The final day of our Spanish adventure took us to Gouther crag.
It was a cool, windy day, and my requirements were for a hot and sunny crag. I checked the crag access on the BMC website, and found that even the NE buttress was clear of nesting birds so it seemed like a good option.
Another popular destination, there were already three parties taking the most popular lines. Our first route of the day was The Fang. The guide mentions difficult moves and lack of protection, so despite being a MVS 4a, I started with a little trepidation. There was nothing to fear however, because there were jugs a plenty and the only thing to worry about was making sure the rope work was good enough to lead all three pitches through. An excellent route.
We decided the next route of the day should be a little more testing, so Pete tackled Bloodhound. This is a superb slab climb, with just the right positive holds in just the right places, but pretty thin on the gear front. The slab was basking in the sun and protected from the wind…., but the belayer (me) was freezing in the shade at the bottom. Brrrr!
The cold wind persisted, so I decided we should call it a day and take in a visit to Larch Cottage Nurseries in Melkinthorpe.