Rebuilding the crag of Rumbau - "Oliana"

As you might have heard, on June 19th a fire started just under Rumbau crag, located in Peramola, internationally known as Oliana. Even though firefighters did their best to stop the fire and save both vegetation and the wall (massive thanks to them), the fire spread really fast because of the very strong wind, dryness and high temperatures.

 

We've been trying to analyze the damages at the cliff, even if it's kind of hard. To sum up: the left part of the wall has been severely altered (from the route “Michi”), placed quickdraws burned and many holds are now lying on the ground. The first layer of rock is destroyed, it’s breaking off just by touching it. It would need massive cleaning and rebolting. But routes will never be the ones we once knew.

The main and right wall LOOK ok but some holds broke off and are on the ground as well, sometimes huge chunks. Inevitably the rock has been altered by the fire heat on other places. What hasn’t already broken off today might later, it’s impossible to know what is now solid or not. We also don't have any clue of the resistance of the quickdraws and bolts but it seems obvious that it’s been altered by the fire heat as well. We will definitely need to check everything and eliminate as much as possible the danger of rockfall.

 

It will take a huge amount of work to clean and re-equip everything. And money. This is why we're putting up this crowdfunding. From September we are going to start a major cleaning, securing and rebolting if needed. For this we need the support of the climbing community.

 

Money, gear, knowledge, working force etc, - if people and brands are willing to help, you are more than welcome, there will be a lot to do!

1. The first step, and the most important, will be the security and cleaning of the site: access road, path and tracks.

2. The problem of reforestation will also arise.

3.Then we can move on to the climbing part.

Anyone who is ready to help in September / October can contact me on social media. Thanks a lot !

 

Just so you know, we don't have any idea of how much everything will cost, that's why we put 10 k. We'll probably know more once we've checked everything a bit more closely.