain, plenty of every grade routes, and of course of tufas.

Photogalery of Sperlonga

We wanted to go climbing at Needles even before knowing its name. Now that we have climbed there, we are sure it has been a success. Pictures of climbers in yellow rock did not lie at all. Color is so intense that it does not seem real and routes are so vertical give vertigo. Even now, seeing photos, are putting me the creeps. Full quality!

Photogalery of Needles

Click, click, click, click (shoot camera), tac, tac, tac, tac, (typing keyboard), discussions about points of view, angles, styles, phrases and expressions. Lot of phone calls, meetings and many, many emails to obtain the result: eight pages of text and photos. A little, very personal, view to a very unique place: Casal Pianos.

Desnivel nº 289
Casal Pianos Article

Climbing in Kalymnos is very easy. You live in a flat just 20 minutes walking from the climbing crag. Every day eat good things for dinner, swim in the sea and island people is very agreeable. And of course, the routes: long, great and very well bolted. But be advised: Not every route have tufas! In so a great ambiance you only have to worry about climbing and resting.

Photogalery of Kalymnos

Technology dominate our life. An e-mail full of information on a new crack crag in Portugal, with plenty pictures of course. Another e-mail asking for information to Isabel Boavida, who answers with very valuable links to other websites. And just another e-mail to prepare a “Kebabmeeting” at the offices of Clownclimbing: to decide when, how and what to do in Portugal. Final decisions taken in the course of an e-mail string and it is time to take action… It is time the Portuguese cracks.

Photo galery of Casal Pianos

Why a trad guy like me is in Albarracín? The longest climb is 21 feet, the rope is not needed and at the top of no boulder you can see the horizon at infinity. I came here to do what everybody does: jump, cross, heels, jam, mantle, forward somersault, back somersault, fall on the mat, laugh and finish the day with both your arms aching from climbing. As a friend described it: “This is an amusement park”. But better, I never get tired of comming here. The roller coaster is different every day and is hidden among the pines. And the crash pad is much more comfortable than the rope for a nap! Comming back to Albarracín? for sure.

Albarracín photo galery

Clownclimbing leaves the rope at home and carry the pads and all photographic gadgets to go to cold Albarracín. Here is the Making off of the gallery we will publish in the coming days.

ClownClimbing Albarracín from clownclimbing on Vimeo.