Espolon Central, Gandia and the Ponoch

Day 4 in Costa Blanca with staff and pupils from The Glasgow Academy. It was an early start for Gavin, Will, Bobby and I as we went to the Puig de Campana to climb Espolon Central. This Costa Blanca classic gives 13 pitches (by the shortest line) of climbing up to 4 on trad gear with the odd bolt and bolted belay. It was very cold and windy (rather like Glencoe in the Autumn) and there were numb fingers for more than half the route. Fortunately we moved quickly but we were still very pleased when the wind eased and we began descending on the sheltered side of the arete.

Meanwhile Sally took a team on a good quick ascent of the Via Ferrata on the Ponoch and Neal's team were cragging hard at Gandia (or playing in the Tube and other holes and sunbathing if you believe the rumours).

TGA Sport days 3 and 4 from Alan Halewood on Vimeo.