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0:00:21 > 0:00:26- Mariona, at last we've met up, - here in Bilbao.
0:00:27 > 0:00:30- This is my first visit to Bilbao.
0:00:34 > 0:00:38- Between us, we speak 5 languages.
0:00:41 > 0:00:46- We can declare ourselves - a truly international campaign.
0:00:47 > 0:00:53- Your first language is Catalan, - I'm Welsh, we both speak Spanish...
0:00:56 > 0:01:03- ..and English, and of course - there's another language - Basque.
0:01:03 > 0:01:05- Is it very different from Catalan?
0:01:08 > 0:01:11- It's totally different - from Spanish and Catalan.
0:01:12 > 0:01:17- The Guggenheim - is a very striking building.
0:01:21 > 0:01:27- It's unique, it has become - a symbol of the country.
0:01:28 > 0:01:31- Is it a fish?
0:01:33 > 0:01:35- The sea? Waves?
0:01:35 > 0:01:38- It reminds me of the sea and waves.
0:01:43 > 0:01:47- Caradoc has joined a prominent - young mountaineer from Catalonia...
0:01:47 > 0:01:52- ..to climb Spain's most famous peak, - situated 100 miles west of Bilbao...
0:01:53 > 0:01:56- ..in the limestone range - of Picos de Europa.
0:01:56 > 0:02:00- The mountain is called - Naranjo de Bulnes - or El Picu.
0:02:03 > 0:02:09- Is the Picu important to Spanish - mountaineering history?
0:02:09 > 0:02:14- Yes, ever since it was conquered - at the beginning of the century.
0:02:16 > 0:02:22- It made an immense impression - on Spanish people.
0:02:22 > 0:02:27- Every climb has been considered - the most difficult of its era.
0:02:28 > 0:02:33- Is the western wall - the largest in Spain?
0:02:34 > 0:02:39- Yes, it's the biggest, - 500 metres, and very steep.
0:02:41 > 0:02:47- This is what makes it Spain's - most famous climbing wall.
0:02:49 > 0:02:52- How do you think we'll fare?
0:02:53 > 0:02:55- We'll see.
0:03:15 > 0:03:18- Is that the north face?
0:03:19 > 0:03:25- Yes, it was first climbed - from this side.
0:03:35 > 0:03:39- Are we going to take - the right-hand route?
0:03:39 > 0:03:42- See the line between sun and shade?
0:03:43 > 0:03:47- That's the highest part of - Navaro/Rabada on the western face.
0:03:55 > 0:04:01- El Picu was first climbed in 1904, - by Pedro Pidale.
0:04:02 > 0:04:05- He won a silver medal for shooting - in the 1900 Olympic Games.
0:04:06 > 0:04:10- His partner was Gregorio Perez, - a shepherd from Cain.
0:04:10 > 0:04:14- It took them 3 days to climb - Spain's most difficult mountain.
0:04:15 > 0:04:20- Pedro Pidale generously shared - the glory with his local friends.
0:06:38 > 0:06:40- It's a very difficult place I think.
0:06:40 > 0:06:41- OK.
0:07:22 > 0:07:25- They take the lead in turn.
0:07:26 > 0:07:30- The second climber carries a sack - for food, drink and warm clothes.
0:07:30 > 0:07:32- The climb has 22 pitches.
0:07:33 > 0:07:37- They have to move quickly - to reach the peak in a day.
0:07:55 > 0:07:57- Mariona is a 22-year-old student.
0:07:57 > 0:08:01- She graduated in History of Art - at Barcelona University.
0:08:02 > 0:08:06- Like Caradoc, she began climbing - when she was 13 years old.
0:08:06 > 0:08:10- Unlike the Welshman, - mountaineering is in her blood.
0:08:11 > 0:08:14- Her grandfather and father - were climbers.
0:08:14 > 0:08:17- By now, her climbing experience - is worldwide.
0:08:17 > 0:08:20- After climbing - Europe's highest mountains...
0:08:20 > 0:08:24- ..and a successful ascent - on El Capitan in California...
0:08:25 > 0:08:29- ..next year, she's going to venture - to the Himalayas for the first time.
0:08:55 > 0:08:57- Mariona is obviously concentrating.
0:08:57 > 0:09:01- She hasn't noticed that the weather - is slowly closing in.
0:09:49 > 0:09:53- Every pitch - is approximately 50 metres.
0:09:54 > 0:09:58- It means carrying a great deal of - equipment to secure each movement.
0:10:01 > 0:10:05- The climb is hard, - and the equipment heavy.
0:10:34 > 0:10:38- A breeze from the Bay of Biscay - turns into fog and rain on Picos.
0:10:39 > 0:10:44- Ahead of them, the climb crosses - the vast empty western face.
0:10:44 > 0:10:48- There's no easy way out from here - when the rock is wet.
0:11:17 > 0:11:19- The rain is coming.
0:11:19 > 0:11:24- They've no choice - after climbing - 600 ft - they have to turn back.
0:11:26 > 0:11:28-
0:11:35 > 0:11:39- Four days later, after rain - forced them off the wall...
0:11:40 > 0:11:46- ..Caradoc and Mariona are back for - another attempt on Navaro/Rabada...
0:11:46 > 0:11:50- ..in the Picos mountain range. - The weather is colder.
0:11:51 > 0:11:56- Soon, it will be hard to turn back, - because the climb crosses the face.
0:11:57 > 0:12:01- They need a spot of luck, - because the forecast is poor.
0:12:02 > 0:12:04- But they're both very determined.
0:12:33 > 0:12:35- This is the 7th pitch.
0:12:35 > 0:12:37- There's another 15 to go.
0:12:58 > 0:13:01- The sack is heavy, isn't it?
0:13:05 > 0:13:08- It's like having a mule on my back.
0:13:27 > 0:13:30- This cross is the key to the climb.
0:13:33 > 0:13:36- After this, the problems lessen.
0:13:38 > 0:13:44- The first climbers were very clever - to discover this path.
0:13:45 > 0:13:51- Yes. This is the sensible route. - It's too steep directly above us.
0:13:52 > 0:13:55- Ernesto Navaro and Alberto Rabada...
0:13:55 > 0:13:59- ..solved the problem of negotiating - the weaknesses of the western face.
0:14:01 > 0:14:03- They crossed a smooth surface...
0:14:03 > 0:14:08- ..to form a link between the lower - cracks and the easier higher parts.
0:14:09 > 0:14:12- It was extremely daring - back in 1962.
0:17:31 > 0:17:32- OK, Mariona?
0:17:33 > 0:17:34- OK.
0:17:55 > 0:17:59- The rope isn't of much use - to Mariona as she climbs across.
0:18:00 > 0:18:04- If anything, it's harder for her, - because she's carrying the sack.
0:18:19 > 0:18:22- Good climbing, don't you think?
0:18:33 > 0:18:35- I've nearly finished the traverse...
0:18:37 > 0:18:40- ..once Mariona - has come round this corner.
0:18:40 > 0:18:47- That's the key to reach - the highest part of the face.
0:19:00 > 0:19:04- Next, there's a pendulum, - in order to reach the chimney.
0:19:18 > 0:19:22- Steep cracks connect - a series of shelves.
0:19:23 > 0:19:25- In turn, they lead to the summit.
0:19:33 > 0:19:37- Today, despite the forecast, - the weather is in their favour.
0:19:38 > 0:19:41- Fortunately, - the Bay of Biscay poses no threat.
0:19:42 > 0:19:47- But there's one difficult pitch - ahead, before they reach the summit.
0:19:57 > 0:20:01- After climbing since daybreak, - it's now late afternoon.
0:20:02 > 0:20:06- For the first time, - they're climbing in the sun.
0:21:14 > 0:21:18- It's quite easy - to climb alternately isn't it?
0:21:35 > 0:21:40- How far is the peak - - 6 rope lengths?
0:21:40 > 0:21:45- No, less. Only two or three, - and then it's easier.
0:23:37 > 0:23:41- The short-legged team has succeeded!
0:23:47 > 0:23:50- Here we are on the summit.
0:23:52 > 0:23:57- At last, at last, - thanks very much.
0:24:01 > 0:24:03- One of the best days ever!
0:24:22 > 0:24:24- Subtitles by- CYMEN