For months the Peñon d’Ifach has been closed to climbers due to critical repairs and maintenance to the walkway beneath the Peñon and the cleaning and stabilising of loose Rock from the main South Face. After much speculation and much work by Calpe council, the Club Alpí de Gandia y Club de Muntanya de Calp and local event organisers Roy and Miguel the Penyon was open to all, just hours before the 7th Penyon 12 hour challenge was due to start!
Every year teams from wide and far compete in a 12 hour race to climb as many routes as possible. All the routes are given points according to difficultly, length and protection.
This year - 17th May 2008 - 25 teams entered along with our very own team, Chris & Nacho!
After an impressive start where we saw Chris & Nacho storm up the face with uncanny speed - Puta Paseo 7a+ in just 2.5 hrs. Spirits were damped not only by the approaching storms but by an awkward & unlucky fall by Nacho on the notoriously slippery descent. Nacho injured his ankle, the storm closed in and lightening crackled….. Nacho & Chris would not be deterred and fought on. Their second route (El Navagente 7a) went equally speedy and just as us spectators were thinking that all was well and the storms seemed to be keeping to the inner mountains, we realised their descent was very slow. A phone call confirmed Nacho’s ankle was suffering on the difficult descent…….Lisa & Steve armed with a team of supporters and pain killers, freezing spray, bandages and tape raced up to meet them, dressed the ankle, gave them some cheers and incredibly they were off again.
Their third route (Costa Blanca 6c+) saw them climbing even faster than before (we were told later that fart power and humour kept them going ever faster!) Unfortunately a slower group on this route held them up but they still got to the top with half an hour to spare. They achieved their target of three routes in 12 hours and were rewarded with 7th place. A fantastic and well deserved achievement for their first race. Nacho is recovering well with three weeks off work and a cracked foot bone!
