We never planned this to be a climbing trip, or a trekking trip, or a surfing trip, it was always meant to be an overlanding adventure. That being said, we’ve been very lucky to enjoy an abundance of great trekking, surfing, and climbing over the past year. One of the many amazing places we stumbled across where we could enjoy one of our hobbies was Piedra Parada, a climbing area in the dry steppe east of the green lushness of the Lakes District. We spent four warm sunny days working our muscles and tearing our fingers up on the big walls of the incredible Buitrera Canyon. The routes were well-bolted and fun, the walls were enormous, the canyon was breathtaking, the air was warm, and the beer waiting in the fridge for us was cold. Once again we were very glad that we hauled that heavy climbing gear with us all this way.

Cañon La Buitrera.

Piedra Parada, or Standing Rock. There are some routes up this monolith, but access is uncertain as it’s a protected area.

Emily and Hobie at the canyon entrance.

Endless huge walls.

Tim and Hobie taking in the canyon.

Emily on the first route we did, a stout 5.10 up an awesome wall.

Tim cleaning a great long route through the huecos.

Moon over the canyon wall.

The scale of these walls was amazing. Note the tiny little Tim down at the bottom of another great 510.

Happy dirtbag.

Sunset colors over the canyon.

Corey rocking a fun route up a massive wall.

Big big big walls.

Tim starting Mickey Mouse, the first route set in the canyon and a gnarly finger killer.

This was a tough lead on super sharp rock and Tim crushed it.

Emily vs. Mickey Mouse.

Our rigs in the campground.