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Pou Brothers Send in Montserrat, Route Gets Chopped!

Iker and Eneko Pou’s ascent of a Monsterrat project brings ethics debate back into the spotlight.

In 2002, David Tarrago along with  Raul Ballesteros, Dani Fernandez, Xavier Garcia, Toni Castelló and Ana Valero bolted a six-pitch route in Monsterrat. They selected the wall because of its solid rock and potential. The route crossed Àrea Reservada, A4 +, 280 m, which soloed for its first ascent by Jaume Clotet ‘Paca’ in 1997. Late in 2013, Iker cleaned and freed the Tarrago route over six days, grading it 5.14. Returning to complete a film of the ascent, Iker and his brother Eneko found the bolts had been stripped and Way of Tarrago was no more, but why?

Montserrat is a rocky massif in central Catalunya, near Barcelona. Serrat means saw-toothed and from a distance the range is a collection of pink, conglomerate, jagged peaks. There are dozens of towers, each with classic lines such as Cavall Bernat, the normal route at 5.8, 80 m, and La Momia, the normal route at 5.7, 90 m.

The area has a history of hard aid climbing. Famous big-wall climber Silvia Vidal started her aid climbing career on the walls of Montserrat, close to her home town. She repeated hard routes such as Mirall Impenetrable, A5, and Vudú, A4+, on Aeri de Montserrat, both with Pep Masip and the second with Pere Vilarasau. She also climbed Incontinència d’Inconsciència, A5, with Pep Masip and Miquel Puigdomènench and Silenci, A5/5.11, on the Ecos.  The techniques required to aid the conglomerate are different than those needed on El Cap. In a 48-hour, 600-metre aid competition, a strong Russian team gave up, unable to climb an A3 pitch.

The Catalans have a strict local ethic against bolted routes on or near existing aid lines. Although the Way of Tarrago was bolted 12 years ago, it was not chopped until it was free climbed, which raises questions about the chopper’s motive. In Catalunya, climbers do not record first free ascents. The first ascent, however much aid was used, is considered the only one that matters. Most of the classic routes in Catalunya were done with a lot of aid, now most are free, but grades and records are not kept. Many locals are against media of the area as they want to keep the cliffs to themselves.

The Pou brother’s ascent is one of many recent bolt-war stories. Top-down methods are frowned upon, as is over bolting. No one has claimed the chopping of the Way of Tarrago, but Tarrago said he will replace all 200 bolts in the spring.

Iker Pou climbing Way of Tarrago Photo Jordi Canyigueral
Iker Pou climbing Way of Tarrago Photo Jordi Canyigueral

Here is what the Pou brothers said about the climb and the chopping:

“When you put a lot of enthusiasm, a lot of effort and hard work and succeed, it is a dream come true. Our relationship with the route began in September 2013. On our the sixth day, November 5, with Jordi Canyigueral who had come to record the climb, we sent. Many hugs at the summit between the three of us, we were very happy. On November 25 , we resumed filming, but that day brought us several unpleasant surprises, one is that the bolts and anchors were gone, the entire route was stripped, we were crushed.

The truth is that we do not understand any of this. We have always believed in consensus decisions, as we have believed in tolerance and mutual respect, which puts us against taking unilateral decisions. Almost a lifetime devoted to the activity on the mountain and common sense has taught me that in life and in the mountains no one is in possession of absolute truth. We want to hear the alleged reasons for stripping the route, but whatever they are, nothing justifies this act, especially 12 years after the bolts were placed. We have always tried to lead by example. Each climb is ethical, cams and nuts before pins and bolts, always starting from the bottom and free climbing when possible. We have given the best of ourselves to Montserrat, as we have always done, with the best of our intentions. If some people think that events like this will kill the future, they are wrong.”

Iker and Enoko on route Photo Jordi Canyigueral
Iker and Eneko on route Photo Jordi Canyigueral
Eneko Pou photo Jordi Canyigueral
Eneko Pou photo Jordi Canyigueral
Montserrat photo Jordi Canyigueral
Montserrat photo Jordi Canyigueral

 

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