UKC

This has probably been asked before...but I'm off to Finale for 2 days this weekend. I've got the guidebook but I've never been there before. Seeing I'm only there for a VERY short time, any recommendations on where to go get the most out of the climbing ?
Easy access, Short approach-walks, etc ?

Ta,

In reply to Arne: Only been there once and it was quite good, can't remember anything re:cliff names or good venues etc... however JD has been before a few times, try emailing him or maybe he'll see this post...

JIMBO

In reply to Arne:

Monte Cucco would be a good bet, I would say best, but consider myself too ignorant to stand by it.

It has a free campsite with basic toilet facilities; 5mins walk from the main crag, which has some nice climbs.

The bonus, however, is Antonio's Rifugio/pizzaria. Lovely! Another 3 mins walk from the campsite.

Best Way to get there is to find the bus station in Finale Ligure, and catch the bus that goes up to Orca/Orco (never sure which it is). Then walk down the road towards Monte cucco, it's a 20 min/30 min walk.

Unless of course you're driving, in that case you have to drive to Finale Borgo and find a road that heads towards Monte Cucco, there's a small turning up right somwhere. Sorry I can't be more specific.

Finale Borgo has a friendly outdoor/climbing shop, it also has plenty of food shops.

Taxi's were expensive!!!

g

In reply to Arne:
Agree that Monte Cucco is the best bet to start off with - check out a 6a called Toccata & Fugue. Did it about 10 years ago and really enjoyed it, but it's probably polished to hell by now.
Watch out for the grades - I reckon the're a bit steep.
Rocca di Perti is also very impressive - theres a pic of it here http://www.ukclimbing.com/images/t/4135.jpg - and the arete is good fun for a 3.

In reply to Gruff: there is a lot of good stuff in this area but if its only for a few days Monte Cucco is the place to go.

I agree with everything Gruff mentions

watch out for naked germans.

james

Thamks for the info guys...

In reply to Arne:
Come back and tell us what you did...

In reply to Chris the Tall:

We were quite pressed for time and didn't arrive in Finale till 13:00 on Saturday. Got a cab up to "Lacrema", (it only cost us around £5) did a few routes up there, nothing spectacular, but very nice and convenient. Espresso-style climbing. Did the same thing on Sunday as we had a flight to catch a 18:00. Short but sweet.
Certainly felt that some of the grades were a bit stiff, and a quick net-search today told me that, for example, some of the "6a's" have appearantly been revised to 6b+ and even 6c!
Fantastic place though, even though we only checked out the smaller of the crags. Beautiful.
Going down again in February for a full week.
Anybody know what kind of weather/temps to expect then ?

Arne

...and we walked down from the "Lacrema" crag in roughly 40 minutes. As I said, very nice and easy.

In reply to Arne: wheather should be fine in february. i was there few years back and climbed in the sun in t-shirt enjoying the smell of goat shit.