Pou Brothers and Neus Colom Send 500-metre Spain Big Wall

Iker and Eneko Pou have teamed up with Mallorcan climber Neus Colom for a first free ascent on Picu Urriellu, better known as Naranjo de Bulnes, the famous mountain in Spain. After more than three months on the west face, they have sent Marejada Fuerza 6, 31 years after its first ascent. First climbed in 1985 by Jose Manuel de la Fuente and Manolo Gonzalez in nine days, it cuts through the imposing Overhang of Bermeja and commits to the steepest part of the 500-metre wall.

With climbing up to A4, the free-ascent team used minimal fixed protection and have taken big falls. The route now goes at 5.13c. This is the sixth route for Pou Brothers of this calibre on Naranjo de Bulnes after the first free ascent in a day of El Pilar del Cantabrico 5.13b 500 metres in 1997 (An old A3) and first free ascent of Zunbeltz 5.14a 500 metres in 2003 (An old A4 and not repeated untill now).

They made the first free-in-a-day send of Quinto Imperio 5.13d 500 metres in 2006, and opened and sent Lurgorri 5.14c 500 metres and made the first free-in-a-day send of Orbayu 5.14c 500 metres in 2009.