Etxauri, sport climbing in Spain

Local climber and guidebook writer Ekaitz Maiz introduces Etxauri, with more than 800 routes from 4a to 9a one of the most important crags in the Basque country, Spain.

Etxauri is one of the classic crags in the entire Euskal Herria. The area was formed due to a massive fault line which shaped the Sierra de Sarbil mountains and in doing so created rock faces and peaks that have attracted climbers and mountaineers since the early ages. In fact, according to local legend climbing started in 1728: a cross and inscription on the summit of Kantero, the monolith whose summit can only be reached by rock climbing, proves that Etxauri really does have a long vertical history.

There are circa 800 routes in the area and the wide variety of rock faces ensures that there is climbing of all grades and styles, from easy grade III outings to extreme 9a's. In recent years the crag hit the international limelight when Patxi Usobiaga made the world's first 8c+ on-sight by climbing the Bizi euskara.

	ROCK CLIMBING AT ETXAURI, SPAIN