Getting into big walling is not necessarily easy. Between acquiring all the necessary equipment, learning, as well as practising the technical skills and finding an appropriate goal, there's a lot to figure out before you'll be ready to rope solo El Cap or climb the Dawn Wall. Although the best place to learn is arguably in Yosemite itself, if you don't have the time or money to commit to a trip to California just yet, there are a few options a little closer to home. One of these is the 800m East Face of Monte Qualido above Val di Mello in Italy.
Michael Bortoluzzi shares his knowledge of one of Europe's prime destinations for big wall climbing.
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