Edu Marín frees Arco Iris, extreme multipitch at Montserrat in Spain

The impressive conglomerate walls of Montserrat saw their heyday during the 1970's and 1980's, but even now the area located about an hour west of Barcelona in Spain has lost little of its original appeal. Edu Marín has a special relationship with these unique towers as it is here that he started climbing and it is precisely here that he climbed his first 8a aged 13, his first 8b+ aged 14 and his first 8c aged 15.

After making the first free ascent of Tarragó Plus in 2016, the 35-year-old has now made the first free ascent of another legendary aid route, Arco Iris. Established in 1979 by Armand Ballart and German Folch, this runs along a beautiful, exposed arête on the north-facing La Pared de Diables and is probably the last big aid route that remained to be climbed free.

Before embarking on the project Edu Marín received permission from Ballart to add additional bolts, since the original equipment was old and obsolete. Even with the new bolts the route results in a stern psychological test, with long obligatory runouts and falls in the region of 15 meters or even more.

The free version of Arco Iris is split into 6 pitches, with the 8b+ pitch 3 serving as a warm-up for pitch 4, a pumpy 8c+ and the crux of the entire route. Protected by a mere 4 bolts, this paves the way for the final two pitches graded 8b and 8a+ respectively. Marín bolted a direct exit on the last pitch, unlike the original line that diverted to the right, in order to reach the summit of Plàtan. For the Catalan, climbing straight to the top was the most logical way to finish the route.

Marín made the first free ascent on the 9th of October with his 68-year old father Francisco "Novato" Marín and has suggested 8c+. Should the grade be confirmed, this would make Arco Iris one of the most difficult multi-pitch climbs in Europe.

Edu Marin has repeated some of the hardest multi-pitches in the world but his real forte is without a doubt his hugely overhanging 380m 9a+ multi-pitch Valhalla on the Grand Arch at Getu in China, established ground-up by Marin and freed in 2019.



Arco Iris, Montserrat, Spain
First ascent: Armand Ballart, German Folch, 07/1979
First free ascent: Edu Marín, Francisco Marín 09/10/2020
Length: 200m
Grade: P1: 6, P2: 6c, P3: 8b+, P4: 8c+, P5: 8b, P6: 8a+

Links: FB Ed Marin, Instagram Edu Marin, Petzl