Keyword: Spain

Ever since a major fire swept across Oliana in the summer of 2022, things have gone quiet around the world-famous climbing area. A handful of locals and die-hard climbers take on the Herculean task of returning the once world-class climbing area to its former glory. Is that even possible? We spoke to Chris Frick about Oliana's lengthy restoration.

Michaela Kiersch manages the red point ascent of La Rambla in Siurana, probably the most famous 9a + route in Spain. After Margo Hayes and Chaehyun Seo, the American is only the third woman to do so.

The South Korean Chaehyun was only the second woman to climb the route La Rambla (9a +) in November. Now the video of their inspection is online.

Crack specialist Peter Whittaker manages the flash ascent of the classic La Fuerza de la Gravedad (8b) by Carlos Logroño Viscasillas in Spain. Even if the wide boy "only" rates the line as 8b thanks to the new beta, it's still one of the toughest flash ascents of a trad route.

Alexander Megos stayed in the Spanish climbing Mecca Margalef for three weeks in autumn and scored an incredible 14 climbing routes between 8c and 9b. The highlight of his trip was the first ascent of the line The Full Journey (9b) drilled by Tom Bolger. Now there's the video for it.

Chaehyun Seo is only the second woman ever to onsight climb an 8c route. In La Morera de Montsant, Spain, the 19-year-old South Korean scored the 60-meter-long mega route L'Antagonista. On the same day she also managed the onsight ascent of Hidrofóbia (8b).

At the end of July, Alexander Megos made the first ascent of Ratstaman Vibrations (9b). Now there's the video for it. Since this success in Ceüse, the German professional climber has been unstoppable. In October in Margalef he scored 14 routes between 8c and 9b within three weeks.

Anak Verhoeven is unstoppable: In Rodellar, the Belgian manages another 9a+ route with No pain, no gain. The Frenchman Marine Thévenet is also doing well at the moment. She boulders in Fionnay Compass North (8B+).