A rock-climbing weekend in Finale Ligure

Hello folks, I’m using a different format this time. It’ll be a post about a weekend I spent with a friend of mine in Finale Ligure (Liguria, Italy). First of all, I’ll mention the equipment I took with me, but beforehand I must tell you guys that we went camping to cut down the price. We were even invited for dinner. So, are you still with me? (You'll find a lot of pictures in here)

For the camping part:

Tent;
Inflatable bedroll;
Inflatable pillow;
Sleeping bag (I didn’t use it, ‘twas too warm);
Sheet sleeping bag (I used this one instead, made of cotton);
Shampoo, conditioner, and soap;
General medicaments;
First Aid Kit;
Flip-flops (shower);
An insulated sheet I put under my tent;
Toothbrush and toothpaste (brought one for my friend as well, it was well accepted!);
Pyjama;
Headlamp;
Tent light bulb (it’s fancy and you can always make a pun out of it!);
Chargers;
TP roll (remember to bring a whole one, not as I did);
Tissues;
Cleaning tissues;
Mosquito (and other insects) repellent;
Underwear;
Multi-usage knife; Opinel knife.

Going out and to the beach:

Bikini;
Long, sleeveless dress;
Sweatshirt;

(We went barefoot)

Climbing equipment:

Here I must admit that I climbed in a bikini ‘cos ‘twas too hot there to even keep my trousers on and I felt the sea vibes, so it felt good (and didn’t bother anyone).

Climbing shoes (2 pairs);
Runners or quickdraws (depends on where you live); Some carabiners (you need them for the manoeuvre);
My belayer device;
Rope (I’d suggest an 80-metre one);
Harness;
Sport bras (I used the bikini at the end); Helmet; Compeed patches;
Grip tape;
Climbing clothes (actually, even in September it’s a big no!)

Anything we used on many occasions:

Insulated bottles;
Many, many, many supplements in bags to solve in water (you’ll be drenched with sweat)

About Liguria and Finale Ligure rock formations (source:https://www.mudifinale.com/en/paesaggio/the-rocks-of-finale/ )

“Geological Classification and Orogenesis

The main stratigraphic series of the Ligurian Brianconnais zone can be found within the few square kilometres of Finale Ligure.

Località Le Mànie features a unique Gneiss outcrop [i.e., gneiss is pronounced /nais/ as in the word nice] of ancient crystallized rocks that emerge through a tectonic window [i.e., geological structures caused by erosion].

The Permo-Carboniferous series is made up of metamorphic rock such as Gorra schist – formed by the transformation of sedimentary rocks – and andesitic volcanic rock such as the Eze outcrop, which comes in peculiar shades of pistachio green or red. Indeed, porphyroid outcrops on Mount Melogno testify to intense volcanic activity.

These ancient rocks are covered by a sedimentary series that was formed when Permian volcanic activity ceased and sea levels rose. Surfacing deposits of beaches led to Verrucano outcrops and the greenish-white quartzites of Ponte di Nava. These are layered over by grey Triassic dolomite from S. Pietro ai Monti – easily recognisable by its white veins. This layer was once a shallow seawater deposit subject to continuous subsidence and high levels of evaporation. After the area emerged from the sea, the distension of the earth’s crust led to a build-up of marine sediments, which is when the grey-pink calcareous spar of the Tanarello Valley was formed, that is so clearly visible within the cliffs of Cape Noli.

The bedrock of Finale Stone goes back to the Oligocene, twenty million years ago, when a 220-metre-thick layer of real Finale Stone, made up of conglomerates and sandstone, was formed by a build-up of materials inside a gradually sinking gulf, where luxuriant fauna thrived in calm, warm waters. The result is a unique and much sought-after limestone typically packed with shell fragments, corals, shark teeth or Echinodermata [i.e., invertebrate marine animals, such as starfish] and other sea organisms.”

I would have liked to write it down myself, but this website describes the full spectrum of what type of rocks you can find in the area and I find it awesome.

The climbing areas we visited:

We jumped in the car early in the morning and went straight to this crag: “Arene candide – Falesia delle cento corde” https://www.finaleoutdoor.com/it/trails-walls/arene-candide-falesia-delle-cento-corde

I must admit the place was really hard to find, we ended up in many catholes, but we even saw a former crag, a thrilling one indeed. The crag we ended up climbing was astonishing and there were just two or three guys. Score: 6/10 (Why? We didn’t understand what route we were climbing because there were no signs, but the privacy and the sight were perfect).

We enjoyed our afternoon in Finalborgo: it's the perfect spot for buying anything mountain-related. And if aren't sure about what to buy, you can also sip beer while waiting, or just have fun trying a harness.

We didn't have time to both set up the tent and have a shower so here's the result:

On the second day we took it easy and reached the second crag at 10ish: “Rocca di Perti – Parete delle gemme” https://www.finaleoutdoor.com/it/trails-walls/rocca-di-perti-parete-delle-gemme

We met loads of people (mainly from Germany and just two locals) but it wasn’t packed at all: everyone had their own space and some spare space; my friend even fell asleep on my rope after lunch! It is a great crag indeed, the score would be 7/10: the routes had been renewed recently, there were no signs (but it was easy to understand which route we were doing), and the view wasn’t that amazing. I’d give it a plus just because I spent the whole time speaking in German to understand the new routes (a couple had shown us an old book and we thought some routes were different).

Then we went to Pietra Ligure to bathe and chill, have a beer and drove back home (and had a well-needed shower)! Amazing experience: I’m ready for the next one (and one has already happened, but I’ll tell you later on)!

Want to know about more adventures? Stay tuned!

תגובות