Melloblocco day 2: just like being at home

Coming to Val Masino and Val di Mello is a bit like coming home. It doesn't matter if it's your first or twentieth time here, the valley always manages to welcome you with open arms, making you feel completely at ease, as if you've always belonged. As if we'd seen each other only yesterday, when in reality far too many seasons have passed by. Following this line of thought, coming to Melloblocco is like when everyone finally sits down at the table, perhaps for a birthday, Christmas or Easter. It's like one of those special moments that remain etched in your memory for a long time. Because coming here is like seeing family.

On Friday the big Melloblocco family was busy. While at the Climbing Village the team worked non-stop to welcome the new climbers - read 1800 officially registered between Thursday and Friday - on the hundreds of boulders scattered among the lush meadows and hidden up in the woods the climbers gave their very best. Problems were sent first go, second or third, perhaps thirtieth even. Or in the end they remained unclimbed, possibly for a better go tomorrow. Sending was irrelevent. What mattered was being here, basking in the early May sunshine, and giving it your best.

Emblematic of this was one of the guys who took part in Giovanni Placci's workshop organised by Petzl. He set off with the wrong hand and every handhold was inverted. Left became right, and vice versa. The higher he climbed, the crazier his moves became… No, in the end he didn't make it to the top, but his attempt earned him applause from his group. And a nice fistbump from Placci who, after having only recently sent 9a+, appreciated the tenacity. Sometimes you don't need to top out to climb well.

They'll be plenty of good climbing here on Saturday. In the meantime, Melloblocco is in full swing and the atmosphere in the "piazza" at San Martino is really relaxed. Just like when you're at home.

WOMEN
Devil and dust
Roberta Longo
Bara Pospisilova
Giulia Medici
Federica Califano

Shiba
Bara pospisilova
Giulia Medici

Billy Idol
Roberta Longo
Giulia Medici

Sindrome da nomination
Giulia Medici

Tarzan sit
Giulia Medici

Jesus Christ
Giulia Medici

MEN
Sugar buba
Leonardo Colombo

Sangue freddo
Stefano Carnati

Super Paranoid Android
Giovanni Placci
Stefano Carnati

Progetto Merisio
Stefano Carnati

MELLOBLOCCO - VAL MASINO - VAL DI MELLO
L'appuntamento con il Melloblocco n° 16 è dal 4 a 7 maggio 2023
Clicca qui per il programma.

SPONSOR MELLOBLOCCO 2023
CAMP, La Sportiva, Petzl, Grivel, Rupe