Bouldering in Albarracín & Alcañiz

A short trip to Albarracín and Alcañiz during Christmas time in 2018. If you have ever planned to visit these two locations here's a glimpse what these places have to offer!

Even though sending wise this trip did not went quite according to plan, the place, the forest, the mountains, the people, the magnificent boulders and the all sunny weather made this one of the best trips I have ever had! Just can't wait another visit to these places after a proper training period without any injuries.

Glimpses of the Sending Spirit

A short film about bouldering and projecting in Luohua, Åland Islands, Martti Servo block in Rovaniemi and Lofoten Islands on Season 2018.

Finally a year where at least something went according to the plan. Luckily there's still a lot more to do and to try for the years to come!

Lofoten Problems

Lofoten is a remote bouldering paradise way above the Polar circle where the sun does not set, where the views are just spectacular and where the weather conditions are perfect for summer time bouldering – if it does not rain.

In summer 2018 we spent 3 weeks on these magical Islands. It did not rain that much, but it was a lot warmer than usual.

This was my 7th summer on this magical place and mission was to finish finally Springflo, a heinous roof problem with spicy moves and somewhat small holds. Things did not go exactly according to plan, but the trip to Lofoten is always worth it, and we got to climb a lot.

10 years quest put to rest

One boulder problem at your personal limit that is at first way too hard and then takes 10 years to figure it out, get strong enough and eventually get everything right to be able to send it!

Not every problem get's solved in bouldering or in life in general but the ones that challenge you the most are never forgotten!

All in all it took 141 days split into 10 years' time frame. Here's how it actually went.

Feeling the Flow of Fontainebleau

The Forest of Fontainebleau, bouldering and problem solving at it's finest! It can be all sunny or all rainy or something in between, sometimes you succeed and sometimes you fail – but nevertheless feeling the flow of the forest is always worth it!

Searching for the sending spirit

When you've been climbing some time already you know it doesn't always go according to the plan as there is so many changing variables that do not necessarily match on given specific time no matter what you do. But that is just what makes climbing so interesting and challenging.

In the end it does not matter much what the variables happen to be if you just go out there, climb and enjoy while doing it! And if you even succeed in climbing something important to you or get forward with old multi year projects that's even better!

Here's a short clip from last year's climbing trips from multiple locations in Finland and also from Magic Wood in Switzerland.

It doesn't matter how long you have climbed or what you climb, pursuing your dreams is always worth the effort - and beyond.

This is what it looks like when you have been climbing for almost a year, you have only two trips to Font and one 6A boulder as outdoor experience, and you start trying a 7A boulder with a feeling - a dream - it might go someday.

Trying easier boulders in Luohua is not that good an option for shorter climbers as they are a bit on the morpho side for the grade as well as this one is. Strong will and some time to find the right beta and develop the powers needed were required too. And good, warm enough weather, of course.