The village of Àger lies beneath the sprawling mass of Montsec d’Ares, a magnificent 15 kilometre long line of cliffs up to 500m high, culminating in the peak of Sant Alís (1676m). The amount of rock here is truly staggering, but in fact Àger’s main claims to fame lie in fields other than climbing. The clarity of the skies here has long made Àger an internationally renowned centre for astronomy, and as well as the Observatori Astronòmic del Montsec located on the summit plateau there is an education and research facility, Parc Astronòmic Montsec, close to the village itself. Àger is also recognized as one of Europe’s premier paragliding sites attracting enthusiasts from all over the world, their colourful rigs often seen vying for the best thermals with the ever-present circling vultures.
The two sectors we describe here offer excellent single-pitch climbing and the bigger cliffs higher up the mountain act as a magnificent backdrop. Both sectors face almost due south and are therefore at their best on sunny mid-winter days. The upper walls are actually home to many multi-pitch climbs of between 100m and 300m but are rather more broken than initial appearances would suggest. Note: when fog is a problem in the lower-lying zones of Lleida one can always rely on Àger to be sunny!
🧗♂️Camp 300
This fine sector is situated high on the mountain. The rock is generally vertical and very smooth, giving excellent face climbing, mostly in the higher grades. Orientation: South.
Approach: From the western outskirts of the village of Àger, almost directly opposite the fire station, follow a narrow road (many signposts), which leads first past the cemetery and then the entrance to the Parc Astronòmic Montsec, before continuing up the mountain towards the summit plateau. After approximately 10km there is a large level grassy area to the right of the road, marked by the signpost ‘Camp 300’ on the left. If conditions are dry follow a track across the grass for several hundred metres to park immediately above the sector. After periods of heavy rain or snow the field becomes a quagmire and it is then safer to leave the car next to the road. There are several different paths leading sown to the sector, which lies below the parking area; consult the topos to see which way down is best for the part of the crag you are heading for (5 - 10 minutes).
🧗♂️ Barranc de Grillons
This is another superb sector and far more suited to climbers operating in the 5th and 6th grades than its near neighbour, Camp 300. An 80m rope is recommended for some of the longer pitches. Orientation: South.
Approach: From the western outskirts of the village of Àger, almost directly opposite the fire station, follow a narrow road (many signposts) which leads past the cemetery (this is the same as for Camp 300) After approximately 2.7km (and 350m after passing the ‘Entrenúvols’ Parapenting School) turn right onto an unsurfaced track, following signs towards the hermitage ‘Mare de Déu de Pedra’. Keep to the main track, ignoring all turnings to the left or right and passing a picnic area, for approximately 3km, to reach a right-hand hairpin bend (P2) some 800m before the hermitage (from where the crag is clearly visible). On foot, follow a well-marked path, first right then back left, passing the occasional cairn and section of fixed rope, to the base of the sector (10 minutes). Note: the separate buttress known as ‘El Triangle’ is situated some 200m left of the main sector and requires an additional 5 minutes walking.
