I got out today for a little rope solo and minitraxion session. By way of a soundtrack:

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Today we have a local holiday, not shared with Barcelona. So it's a perfect time to get out to a local crag. My destination was Gelida, a nice set of cliffs about 30 meters high, a little SW of Barcelona. The rock is pretty much like Siurana, but the place is a lot smaller, of course. Perhaps around 60 routes total, mostly in 5.10-5.12 range, but a few easy routes, too. Very good quality, in general.

On the way, I heard my vehicle making some odd sounds, so I stopped for a look. Fortunately, it was only the appendix, and with a quick operation, without anesthesia, or even washing my hands, I had it out:


Got to the parking, and headed up the rigorous 8 minute approach. Here are a couple of shots of the crag:



After only 40 minutes from leaving the house, I was at the foot of my chosen route, a 30 meter 5.7, pretty juggy overall, but with a thin-ish section at the start, which provides interest. Here's the route:


The first route starts right above that plant in the foreground, to the L of the big tree at the R of the crag, and goes up the arete/face.

It has been about 4 or 5 years since I last did rope soloing, so it was pretty exciting getting started. I use the system that healyje has described well in a thread from a while ago, using an Edelrid Eddy. I tied off the rope to a big tree, and set off, feeling a little nervous, but ok. Once I got though the first slightly challenging moves, and had a couple of bolts clipped, I was pretty relaxed. The rest was pleasant and uneventful, and I started feeling like a rad climbing hero. On the way down, though, I noticed that I had zoomed right by a bolt at an easy section, missing the clip. What a doofus! In my defense, I think that the bolt was not there the last time I did the route (or else I'm getting charmingly forgetful). The Eddy system works so well that it is possible to climb fast.

Back on the ground, I got my two minitraxions on the rope, hung my water bottle for a weight, and set off for another lap. The route is so good I could do it a million times and still have fun.

When getting ready to rap down using the Eddy, I noticed I had it clipped in to my leg loops, and not the belay loop. Oops! Back to feeling like a doofus.

Back on the ground again, and start up the 5.9 just to the L. This cycle repeats a few times, and after 2 hours I have done 6 laps total. Not bad, 180 meters of climbing, going fast enough that it felt like an aerobic workout.

A great morning, 3.5 hours total, sofa to sofa, and I'm finishing the TR only 5 hours after I left the house.

A parting thought: us old farts that have been climbing for 40 years need to pay attention to the basics. I had a couple of doofus moments today, probably due to the excitement of rope soloing after so long not having done it. But, it was a good time. I'm pretty sure I'll get out again a few times this Spring, and try to work up to 20 laps in 5 hours.