Barranco del Pas de Calvo

Whilst enjoying a walk along the beautiful Malafi gorge last year, I spotted an area of interest, maybe for climbing, maybe scrambling, or maybe canyoning. Wasn't really sure which, but for sure the area would provide adventurous fun. Soon after this discovery I returned with a friend and together we climbed a ridge high above the gorge. This was fun, quite loose, and had a very adventurous feel to it. We later descended via a small canyon that was mostly very straightforward.

The bigger canyon still awaited our attention and by chance I came across an article in the FEMECV mountaineering magazine that described this very canyon. It is fully equipped with bolts and ventures through some fine rock scenery.

Earlier this week, me & Kim set off to check it out. Only 25 minutes from Llosa de Camacho and with a short approach walk, this was too good to be true. Even the walk-in was fun, and in no time we arrived in the canyon, such a beautiful place. The initial abseil set up didn't make sense to us, but we made the best of what we had (a longer rope of 50m is the solution). Once beyond this section we were deep in the canyon and enjoying amazing scenery. Quite a few short abseils followed and some easy scrambling, so all in all a fun and enjoyable descent.

We had been advised that the return walk would be through dense vegetation, so had come prepared with saw, cutters, and gardening gloves. It was actually not so bad, and we have now cleared the route even more.

The longest abseil is under 20m but we would recommend combining the first 2 abseils to make about 24m, this would be far easier. So take a 50m rope.

For a short canyon this place certainly packs a punch, we'll definitely be back and hope some of you will join us too :-)

Mark
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After lots of research with plenty of mixed / confusing information about the Barranco del Pas Tancat (it even has about 3 names!), we have finally found it and made a complete descent.
The term 'adventure' is widely used, we do it lots for sure. Some adventures are bigger than others, this felt on the big side. Not because of any technical difficulty, we've been in many canyons and have enjoyed them all. No, it was more the not knowing the outcome or even if we would have enough rope to complete the descent! Without enough rope we would be in a pickle for sure and whilst we had 100m of it, one source had mentioned needing 2x70m ropes!

Rightly or wrongly we didn't heed that bit of info, but did keep an eye on possible escape routes should we need them. As it turned out the longest abseil was around 30-35m, phew!

An approach walk of almost an hour warmed us up, the scenery took our minds away from the intense heat of mid-morning (yes and it really is the end of October). Soon we arrived at the Col de Garx, with the castle remains towering above us on the right, this is a dramatic viewpoint and gives a sense of what lies in store. The approach now descends through well tended olive groves until a narrow channel is reached.

The initial 15 minutes or so is disappointingly easy and overgrown (we took some gardening equipment so less overgrown now), but soon more fun is to be had, with both technical and free-hanging abseils into impressive surroundings. More dry river bed brought us to the 'tube' abseil which could be done by sliding down on your bum (but still on the abseil rope!), this was the longest abseil at about 40-45m but it can be split into 2 short descents and we'd recommend this. Yet more amazing scenery and a few fun little abseils brought us to the exit and an easy walk back to the car.

A complete write up along with technical details will follow shortly and this will be published on the 'guides and information' page of the website.

Thanks to Kate for joining me on this one :-)

Mark 

Having time quite a bit of time and bush whacking to find, i'm really pleased we have finally completed a descent of the Barranco del Llosar. It has been well worth the effort.

Approach: Take the CV-755 through Altea la Vella and continue until the turning for Sierra de Bernia recreation area (signposted), turn right here onto a narrow lane and follow this for about 2km to a small lay-by shortly after a track on the right (the return route).
From here, continue on foot up the tarmac road for about 2km (or 30 mins) and look out for a dirt track on the right, take this as it gently descends and soon reaches a ruin below a small outcrop of rock. A cairn marks the route downhill on a minor path, this soon deteriorates  (wear long trousers) but do persevere and you will soon reach a shallow barranco, follow a vague track along this to reach the first short abseil from a Pine tree.

Descent: There are around 12 abseils in total, although some of these are short and over easy ground, so you may consider down-climbing some. The longest abseil is 30m, and all are from either bolts (some twin bolts, some single) or chains fixed around large Pine trees.
There is a lot of scrambling during the descent, some is pretty tricky too, and plenty of vegetation to work through. Well worth wearing long trousers and long sleeves and making a noise to alert whatever animals are living there that you're there too!
Even after a prolonged dry spell there will likely be water in some of the pools, but this should be avoidable with care. Just remember to look where you're throwing abseil ropes so they don't end up soaked!

The way out: After passing a huge boulder, bear to the right, keeping right of more large boulders. Scramble up onto a feint path marked by a cairn and follow this to a good, wide track. Follow this easily back to the road. 

Time (car to car): Allow around 3 hours 45 minutes
45 min approach
2h 45 min descent
15 mins return walk

Equipment: The abseil stations are all bolted (Jan 2016). Harness; helmet; 60m rope; abseil device; prussik. We use 2 x 40m ropes which was more than adequate.

Dangers: Helmet advised due to rock fall potential. Also, check the weather history as flooded pools would prove difficult to exit!

We're always in search of fun places and new adventures, both in the UK and abroad. Today we found a gem of a canyon  on the lower slopes of Sierra de Bernia, Costa Blanca.

There are around 5 abseils, with the longest being approximately 17 metres. There is plenty of scrambling too.

How to get there: Shortly after passing through Pinos village, look out for the 19km marker post and Virgin Mary cross, turn left here and follow the lower branch of this small lane, continue along here all the way to the valley bottom and park here in one of the small lay-bys.

Time (car to car): Allow 3 hours

Equipment: The abseil stations are all bolted (2015). Harness; helmet; 40m rope; abseil device; prussik

Dangers: Helmet advised due to rock fall potential. Also, check the weather history as flooded pools would prove difficult to exit!

From the parking area you will see a large gash in the side of the mountain, this is the canyon.
Follow the small track along the riverbed, passing some impressive caves along the way. After around 15 minutes the first abseil will be reached.
A short diagonal abseil leads to a tiny ledge and another abseil station, here it's possible to just clip the ropes through and continue your abseil (although some may prefer to rig another abseil from here). Continue diagonally left, keeping out of the deep marmite.

More abseils follow, mostly shorter, and there's plenty of down-climbing too. You will soon reach a very deep marmite, abseil into this (around 17m). There may be a fixed rope in place to aid the climb back out of here, if not be prepared to use 'combined tactics'!! Thankfully the difficulties here are short lived and soon things ease back to scrambling in an amazing place.

The canyon soon opens up and a wide, easy angled slab can be descended (very rough rock) to reach the stoney riverbed once more. Don't be tempted to follow the red paint to the left, instead continue along the riverbed until just beyond a sharp bend, look out for a small path exiting to the left, take this and follow it passing a small ruin along the way.

The return route is straightforward and on an excellent path, although much of this is uphill! Views of Olta and to the coast are splendid.
Keep on the path as it zig-zags up to the broad ridge, then descend (following the occasional red dot) to reach a wide track / minor road, turn left here and go downhill. After a few minutes look out for more red paint and follow this to the left (near a house to your right), this track will take you to the road you drove in on, follow this downhill to the car.



For more information about this or other canyons, ridges, and climbs in the area or in the Lake District, please do get in touch. We're happy to help.

We also offer guiding services for all places and activities mentioned in this blog.

Mark
 
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A brilliant end to the school summer holidays, with some welcome sunshine and warmer conditions here in the Lake District.
We welcomed back the Hewitts and friends for a spot of Canyoning in Church Beck. Water levels were high making this a really fun descent through the gorge. After drying off, we spent the evening rock climbing at Tilberthwaite quarry.

And the following day, we had planned a climbing day but the rain slowed that down and instead we spent some time rigging abseils and of course doing some abseiling too.
The afternoon brought drier conditions so we headed into Langdale and Scout crags (almost always dry rock here). A top effort by both Edd & Lauren, between them leading the brutal 'Cubs crack' (Hard Severe). A few more routes were climbed on top ropes before tired muscles brought the day to a close.

Sam was also out today, running a rock climbing course for us over in Eskdale. They had some very damp conditions to deal with, but still lots of useful learning and of course plenty of time on rock.

Sunday the 22nd brought another full day of rock climbing. This time with Tricia and her 2 lads. I forget how many climbs we did that day, but it was a lot. We met up later with some of their friends who had been multi-pitch climbing at Upper Scout crags. They then made a rare ascent of the split crack in the large boulder below Scout crags.

Tuesday 25th I was out with the Lack family. We have enjoyed many days out together, mostly rock scrambling, but sometimes gorge scrambling and climbing too. Today our objective was the classic Langdale scramble of Jack's Rake on Pavey Ark. This is graded as a relatively straightforward scramble, but should not be under-estimated, for there is much exposure and some challenging moves. Without doubt this is one of the very best days out to be had in the Lake District, and one I always look forward to.
We thankfully enjoyed splendid weather for the whole day, so enjoyed far reaching views as well as dry rock!

On Thursday 27th Kate was out leading a guided walk for a party from Bahrain. Elterwater and Colwith Force provided just the perfect scenery all were looking for and a grand day enjoyed by all.

The following day (Friday) we had a team day out on Dow crag. A friend had managed to leave some climbing gear behind on one of the long multi-pitch routes so we decided to go see if we could retrieve it for him. Unfortunately for us a heavy downpour soaked the crag just as we arrived so the initial climbing definitely felt tenuous. Dow crag is well known for its 'slippery-when-wet' rock and this stuff felt like ice! The wind did a grand job of drying the upper pitches, so it wasn't long before we were able to enjoy dry and grippy rock, and all in an amazing setting looking over to Coniston Old Man.
The gear we had come in search of had already been removed, however, we still had a blast, always enjoy a visit to Dow.

I was back in Stickle ghyll the following morning with a family group of 11. Plenty of water and warm conditions all helped us have a fab time in here yet again.

Sunday 30th saw us out with Andzelika & Eugene who we've been out with quite a few times now. They like the Lakes so much they moved up here recently. This time their friend Nicky came along too. As the weather forecast was very good I took a chance on the Pike O' Blisco crags.
Starting on Long Scar, we climbed 4 routes from about 'Diff' to 'Hard Severe' we then moved up to Black Crag and climbed 4 more routes, this time up to E2! 

Below are a few photos from the days.

Thanks everyone, so nice to see you all and we hope it's not long until you're back in the Lakes again.

Mark

After doing a fair amount of research about this canyon, today we decided to give it a go!

The Barranco del Parent on the South side of the Bernia ridge is a newly equipped canyon with an open aspect. With easy access from the coast, a short walk in & out and a relatively non-serious setting it was ticking all the right boxes.

Straight away the fun began, with abseil after abseil through the marmot landscape created by many years of weathering. Unlike some of the other canyons in the area, this has an open and sunny aspect and offers views out to the coast almost all the way.

A really lovely place to be, well equipped where it needed to be and a perfect start to the adventures of 2015.

Thanks to Kate for joining me on this one.