UKC

The new road accessing the sectors at Sella and beyond is now finished. Great road, but unfortunately signs have been erected saying access is only permitted for emergency vehicles and landowners.

So it looks like the furthest you can go is to the (old)refugio, though some of the parking there had been restricted when I was there last week.

Not quite sure what you mean by 'the old refugio'. However, I drove past the refugio at the bottom (near culo de rino - didn't know there was any other refugio?) 2 days ago. Carried on up to the last of the  parking sectors with no issues. There was a van parked in there and we saw other cars. 

What I meant by old refugio, is I don't think it is used as a refugio any more.

I understand that the signs went up today.

Hi Dan was there today bolting.

Looks like there will be restricted access and a gate!!!

Not sure of the details yet.

Andy H.

I was there last summer and whilst driving up the road got flagged down by a liveried pickup truck and told we couldn’t drive up there…

Had to got back down and round the bend, park there and walk up. Took 20 mins. Gutted as others just rocked up and parked at the crag and it was fine as the pickup wasn’t around… just bad timing for us!

The thing is though, it wasn't really fine. The guys in the pickup would have got a ton of shit if anyone more senior had arrived. And so on, right up the food chain.

It's a blame culture. You did the right thing. 20 minutes in the Spanish sun; not really the same thing as going up to Cloggy? Agree, they can be officious in these parts. But after all it is their country and most of the time they're just trying to put food on the proverbial table. 

You did the right thing. I would urge others to do likewise. 

Mick 

In the other peoples defence, there were no signs up to say you couldn’t drive up the road nor anyone telling them to not do so and it’s a road with parking places… I mean it’s hard to say what they’ve done wrong here?  They drove up a road and parked and went climbing? Nothing told them not to. Feels kinda fine to me? 

If the guys in the pickup get shit off their boss for not putting up signage that’s really not my concern.

However I do agree with the general messaging of your post whenever we go climbing we are always very sure to park exactly where we’re supposed to and follow all the rules and regulations.

I know this is a particular source of tension between climbers and locals on Portland where you live and that’s not cool. I always park way, way out the way 10 mins walk away and have no patience at all the absolute weapons parking their oversized campers on a blind bend or across someone’s driveway….  That’s just obvious stupidity, laziness and the guidebook gives clear instruction to not do that!
 

Agree, sticking up a sign would be a good start! But it's Spain. Things aren't always done the way you or I would do them.

I'm guessing the people driving up didn't know it wasn't allowed. You did know and did the right thing. 10 minutes walk on Portland; 20 in Sella. Nothing really.

That valley is a fragile environment. Climbing could easily get banned. I know people who climb there, work there, live there. There's a lot to lose. 

Mick 

Yeah, agreed. Spot on on all points there.

Can you ride a bike up there ?

The ironic bit being, that afaik, those people don't know what's going on either

I'm behind you... well behind you. 

Mick 

... ok Mick, can  I ride my bike along there, or are bikes prohibited as well. I certainly can't walk 20 minutes... which is why I bought a bike !

Eek, don't know. If they've finished work, you'd think what difference would a bike make? You'd also hope they'd be reasonable. But t'is Spain and a blame/avoidance culture seems to prevail. Maybe have a Plan B if you do get turned back?

Mick 

Usual caveat about never mountain biking in Spain or specialised knowledge of Spanish access or motoring law but the track past Sella continues over the hills to above haunted walls and down to the next valley and Guadalest . It's probably a popular , for Spain , mountain bike route. Certainly seen a lot of bike tyre tracks walking to crags in the area.

Jon could always  get a mobility scooter , easier to argue / get sympathy for access use.

Ha ha, thanks Rick, I'll stick with the electric mountain bike !