Juanito Oiarzabal Shines at Nevaria in Moreda
Juanito Oiarzabal, a legend in mountaineering, attended Nevaria, the ski and winter sports fair in Moreda that signals the season’s start. He visited the event and delivered an afternoon talk that traced his career and offered time for conversations with fans who crowded around him.
Knows well as a mountaineer Asturias.
It’s my first time at Nevaria, yet I know the region. It sits a bit away from Vitoria, and I am much nearer to the Picos de Europa.
He came to Moreda to share his experiences. Himalayas.
He explained that his talk would unfold the story of his life, from early steps in the Pyrenees to adventures in the Alps and then in the Himalayas. He planned to recount his second ascent of Lhotse, the towering 8,516 meters, and to discuss the attempt to climb all fourteen eight-thousanders for a second time. A severe pulmonary embolism five years earlier and a crash involving Alberto Zerain interrupted the project, forcing a shift to other pursuits.
Has much changed in those years?
He described daily disappointment at the shifts in the mountains, particularly in the Himalayas, driven by human impact and climate change. He recalled his first ascent of Cho Oyu in 1985 with a glacier and noted the substantial glacier retreat observed fifteen years later.
And mass?
Crowding on Everest has grown due to commercial expeditions. The peak has become largely a commercial stage, bringing many problems. It is often claimed to be cleaned, yet the effort falls short. With heavy spring traffic, Everest feels vulnerable and stripped of its meaning. It holds little interest for him today.
Are there lost paradises?
There are still places for true adventure, though many popular sites exist. Some agencies in Pakistan and Nepal have damaged the mountains, while demand remains high but the quality of offerings is poor in places.
Every season in Asturias there are more accidents in the mountains.
Similar issues are seen in Euskadi, with accidents occurring too often. He urged climbers to prepare thoroughly and to respect the mountains, noting that many people in the mountains have changed the experience. He insisted that going prepared and equipped is essential, and if the summit is not reached, turning back is the right choice.
Do you know Asturias well, but what would you choose or recommend?
His recommendation spans all of Asturias. He has visited for many years, with a particular fondness for the Picos de Europa. He would stay in the central massif of the Picos and, in general, explore all of Asturias’s mountains. Moreda in Aller is presented as an exceptional base for mountain activities, cross country skiing, and alpine skiing alike.
The Cabueñes School Chapter
Nevaria enchanted attendees again, not simply because ski enthusiasts enjoyed the fair in Moreda, but because Estela Pidal, a nine-year-old from the Cabueñes school, had the chance to meet her idol. Estela came to Moreda with letters she and classmates had written for Juanito. Her family is remodeling a house in Aller when they learned the mountaineer would be in town. The teacher at the Cabueñes school, in Gijón, helped coordinate a project about climbing the planet’s fourteen eight-thousanders for the second time. Yesterday Estela approached Juanito, who listened with care. She told him she loves the mountains deeply. The mountaineer promised to read every letter, and at one point asked the girl’s mother, Mabel Fernández, to share a phone number so they could arrange a future school visit.
Juanito Oiarzabal remains a figure of endurance and inspiration for many. His presence at Nevaria underscored the lasting connection between legendary climbers and new generations of enthusiasts across Asturias and beyond.