NORMAL ROUTE. CANALONA NEEDLE

Climbing routes Directory Fuente Dé area

The Canalona Needle is one of the most aesthetic peaks of the Picos. Together with the Bustamante Needle, they stand out from any other peak on the ascent to Peña Vieja. Its sharp profile holds the highest 8th grade of northern Spain in the Anestesia Cerebral route. However, we can reach the summit by its normal route without exceeding the 4th grade. A classic route, ideal for beginners in mountain climbing. Highly recommended.

  • The route starts in a kind of reddish couloir with loose rock. In my opinion, it is more advisable to climb the left-hand variant, where the rock is more compact. It can also be accessed directly walking along a ledge from the Canalona pass.
  • The pitches up to the North Fork (Horquilla Norte) consist of an obvious chimney-couloir.
  • Finally, in the last part there are two variants, in my opinion the one on the left side is more beautiful in terms of atmosphere, although the one on the right offers more beautiful climbing moves.
  • Beware of the rock in some sections.

Attention! Due to a large landslide, from the hill it is now a little more difficult (V/V+).

FACT SHEET

LENGTH

About 100 m

DIFFICULTY

IV.

DURATION

2-3 hours climbing and abseiling

EQUIPMENT

A set of friends. It's possible to climb and rappel down with one 60 m rope.

DESCENT

Rappel from the summit to the fork, two more rappels down the couloir, and then exit via the ledge to the pass of the Canalona, or do one more rappel down to the lower scree. It is advisable to abseil using a single runner from the summit so that the rope doesn't get stuck (frequent), take a cordelette to join them together.

FIRST ASCENT

Alfonso Alonso, Alfonso and J.Tomás Martínez and J.Antonio Odriozonael 8/8/1948

1 thought on “NORMAL ROUTE. CANALONA NEEDLE”

  1. Hola!
    Gracias por todos tus croquis, son fantásticos!
    Solamente comentar que en el último largo de la normal a la Canalona, donde se indica con "bloques", toda esa lasca se ha desprendido y ahora quedará en un V/V+, en mi opinión los dos movimientos más duros de la vía.
    Un saludo!

    Reply

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