Maddie - ‘More than the Grade’
Maddie on a 5a sports climb leading.
In late october 2022…..
As the last of the summer warmth was coming to an end in Spain, I set camp in the Siurana village for a few days of sport climbing.
For someone climbing in the lower grades, Siurana can be a daunting place due to its history of hard climbs, but once there the excitement of the orange walls immediately took over. Sure, there were tears on a 5+.
Deflated, I started scouring the guidebook for those 4s and 5s which, though few and far between, offered the thrill of the send with the breathtaking valley opening up behind me.
Maddie - No tears, lots of fun on this route!
Going up beautiful limestone, I was reminded once again that climbing is more about the process, the blood, sweat and tears on the way, the good company and the small personal wins, and less about chasing the grade.
On departure I already started thinking of my next visit to Siurana - if not for anything else, to put up some more 4s and 5s.
Maddie - The views from the top anchor point.