In reply to Craigyboy13:
> (In reply to Craigyboy13)
>
> i have heard of Via normal before and thought it looked an inedible route!
>
Hi Craig
I've mailed you various topos for Via Normal + lots more but for anyone else interested in this route read on...
It is about a 1 hour 15 minute drive from Playa Americas up to the Tiede Visitor Centre and I would go early (8 to 8.30 am) or you will get stuck behind all the coaches + cars going up...
La Catedral is easy to find, just park at the free La Ruleta parking and walk to the viewpoint and you cannot miss it. The Via Normal on the East face of La Catedral gets the sun from about 9.30 in the morning in late December and it is no more than a 10 minute walk from the viewing platform and should take no more than 3 or 4 hours max to climb the 5 pitches for a reasonably competent team.
I would defintely recommend 2 ropes and my partner and I used 2 x 60 metre ropes (though 2 x 50's would do). We took a skinny 1 x 60 single (to be also used for Sports climbing) and a 1 x 60 half. The problem is not just the length or weaving about of the pitches on Via Normal but the abseil descent.
The abseil descent is pretty obvious down the East face via 2 abseils of about 30M and 45M + a loose scramble and you may wish to remain roped up for the scramble descent section.
All the belays are equipped with bolts, so no anchors are required and are on spacious ledges. The cruxs of each pitch are bolted. The 2 best + hardest pitches are Pitch 2 (a short exposed traverse of about 10M or so) and Pitch 4 (climb up a chimney with a large chockstone then step left (facing in) + climb up the beautiful fluted slab with 3 bolts and the cruxs are no harder than UK 4a/b IMHO.
If interested you can view a short film I made of my ascent late December a few years back:
As for other venues? You should be able to combine a half day route on La Catedral with a visit to Las Canadas which is about a 20 minute walk on the other side of the visitor centre and Arico Gorge is excellent for a bit of bolt clipping!
Hope this helps!
Cheers
Dave