Marmot UK - Neil on-sights Tundra 8a/+

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Sella Valley, Spain

We went straight for Margalef in Catalunya at the start of April, but it had rained heavily the day before we arrived so most of the routes were soaked and seeping. We managed to get two days climbing in before the heavens opened again. The forecast was more of the same for the next week so having learned from our last trip, we cut our losses and drove south to the Costa Blanca.

We ended up spending the rest of our trip at the Wild Side sector of Sella. I got straight on an 8b+ called Dosis which went up a barreling wall for 24m on pockets and a tufa. There was one crucial wet pocket right at the top which stayed wet for some time. After a few days on-sighting some 7c+'s and redpointing an 8a+ I was finally able to complete Dosis once the hold was dry. It was great to push my redpoint grade up to 8b+, especially on such a good route. Ruth, my girlfriend, had also done her first 8a project (Watermark) the day before so all in all a good week.

Neil attempting Dosis 8b+

The last day of the trip we went up to an amazing fin of rock called Forada, where I did my hardest on-sight to date: Tundra 8a/+. On our return to the UK, Ruth and I went to Malham where I managed to redpoint Power Ranger 8b+. So a great start to the year and hopefully I can transfer this success onto the trad.

Neil Mawson