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Vulturó via the Cristall canal and the Baridana canal, Serra del Cadí

Publié le 6 May 2023 | Catalunya Eng, Spain

Situated in the foothills of the Spanish Pyrenees, the Serra del Cadí forms an impressive natural barrier, with a rounded south face and a steep, chiselled north face with astonishing geological folds, providing a spectacular high-mountain backdrop. Departing from Estana, a pretty little village built opposite the walls, the loop is demanding in terms of length, altitude difference and the technical difficulties involved in negotiating the steep corridors leading to and from the summit ridges: the Canal del Cristall on the ascent and the Canal Baridana on the descent. An alpine hike for experienced hikers only.

Technical summary

■ S tarting point: village of Estana in Cerdagne, north of the Serra del Cadí, Catalunya, Spain
■ Type of route: alpine hike, out and back to the Rat hut, then a loop.
■ Distance: 15.5 km
■ Cumulative elevation gain: +1300 m
■ Cumulative negative altitude gain: -1300 m
■ Estimated total time: 5h30 to 6h30
■ Min and max altitude: 1570 m / 2648 m
■ Markings: white and yellow on the ascent and on the ridge. Canal Baridana cairné then GR to Querforadat
■ Equipment in place: none
■ Equipment required: helmet, crampons, safety rope, GPS track

Difficulties: ascent of Canal del Cristall and descent of Canal Baridana: very steep slopes (40° to 50°), very unstable scree, possible presence of névés.

Access to the place

On the N260 between Puigcerda and La Seu d'Urgell, at Martinet, take the small road heading south and wind up to the village of Estana. Go through the village and continue a little further to find the hikers' parking lot.

Map & topo

Voir en plein écran

Itinerary description

1st part: from Estana to the foot of the Canal del Cristall (2180m, 1h30)

Leave the parking lot on the wide path to the south. Here begins a gentle, very gradual ascent through the forest, in a Mediterranean atmosphere. After around 30', the path passes Col Roig, which as its name suggests is covered in burgundy red. A traverse then leads to the Prat del Cadi clearing, facing the northern walls of the Serra and roughly in line with the Cristall couloir. The next section is steeper, and the path climbs up into the undergrowth to the left of a long scree to get closer and closer to the base of the cliffs. Finally, at the foot of the large Ordiguer pillar, follow the path as it shifts slightly to the east and enters the bottom of the couloir. Start of the Canal del Cristall.

Part 2: Canal del Cristall to Col del Cristall (2517m, 1h)

The entire couloir is marked in white and yellow. It starts with a rocky section of hand-climbing, but without difficulty (II/III-), to return to the axis of the couloir where you can find some névé. From here, it's a very steep slope, with no respite, on rather unstable scree, with in places large boulders just waiting to tumble further down. Helmet and safety distance mandatory. If the snow is soft, the snowdrifts can help you make more stable progress. At the top, the couloir widens to form a sort of cirque. Follow the cairns and markings to exit via a small couloir and an opening that gives access to the ridge at Coll de la Canal del Cristall.

3rd part: the ridges to the summit of Vulturó (2648m, 45' to 1h)

Climb to the west to reach the small summit of Puig de la Canal del Cristall, where the view of the north-east walls is fabulous (see photo on front page). Then take the signposted path over the Canal de l'Ordiguer (very, very steep!), along the south-facing side of the Puig del Quer, and gradually climb up to the Col de Llitze, then climb the Vulturó mini rocky bar, slightly set back from the north face. You're now at the summit of the Serra de Cadi. View of Andorra and the snow-covered peaks of the Pyrenees.

Part 4: Canal Baridana to the forest (1h15 to 1h30)

Descend from the Vulturó back to the ridge running along the north face and continue downhill to the west towards the entrance to the Canal Baridana, the only obvious natural passage. The descent of the couloir is just as tricky and exposed as the ascent, but here the scree is more homogeneous, with fewer large boulders and a more open route, as you can see the exit below right from the start. Progress is slow to negotiate the instability and steepness of the slope, alternating between passages along the west wall and the névés to try to find the best route. There may have been cairns, but they have collapsed or are barely visible. Further down, the couloir widens and the scree continues to puke all the way to the edge of the forest. At this point, the cairns are clearly visible and we turn slightly east. The slope eases a little and we enter the forest.

Part 5: Descent to the GR above Querforadat (1h to 1h15)

Follow the marked mini-path through the undergrowth, with some steep sections, until you reach an open grassy flat, the Collet Jussana, where you continue on the path, keeping your eyes peeled as it is not very visible, but the small cairns guide you. Further down, we join a forest track which descends more gently, making large bends until it crosses the GR. The crossing is not easy to see, as the GR sign is marked on the ground.

Part 6: GR to the start parking lot (1h)

Follow the GR carefully, at times on forest tracks and at others on footpaths, with many bends and detours, a descent and then a final ascent, to finally return to the start parking lot above Estana.