On 9th September I climbed the Naranjo de Bulnes in Northern Spain in memory of my dad and to help raise money for the Oldham Mountain Rescue Team.

My dad, Brian Roberts tragically died in a walking accident on Pavey Ark the Lake District on 4^th Feb 2009. The Langdale Mountain Rescue were involved in his rescue. Since then I have been to some of the Oldham mountain rescue team meets and have become very aware of their important role and would like to raise some money for this local team.

 

Oldham Mountain Rescue Team is an entirely voluntarily funded and staffed organisation whose objective is "to save life and alleviate distress, primarily in upland and mountain areas" without cost or obligation to the people they rescue. The Team also helps the Police in other search activities in areas and conditions where they may not have adequate resources, or experience. In addition to mountain recue and search activities, the team is available as a back up service for the ambulance and fire services, during severe weather, major incident or where their specialist skills are needed. 

I did the climb with 3 experienced climbers who were good friends of my dads, Al Collister, Ken O’Connor and Kevin Nagle.

I chose this particular climb because it is one I had planned to do with my dad. Dad introduced me to climbing when I was thirteen and I have many fond memories of the many challenging climbs we did together. This was an important challenge for myself.  

The Naranjo de Bulnes is a limestone peak located in the Picos de Europa National Park in Northern Spain.  It has an altitude of 2,529 metres and although it is by no means the highest peak of the Asturian mountain range, it can be considered the best-known summit in the world of Spanish mountaineering, especially the 550m high vertical wall of the west face.

The only way to the Top is to climb it! (There are no walking routes up the peak).

From where we leave the vehicle, we walked 3 hour up into the mountains to arrive at the base of the imposing West Face where there is a mountain refuge.  We stayed the night at the hut and the following morning a further 1 hr 30 mins trek to circumnavigate the mountain to reach the foot of the South Face - our objective.

We climbed the South Face, (technically it may be the easiest face but this is still a very serious and physically challenging Climb with all the dangers associated with any Mountaineering).

Total climbing distance 250m, (4 Pitches or Rope Lengths) + A Grade 2 Scramble to the summit.

The way down is the reverse of the Climb, Using our ropes to Abseil down (4 Times or Rope Lengths).

Total Climbing time was 6 hours.

 

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Many thanks, Vicky x

 

PS - A huge thank you to Saddleworth Round Table for their generous cheque for £500 - this is very much appreciated!