Frares Encantats

If the Paret de l'Aeri is he most massive, uninterrupted wall in Montserrat, Frares Encatats is its exact opposite: a crowd of conglomerate towers on the quiet western end of Montserrat, between the Agulles and the Ecos. The Frare Gros, the tallest of the group, and the Lloro (the Parrot) were among the early summits claimed by the first generation of Montserrat climbers, before the Spanish Civil War. Later classics like GEDE on the Agulla Gran del Pas del Príncep still follow lines of rusty pegs left by the pioneers in 1956. By Aeri standards, the routes are short, but almost every one ends on a real, very pointy summit, and getting back down can be far from trivial. Much quieter than many other parts of Montserrat, climbers are more likely to encounter freesoloing goats than other parties.

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Route List

1: Penitentia, MD A2, D. Hita, 01/1999
2: La Cripta, MD+ 6a +A4, J. “Paca” Clotet, M. Millet, 05/1997
3: No le Pidas Peras al Olmo, 7a, J. Olmo, 04/1989
4: Purgatori, MD A1, E. Palma, 2001
5: Martí Serra, MD A1, P. Esteve, À. Espelt, 07/1985
6: Barrufets, MD+ V A2, R. Brescó, J. Solé, J.M. Ros, A. Gómez, 06/1983
7: La Festa del Paca, ED- A3, J. “Paca” Clotet
8: Anglada-Cerdà, MD+ V A1, J. Cerdà, J.M. Anglada, 05/1965
9: Ocean Banyoles Wall, ED- 6a A3, T. Gonzàlez, A. Ballart, J.C. Grisu, M. Vilchez, 03/1986
10: Directa Nacho Ruiz, MD+ V+ A2, M. Lizaran, A. Ballart, F. Parera, 11/1984
11: Rudolf Schiendl, ED A4, A. Ballart, R. Darder, 06/1996
12: Esperó Ribas, MD 6a A0, J. Ribas, 01/1980
13: Ancestra, MD+ 6a A2, M. de Rialp, J. Verdaguer, 05/1987
14: Grisu-Valera, MD+ V+ A2, J.C. Grisu, J. Valera, 06/1975
15: A Dónde Vas Bala Perdida, ED- 6a A3-, J.M. Codina, J. Olmo, 06/1989
16: Gran Diedre, MD+ V A2, M. Guasch, J. Pérez, A. del Maschio, J. Cerdà, 11/1957
17: Iglesias-Casanovas, MD IV+ A1, A. Iglesias, J. Casanovas, 1974
18: Realitat Virtual, MD Ae, Club Muntanyenc l’Hospitalet, 1994
19: Josep Maria Alsina, MD+ 6a A2, J. Clotet, 05/1999
20: El Capricho de los Dioses, MD+ V+ A2, J. Urquiza, J. Martínez, J. Olmo, 03/1989
21: Veni, Vidi, Vici, ED- A2, S. Marzo, D. Fernàndez, J. Torner, 06/1980
22: Raisam, MD+ V+ Ae, J. Samso, R. Torner, 06/1999
23: Heinz Pokorski, MD V A1, J. Cerdà, F. Merchan, F. Garcia, 07/1997
24: Degeneració Expansiva, ED, E. Palma, D. Hita, 05/1998
25: GAM, MD Ae, A. Alegre, J.M. Anglada, E. Auqué, J. Boladeras, J. Cerdà, X. Illa, F. Guillamon, E. Lamarca, R. Martínez, H. Pokorski, J. Pons, J. Riera, V. Verges, J. Puig-Pey, 09/1959
26: Reina d'Escòcia, MD 6a Ae, G. Reina, 05/1984
27: Carrizosa-Coll, MD V A2, C. Carrizosa, P. Coll, 10/1973
28: Capeta-Nubiola, MD IV, I. Capeta, J. Nubiola, 09/1954
29: Vendrell-Pons, MD IV, J. Pons, J. Vendrell, 10/1956
30: Cagaferro, MD V+ A2+, J. Tapia, M. Salgado, 05/1997
31: Anglada-Cerdà, MD A2, J.M. Anglada, J. Cerdà, 11/1965
32: Sant Josep Fuster, ED- A5, M. Millet, D. Batllevell, 08/1996
33: Inocente García Picazo, ED- 6b A2, A. García Picazo, 11/1985
34: Diedre d'Agost, MD+ V+ A2, A. Masip, A. Ballart, 08/1982
35: Centenario Terry, ED A5, M. Millet, 06/1997
36: CADE, MD Ae, R. Masats, J. Badia, E. Albir, J. Lalueza, 05/1974
37: Belladona, 7a, E. Palma, D. Hita, 2004
38: Cementiri d'Elefants, MD+ A1, Harry, S. Parcerises, 10/1996
39: La Reina de l'Electroxoc, ED- A2+, Harry, S. Parcerises, 10/1996
40: Jan-Cullell, ED A4+, J. Casas, X. Cullell, 09/1994
41: Super Glue 3, MD IV+ A2, V. Primo, S. Archs
42: SAME, MD+ V+ A1, J. Lluís Moreno, X. Giné, 04/1979
43: Concòrdia, MD V A2, J. Rodríguez, Ó. Medel, 10/1999
44: Iglesias-Torres-Casanovas, MD V+ Ae, A. Iglesias, C. Torres, J. Casanovas, 06/1966
45: Ramon Noya Fortuny, D+ V Ae, J. Massana, X. Cols, J. Hernàndez, J. Baques, J. Farré, J.M. Puig, E. Poblet, F. Garcia, R. Carrasco, 10/1996
46: D'en Herp, MD+ A2, R. Darder, A. Ballart, 10/1998
47: Nube Roja, MD+ 6a+ A1, E. Brocal, M. Jubany, J. Vidal, 07/1999
48: Rovell-Agraït, MD+ 6a A1, M. Blanco, 06/1996
49: GEDE, MD A1, J. Santacana, R. Morera, M. Guasch, J. Mas, 02/1960
50: Rapsodian, MD+ A3, D. Hita, L. Garcia, 01/2002
51: Encís Sublim, MD A3, F. Parera, 12/1991
52: Amor Particular, MD A2, L. Gómez, E. Pradas, X. Ranger, 02/1994
53: Estel Màgic, MD IV+ A2, B. Sculi, X. Vidal, 09/1984
54: Serra-Pujol, MD Ae, X. Serra, M. Pujol, 1995
55: Xacó-Barés, D+ Ae, E. Solé, C. Barés, 02/1993
56: Navarro, MD+, E. Navarro, A. Barella, A. Vilanova, 02/1947
57: Anglada-Guillamon, MD V Ae, J.M. Anglada, F. Guillamon, 11/1960
58: Almira, MD V+ Ae, O. Gispert, F. Salvador, J. Garcia, 02/1983
59: Bages, MD A2, C. Navarro, R. Cots, V. Bové, J. Cirera, L. Bonet, 06/1957
60: Preludi, ED A4-, J. Casas, X. Cullell, J. Garriga, 08/1990
61: Carrilet 2001, ED- V+ A3, C. Caralt, J. Prats, J. Capdevilla, J. Sacristà, J. Tapio, 04/1986
62: Excalibur, ED- A3, F. Lertxundi, A. Ibàñez, J. LLuís Sasot, 04/1986
63: Sense Nom, MD+ V+ A2+
64: CADE, MD+ Ae, J. Badia, E. Ruiz, J.E. Paül, 05/1976
65: Ruta 69, MD A2, D. Hita, 03/1998
66: Mar de Pedra, MD V A1, E. Poblet, R. Reina, 03/1993
67: Lusilla, MD+ A2/7a+, M. Lusilla, J. Mur, 09/1970
68: Putremagnum, MD+ A1, K. Prats, C. Caralt, 07/1995
69: Oti-Parcerisas, MD A1, O. Rodríguez, S. Parcerisas, 09/1991
70: Galí-Gil, MD V+ A2, R. Galí, X. Pérez Gil
71: 75è Aniversari C.E. Montserrat, MD+ A2+, C. Barés, R. Riu, X. Guix, E. Poblet, D. Palmada, 11/1997
72: Verdaguer-Sasot, ED- 6a A2, J. Verdaguer, J. Lluís Sasot, 09/1985

Sources

• Armand Ballart
• “Montserrat, Guia d’Escalades del Vessant Nord,” David Hita Sánchez, Desnivel, 2003
• “Montserrat, Vertiente Norte,” Luis Alfonso, Xavier Buxó, Supercrack Edicions, 2007
• “Montserrat

• El Aéreo, Espectáculo de dificultad,” Armand Ballart, Desnivel, December 2002
• “Montserrat Ascensiones de Leyenda,” Antonio García Picazo, Desnivel, 2006
• “Montserrat, Recull de vies d’escalada,” Ricard Hugas, 2011

Updates

Oct. 8, 2026: Original version published