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Torrent Font Seca, Montserrat

Publié le 21 November 2010 | Catalunya Eng, Spain

This small barranco, also known as Torrent de Sant Caterina, is located just above Collbato and descends from the Chemin de les Bateries to the Hermite de la Salut some 300m below. Very well equipped, the route is accessible with great abseils and a beautiful panorama over Collbato and the Llobregat valley. Dry as its name suggests, and without being of major interest, it's a good option for completing the ascent of the Fondo torrent a little further east. The route can also be climbed using a combination of rock-climbing and equipped paths, as all the walls are bolted (6a).

Technical summary

Location ✦ Collbato
Region ✦ Montserrat, Catalunya
Country ✦ Spain
Type ✦ Dry canyon
Vertical rise ✦ 70m
Difficulty ✦ v3-a1-III
Duration ✦ 1h30 to 2h
Max abseiling ✦ 25m

Access to the place

From Barcelona, take the A2 towards Lleida and exit at Collbato. Do not enter the village (which is up ahead on the left) and continue along the road, quickly turning left towards the coves del Salnitre and the ermita de la Salut, where there is a parking lot.

Map & topo

Itinerary description

Hiking to the start

2 options here. Either do the loop via the Fondo torrent further west, in which case the junction is quick by following the Chemin des Bateries due west for about a quarter of an hour until you find the start.

Or climb back up to the start via the Drecera de Fra Gari and then the Chemin des Bateries.

Course 1h30

The south-facing canyon descends along the Serra de les Garigoses. The equipment in place is of good quality, with knotted ropes and belays for abseiling.

After a first series of knotted ropes to get over small jumps, we reach the edge of a 20m wall, equipped with a large rope. The descent is fairly easy, but a little more strenuous for the arms.

A second series of short ropes brings us to the first big 25m abseil, vertical at the start then more inclined in the second part. Here you can see the belay plates that allow you to climb it in the opposite direction.

The path then continues to descend, and the Chapelle de la Salut can be seen at the very bottom. This is followed by 3 abseils, the first 10m long, then two large abseils of around 25m in length, steep and narrow, without difficulty but awkward in places. Finally, a series of small walls equipped with knotted ropes.

Back

Follow the path along the torrent bed, which passes to the left of the Codolosa cliffs and finally leads to the parking area for the ermita de la Salut. Unless you started from the Fondo torrent, in which case you still have to climb up to the Les Coves parking lot (another 10′).