Chronology of an adventure in the wild Atlas Mountains

Iker Pou is opening up a new multi-pitch route in the Atlas Mountains: Bihotz Handi (320m, 7c). The first four pitches on the southwest face of Jebel Oujdad He opened the rope solo, the second part together with Iñaki Marco.

On the southwest face of Jebel Oujdad not far from the Moroccan town of Taghia, where the Pou brothers opened two difficult multi-pitch routes a good six years ago, it was successful Iker Pou with Bihotz Handi (320m, 7c) another demanding tour.

Iker Pou opened the first four pitches alone, and for the rest of the tour he tied himself to the rope with Iñaki Marco. In total, the two worked for four days on their new tour, which they dedicated to Carlos Doval.

Impressions from the Atlas Mountains

Big solo moves, long falls

After his adventure with Iñaki Marco, Iker Pou dedicated himself to rope solo climbing. First he repeated the 800-meter Line Babel (7c+), a demanding and exposed route by Frenchmen Arnaud Petit, Stef Bodet, Fred Gentet and Nicolas Kalisz.

After climbing non-stop for 12 hours, Iker Pou bivouacked on a narrow ledge in the middle of the wall. Repeating the route took another two days. Two long falls scared the Spaniard to the core, but luckily they ended up going lightly.

A little later, Iker Pou climbed - also alone - A little Less Conversation (300m, 7c+) and, together with Iñaki Marco, Fata Morgana (500m, 7c) and Fat Guides (250m, 7b+).

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Credits: Cover photo: Iker Pou

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