This morning

Nicolas and Isa went out to climb a couloir right across from the cave so I was left to my own devices. I climbed a route that was about 5.10 with running shoes (don't worry Mom, no mortal death at the first slip, as I had a little ice axe and the slope was about 10-15 degrees).



















Hey, I know! Let's mark the summit with a metal rocket!













The view back up the ridge to the cirque on the right













Wandering through the oaky woods on the way back to Candelario (I again hitched a ride, this time from above Candelario all the way to Bejar).

I found a bivvy cave but it has some packs in it so I decided to dejarles en paz and set up camp on a flat rock a few hundred yards away.
















But Nicolas was a very extroverted fellow, as was Isa, so I was invited into la cueva de la hoya de los moros (the cave of the cirque of the moors)













A good time was had by all. Nicolas and Isabel are going to be climbing in Alaska this June so they were getting their winter camping time in. They are widely traveled and have climbed all over the world.

Our hike, continued...

Resourceful Spaniards always bring crampons, unlike us useless Americans! I was struggling on the icy snow with my running shoes. Luckily I had a self-arrest ski pole.













This is about as high as my friends made it (the little girl is 8 years old); I kept going, to their utter concern (they were worried I would freeze to death with my little backpack)














La hoya (the cirque) de los Moros (of the Moors)

My trip to la Sierra de Bejar

Hi everyone, this weekend I took a bus to Bejar (below)













Then hitched a ride to Candelario (both photos below)

















Then went hiking with my new friends...

He comprado una bici (I've bought a bike)

Yesterday I walked the 1/2 hour or so it takes along the pedestrian-unfriendly highway to the giant-parking-lotted big-box sports superstore to buy the cheapest bike I could find. This sweet cruiser was on sale for 99 Euros, or about US$150. Such a deal. It weighs about 35 pounds but gets the job done around Salamanca--it's remarkably fun to cruise around on and it should get me places that I wouldn't otherwise visit, hopefully I'll share some pictures of that with you all soon.

Saludos, Tim

In Spain

Hi Everyone! We have arrived in Salamanca, Spain. For those who I haven't told, I'm teaching a study abroad program here for the next nine weeks. It's been pretty hectic getting settled in so I apologize for not posting anything sooner.

Here we are touring around Madrid, in the park (above) and having a cafe con leche at a sidwalk cafe (below)


The photos above and below are from a city tour we took in Salamanca of the cathedrals and old University buildings.

Best, Tim