Bilbao Alpino Club in 1954: Marches, Ascents, and Mountaineering Life

A review of the club's activities in 1954, from the historic Bilbao-Oiz march to expeditions and tributes.

Generic image of a group of hikers on a mountain trail.
IA

Generic image of a group of hikers on a mountain trail.

The Bilbao Alpino Club revisits 1954, a year filled with activities, from the historic Bilbao-Oiz march to expeditions and tributes that marked Basque mountaineering.

This is the second part of the Bilbao Alpino Club's history, focusing on 1954 and based on the club's documentation. That year, the I Marcha Bilbao-Oiz saw its fastest participant complete the course in 7 hours and 5 minutes, as recorded in the ranking of the first 10 patrols on June 9th.
On June 27th, a family excursion by bus was organized to Gaztelugatxe and Sukarrieta, including an ascent of Katilotxu. Meanwhile, the Fiesta de la Amistad Alavesa-Vizcaína was celebrated at the cross of Gorbeia, with attendees arriving via the Arratia tramway. A classic family excursion to Ordunte by train was also held, featuring prize distribution and festivities in Nava.
Ana María Arranz, a 14-year-old mountaineer and climber, won the women's category in the X Hours Bilbao-Bilbao Circuit. Her passion for mountains was instilled by her father from a young age, taking her to Adarra from San Sebastián and to the Virgen of Orduña from Bilbao. She began the competition on Ganeta in 1935 and finished in 1939 with Pagotxueta. She has climbed significant peaks such as Peña Vieja, Orhy, Mesa de los Tres Reyes, San Lorenzo, and Urbión. Her father took her for a week to Eguiriñao due to his strong connection to Gorbeia. On one occasion, they got lost in Mairulegorreta and ended up in Villareal instead of Ubidea. She has participated in all three Bilbao-Gorbea events and is the first woman to climb Atxa Agureak, with aspirations to ascend Monte Perdido.
Members of the BAC attended the first anniversary of the Basque Tragedy of Mont Blanc, participating in a mass for those who died in the event that most shocked Basque mountaineering to date. Bacigalupe, Ugartetxe, Yanke, and Peciña were present. Tributes were held in all Basque capitals, and in Tolosa the following day, as recounted by the Bilbao Alpino Club, which did not miss any.
On August 1st, 1954, the club organized the march 'From Elorrio to Urquiola via Besaide'. Mentioning Besaide, a prominent mountaineer from the club, Sopelana, has been advocating for the erection of a monument symbolizing the fraternity of regional mountaineers at the confluence point of the three provinces of the Basque Autonomous Community.
From August 1st to 8th, an International Mountain Camp was held in Picos de Europa in homage to Delgado Úbeda and to inaugurate the Urriellu refuge beneath the Naranjo de Bulnes. The BAC joined and prepared its railway journey. The FEM reached an agreement with the CSIC for speleological explorations in Spain. The most important speleology societies in Bizkaia at that time were: BAC, Centro Excursionista Vizcaíno, and Centro Espeleológico Vizcaíno.
On August 4th, the classic family coastal excursion to San Miguel de Ereñozar took place, attended by bus. From August 22nd to 28th, an expedition traveled to the Sierra de Gredos, ascending Almanzor, La Galana, Los Galayos, La Mira, and Ameal de Pablo (2509 m in Zapardiel de la Ribera, Ávila), reaching their destination by train and bus.
Carmen Alcocebar was the first woman to climb the Diente del Ahorcado and Atxa Adarra (Peña del Cuerno). She was petite and charming, and a photograph published on August 8th shows her skiing in La Sía.
On August 10th, they visited Peña Arralde. Eusebio Muñozguren recounts that the club now has 640 members. It follows a classic and traditional orientation and favors competitions. Talking about the BAC is like talking about football with Athletic Club; it is the most popular club in the Basque Country. Muñozguren, one of its key figures, is a renowned, well-documented, and competent mountaineer. He believes skiing and climbing are complements for a good mountaineer, and that excelling in only one area is a false product. On September 19th, they traveled to Peña Orduña by train. Subsequently, a bus excursion was made to Maza de San Pedro, and in the Asón river valley, a prayer was offered at the tomb of Andrés Guinea.
Pyrenaica notes a loss of initiative and complacency in collective marches, with increasing subservience to leaders. Understanding of speleology is diminishing. The announced union between the Federation and the CSIC has not materialized. On September 21st, 1954, Antonio Fernández de Gamarra described for the first time the ascent of Atxa Adarra. José Luis Muñoyerro writes that one should not have a girlfriend to climb.
On Sunday, November 4th, they traveled by bus to the cross of Ganalto, where Victorio Arrasate gave a talk on mushroom foraging. Aranzazu and Izaskun Arrutia, aged 6 and 5 respectively, have completed the BAC's height competition (note from December 11th). Carlos Martínez Capalleja, associated with Artxanda's chacolí, completed the march from Bilbao to Bakio in 2h and 45'. Ángel Sopeña Orueta, vice-president of the FEM, was named an honorary member on October 6th. The BAC participated in the Fiestas de la Amistad Burgalesa and Amistad Alavesa. The map of Picos de Europa by member Ángel Tresaco was printed.