Ice Fajol in Valter 2000

This w-end we visited the Oriental Pyrennees that boast one interesting climb, just to the left of Vallter 2000 skiing area, one of the rare remaining private ski resorts in Cataluna. The mountain, Gran Fajol is a good winter alpine and ice destination to do corridors. It is less-known for climbing (for a reson, given the usually bad quality of rock). However, there is one interesting route on the main wall, going more or less through the center of the picture below:

It is called Ice Fajol, and as Oriol wanted to free climb the 6c+ pitch on it, i was lured into the undertaking. The route has 3 interesting pitches on the main wall of orange-white gneiss rock - 6a, 6c+, 6a+ protectable with friends and pitons. Below is Oriol following the first 6a:


The objective accomplished, we quickly descended to have a drink at Refugio de Ull de Ter below. Very nice setting at 2hr drive from Barcelona, nothing like a mountain strall to beat the onset of the heat! Below is the route, but in the winter setting (from the winter ascent by Oriol last year):