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Via ferrata El Escuacho, Escarrilla

Via ferrata

Publié le 30 July 2023 |

Very recent via ferrata (2022) built from the village of Escarilla, in the upper Rio Gallego valley. The route offers 3 independent sections of increasing difficulty, which can be linked together on the walls overlooking the small gorges formed by the Gallego torrent at this point, between the 2 reservoirs of Lazuna to the north and Bubal to the south. An easy section (K1/K2) is followed by a fairly difficult, aerial section on a high wall (K3) and, after a return loop, the difficult final section (K4) which climbs back up to the village under a small overhanging wall. A short ferrata to discover near Panticosa.

Technical summary

■ S tarting point: Escarrilla, Aragon, Spain
■ Type of route: via ferrata in 3 sections: easy (K1/K2), AD (K3) and D (K4)
■ Direction: west and east
■ Fitted length: 50 m (K1/K2), 125 m (K3) and 140 m (K4)
■ Positive vertical drop: +25 m (K1/K2), +25 m (K3), +95 m (K4)
■ Estimated total time: 1h to 1h30
■ Min and max altitude: 1120 m / 1220 m
■ Equipment in place: rungs, chains, 2 Tibetan bridges, 1 monkey bridge, equipped abseils in the K3 section
■ Equipment required: standard equipment

Difficulty: the hardest part is rated Difficult or K4, but it's a small K4 because it's short. The ascent of the big wall is aerial and vertical. The final section is slightly overhanging and pulls on the arms.

Access to the place

On the road between Biescas and the Col du Pourtalet, head for Escarrillas. The village lies between the Lanuza and Bubal reservoirs. Park in the village, ideally in the small parking lot to the south, just outside Escarrillas. This is where you'll find the official ferrata information panel and the start of the approach.

Itinerary description

Hiking to the start 5'

From the parking lot at the southern entrance to the village, walk along the road and descend to the left, following an old road below to find the start of the ferrata with the suspension bridge on the left. Be careful, you'll pass the end of the K4 section just before the old road, which should not be taken as it runs in the opposite direction to the route.

Course 1h à 1h30

If you link the 3 sections together, the whole route forms a rollercoaster. The logical sequence is in the direction of increasing difficulty, the small K1/K2 section at the start, then the K3 wall and, after a loop, the K4 section to return almost to the village. We cross over the Rio Gallego twice.

1st section: El Puente (Easy or K1/K2)

Cross the monkey bridge suspended over the rio and just to the left of the bridge over the road to Panticosa. At the exit, there's a short traverse and then a small inclined wall to exit quickly onto the path that leads to the rest of the route. Further on, you'll come to a fork in the road, with the difficult section (K4) on the left and the fairly difficult section (K3) on the right.

2nd section: the big wall (Assez Difficile or K3)

Named "Fase 2" by the builders. At the end of the slightly uphill path, you'll find yourself at the foot of the big wall. Climb a fairly vertical 1st section to reach a grassy section equipped with chains. The next section is more vertical and aerial. Finally, the final section is an aerial traverse under a small roof to exit further on foot. You come out on a flat area with building ruins. The return path is marked with cairns. It descends steeply through undergrowth towards the rio and the bridge. Cross the path arriving from the El Puente section and find the junction between sections K3 and K4. Turn left to quickly reach the start of the last section.

3rd section: the gorges (Difficult or K4)

Named "Fase 1" by the builders. It begins with a traverse, then crosses between 2 walls on a 1st Tibetan bridge. It continues with another more vertical traverse under a small overhang to reach the second Tibetan bridge, which this time crosses the Rio Gallego with a view of the narrow gorge beneath the bridge. Then begins the most physical and demanding part of the route: a diagonal ascent with feet on the rock, slightly overhanging in places. We finish with a small vertical wall to exit at the old approach road.