Haukkari: Roadtripping, Cadarese

According to the guidebook, ”Cadarese is probably the most various and largest crack climbing area in central Europe.” Being at 900 meters, crags facing north and big trees shading routes, the place sounded almost too good to be true.

Surprisingly, our first impression was not that good. Approach was steep, exposed and slippery because of wet leaves, and when we finally found cracks, they were BOLTED!? In some rare cases, for example because of the rock quality, I understand bolts on cracks, but now we were looking 100% solid cracks covered with unnecessary bolts. Actually, there had been some discussion about the bolts and some of the routes have been chopped already.

Rock in Cadarese is gneiss and routes, especially in sport sector, looked a bit like routes in Flatanger. Anyway, we are more into trad climbing, and when we finally walked up to sector called “crack-party”, we understood what all the fuss on Cadarese is about.

Our first night in Cadarese. The parking area was closed because of a cycling competition, so we drove to the next village (about 500 m) and decided to sleep in the parking lot of a church. This was a bad decision as the the church's bell was banging every hour. Even with ear plugs it was quite impossible to sleep.