Page 11 - 2013 AMA Spring

Exercise
TigerClAw By Cpl Hollick
If you tell some people that you’re going climbing and you’re stay- ing in Benidorm, they look at you like you’ve got two heads, like you’re from another planet. But all you have to do is point them in the opposite direction of the sea and you have an amazing moun- tain view.
It’s the 22nd October and we arrive at Alicante airport (nothing bad to report about Ryanair), myself, Cpl Dawber (expedition leader), Cpl Stevenson Cpl Owen and Alan Giles, collect our vehicle from Gold Car and head to our accommodation. Much to the relief of Cpl Dawber, we are in the right place at the right time, with the right kit. All we need now is perfect weather and our wishes are answered, it is over 22oC everyday of the expedition.
Now if you are familiar with this region, there is a good chance that you are familiar with Sierra de Toix. If not, it is an excellent climb- ing venue for the novice and experienced alike, with coastal views, just always remember the sun cream. I’ve been here with the army prior to this visit and I didn’t think it held any more surprises for me. That was until myself and Cpl Dawber completed a route called ‘Magical Mystery Tour (HVS). This was a committing climb to say the least because once you have abseiled down approx 40m (we used 50m half ropes) it is a traverse, then a climb back to the top (this climb being the easiest on the cliff-face). The only way of get- ting off was to complete the route or make a bit of a jump and then a 3km swim back to shore, but confident in our abilities we set off and it is safe to say we made it. However, it’s surprising how much the sound of the tide and the squawking of gulls and a committing abseil can still make your heart rate increase. So if you’re in the area and want to try something different, then this could be the one for you, just beware it is part traditional climbing and has ENP on two of the belay stances, so take some spare number 3 wired nuts with you (book says wild country rock 3) and make sure one of you can lead this grade or have at least passed your military swim test.
If you really want to put your navigation skills to the test then try the Spanish road maps, we really put ourselves up for this challenge when we set off for Montessa. This venue was quite out the way from us, on the other side of the mountain range in fact and we managed to use every scenic route on the way. There is nothing worse than having 5 people in the car who think they can navigate, and if you’re going to call ‘shotgun’ for the front seat be prepared to take responsibility. Alan Giles highly recommended Montessa so we set to it with an early start and if you want to fill up your log book on great single pitch climbs in the sun and the shade, then this is the venue for you. It is single pitch paradise, however, if you don’t like working out and you like to feel your arms at the end of the day then think about it.
Another great venue we visited was Marin, it was a bit of a drive away but worth it, with more two pitch routes than you can shake a stick at, graded from 4 to 5+. I was in my element and teamed up with Cpl Stevenson for most of the day, we proceeded to tick them off and with Cpl Stevenson being quite new to the climbing world this was a perfect venue for him to learn his trade. As well as multi pitch this venue offers an abundance of mixed single pitch routes and getting to the venue was a breeze, again, only mad dogs and Englishmen work in the midday sun so take some cream.
ARMY MOUNTAINEER 9