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Barranco de la Portiacha, Sierra de Guara

Publié le 16 July 2011 | Aragon Eng, Spain

Real name Barranco o Reguero, the descent of Barranco Portiacha is relatively short but surprising. Its main attraction: 2 splendid spider-wire abseils of 30 and 35m inside magnificent and gigantic vaulted chambers of strange colors. The exit is not bad either, joining the majestic rio Vero canyon for a toes-in-the-water return.

Technical summary

Location ✦ Lecina
Region ✦ Sierra de Guara, Aragon
Country ✦ Spain
Type ✦ Dry canyon
Vertical rise ✦ 130m
Difficulty ✦ v4-a1-III
Max abseiling ✦ 38m
Duration ✦ 1h30 to 2h
Distance ✦ 300m

Access to the place

From Leida (A2) before continuing towards Huesca. Just before Huesca, turn right towards Abiego, then Bierge, and head for Colungo on the A-2205. Once through the village, continue north towards Arcusa. Before the village of Lecina, the road begins to approach the rio Vero canyon, and the first large parking lot on the left is the right one (Km 18). In fact, it's called Portiacha. It's hard to go wrong. Superb view of the rio Vero canyon!

Map & topo

Itinerary description

Hiking to the start 5'

Take the small path on the left as you enter the parking lot (about 20m away). Follow the path straight ahead to the 1st abseil above the starting cirque.

Course 1h30 à 2h

The canyon was opened in 1990. The gradient is fairly low but concentrated, giving the descent an interesting vertical character. The equipment in place is pretty good. You'll need at least a 2x40m.

1st part

Right into the thick of things. A small ledge 3m below and the big jump for 30m of suspension in the first cirque (see photo above). Just beyond is the 2nd abseil, 8m long, almost vertical and without difficulty. The route then turns right into the trees.

Part 2

Once again, the path becomes narrower and more incised. At this point, there's a series of jumps to be unclimbed without too much difficulty, before arriving in a small kettle just above the 2nd cirque, which is even more impressive. The start of the abseil is awkward and very steep. Before long, you're no longer touching the ground as you glide through the middle of this great hall with its yellow and black streaks. We hit the ground for the 1st time, but there are still a few metres to go before we finish.

Back

After the last big abseil, descend a little to take the path to the right. It climbs a little and then descends to the Vero, which you climb with a few traverses. Further on, at the level of a small dam, a path climbs to the left and you reach a fork to the Basender. To return, descend to the Vero and cross over a bridge to the other side. Without going back up to the Vero parking lot, head east to cross the Barranco Argatín and follow the path to the Portiacha parking lot. If you have 2 cars, leave 1 at the Vero parking lot.