Arete Traditional Geocache
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(micro)
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in our disclaimer.
Warning: Do not even think of coming here unprepared. You
need special gear and skills to find this cache. I am not
responsible for what you do or what could unfortunately happen to
you or others on this tour. This cache is by now the hardest one on
Mallorca. There are many different things that could go wrong, from
the obvious falling or being hit by a stone to the less obvious
difficult weather conditions i.e. when wind or rain comes in
surprisingly, or delays due to teams in front of you, and a lot
more that you need to make yourself familiar with before you start.
Everything you do is on your own risk and responsibility! These
words were not written to make the cache listing sound more
interesting or to make an impression, but to be taken really
serious by you. A stupid little plastic box is not worth risking
your life!
The Reward: The Sa Gubia Normal route leads to the top of Sa
Gubia in 7 traditional climbing pitches (i.e. not bolted except for
the belays) plus a long scramble along the ridge. It is listed
among the top 50 climbing routes on the island and is its longest
and probably mostly rewarding multi-pitch climb. For a relaxed
experience you should leave early (also to avoid other teams ahead
of you) and plan for the whole day.
The Approach: Park at the coordinates near the restaurant.
Cross the street and walk down the path roughly towards the Sa
Gubia amphitheater / cache coordinates. Do not turn right too early
(private property): You need to walk up the narrow, dry riverbed to
reach the site easily and safely! Ca. 30-45 minutes approach
time.
The Climb: As conditions change you should make yourself
familiar from other sources available through the internet. You may
also decide to go for alternate climbing routes (i.e. La Ley Del
Deseo) leading up which are rated higher than the traditional
route, and are fully bolted. It took us around 4 hours from
entering the Albahida route to reach the end of the climb, but you
might be a lot faster or slower.
The Return: There are several different options available.
The fastest way is to rapell down along the La Ley Del Deseo line,
if you are comfortable going down a route you haven't seen going
up. Do not commit to it until you know where you are going! For the
strongly recommended full summit experience and the Sa Gubia cache
placed there, you should take the extra effort of a scramble to the
top, which took us another hour (including some breaks). From there
you could walk down the trail as recommended in the Sa Gubia cache
listing. Don't forget to add that descend time to your calculation,
too (and a little extra as you have to walk further than the Sa
Gubia cache parking - or you find a more direct way but that won't
be easy).
The Cache: You are looking for a small PETling placed ca. 2m
right from the last belay before you reach the summit (if I am not
mistaken it is the belay following the last one (i.e. rapelling
belay with chain) of La Ley Del Deseo). In any case, taking the
spoiler pictures with you is strongly recommended as the reception
is not very precise due to the vertical, signal reflections and
alike. Please make sure to hide it well again and in a fix position
so that it cannot be found accidentially nor fall down or taken
away i.e. by birds! Remember it could become very windy here, too.
Thank You for taking care!
Maintenance: Miguel from Mon d'Aventura as well as
Quadmaster will try to assist in case this cache requires
maintenance.
Recommended Links:
Albahida
Route Description
Sa Gubia Summit Cache by Hababs
Climber
comments on the route
Albahida climbers in
action
Climbing
video from Sa Gubia (seems like this route)
A
climber blog report
Climber
info (german)
Another climber blog report (german)
Understanding the title: The title Arete is
a play with the ambiguity of the word which could either mean
virtue / excellence (derived from Greek) or it could also refer to
a thin, blade-like ridge of rock. Both is in fact what you will
experience here ...
Enjoy and take care!
Visitors since Sept 23, 2010:
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Onfr bs gur yvggyr gerr juvpu tebjf orgjrra gur ebpx fubja ba gur fcbvyref naq gur jnyy
Gurer vf nyfb onpxhc svyz pnavfgre whfg n srj pragvzrgref sebz lbhe yrsg sbbg qbja va gur pbeare haqre gur tenff jura lbh ner ba orynl ohg cyrnfr hfr vg bayl jura gur bgure bar vf ernyyl tbar