For those of you who each year suffer long and frosty winter it is high time to plan some climbing winter escape in search of warmth both in relation to air and rock. We’d like to inspire you a little bit and if there’s a fair chance you’ll be able to go somewhere for longer that just a few days, check out what we have prepared for you. Take one – Sella.

 

The vicinity of Sella (photo: archiv. Monika Młodecka)

Travel – Shopping

In the age of the process of globalization it seems like the world is continuously getting smaller due to, among others, the net of flight connections including nowadays almost every accessible place of the globe. Still, the price is sometimes a matter of our quick reflexes and long hours spent seaching the Internet. In the case of Sella, the best option is to seek a direct flight to Alicante. The greatest number of connections to this lovely coastal city, when it comes to Europe, is provided by Ryanair and Lufthansa. The consoling thing is that even if we spend more than we expected for the basic transport by air, the subsequest travel expenses are going to be digestable. From Alicante there is a commuter train reaching on its way places such as El Campello, La Vila Joiosa, Cruenta and even as far as Benidorm.

 

The charm of Sella vol. 1 and... (photo: archiv. Monika Młodecka)

The modernity of the train doesn’t mean that we can’t afford it so what you pay is only few Euro per capita for the travel to Hiper Finestrat (that’s where it is the best to get off). Hiper Finestrat is a typical suburban shopping mall and simultaneously the last call for you to do some food shopping. If you happen to come cross an open grocer’s shop in Sella then it will probably remind you, by its look and range of products available, of similar mini grocer’s one can easily find in every small western European town fulfilling the role of the last bastion of civilization on your way up to the crag. From Finestrat one remains at the mercy of drivers heading for the direction of Sella. Fortunately, the traffic there is quite heavy so it is likely that your hitchhiking will not last very long.

 

...vol. 2 :-) (photo: archiv. Monika Młodecka)

Another option that seems reasonable is renting a car, which, especially in Spain, is definitely not that expensive. Still, bear in mind that the climbing sectors in Sella are both not far away from each other and often inaccessible by car, which makes one rather redundant. So if there are either no only just born entrants of the art of cimbing or we’re not going to explore any nearby and less attractive spots, renting a car is simply unprofitable.

 

One of the potential but still not explored sectors of Sella
(photo: archiv. Monika Młodecka)

Accomodation – Rock guide

Sella is one of many climbing spots located along Costa Blanca and it is definitely the best choice, not only with regard to the quantity of routes but also to their quality. It takes only one glance at the rock guide to see that. Speaking of which, there are two options to choose from: Costa Blanca by Rockfax in which you will also find the schemes of the other nearby areas like Aventador and Gandia, or a small topo including only the sectors of Sella and published by local climber Armando, who’s definitely the most knowledgeable person at the spot as far as the routes are concerned. He’s also the owner and administrator of the only local climbing Refugio.

Sella (photo: archiv. Monika Młodecka)

We shouldn’t expect much of that lovely house with an adjacent garden fulfilling the role of a camping place. But what you can expect is a beer can for 1 Euro only :-) Still, Armando does his best to make the time spent in Refugio pleasant. And since there’s no doubt he is a progressive man, he tries to fulfill the needs of his clients and for that purpose he has equipped himself with a pretty large bookcase full of conversation and phrase books including titles such as Spanish-… whatever you wish :-) Moreover, it seems to be working and Armando’s range of vocab in almost every European language is getting bigger year by year.