Les Baumes Corcades #12, Centelles, Catalunya, 2018
Another very popular vía ferrata in Catalunya is the one criss-crossing the limestone layers above the town of Centelles, on the C-17 highway from Barcelona to Vic.
The vía’s official name is actually “Baumes Corcades“. (Click on that link for specifics on the route.)
A few of nice things about this route:
–It is easily accessible from Barcelona in barely over an hour, assuming normal traffic flow.
–Because of the easy access, this is perhaps the most popular vía ferrata in Catalunya, so consider going on a weekday, or in the off-season.
–In the summer, it can be baking hot unless you go very early in the morning when temps are cool or late in the afternoon when much of the wall will be shaded.
–In several areas you have the choice of an easier option and a harder option, so you can pick the variation based on your experience.
–The ferrata sections are somewhat divided so you have some walkable escape options if you decide you don’t want to continue.
–The Nepalese bridge is apparently the longest in Spain at 69 meters in length. If you are in a large group (or behind one!) realize that it will take some time for everyone to get across one-at-a-time.
–It is very well maintained and signed.
–SAFETY NOTE: Realize that a vía ferrata can be more dangerous than actual rock climbing due to the potential for up to and even beyond Factor 5 falls whilst hitting things on your way down. Use proper vía ferrata equipment that is designed to absorb this shock and go with someone knowledgeable if that someone isn’t you!
Some photography notes:
–On this trip, I carried the small Sony RX100ii pocketable camera. It didn’t handle the high contrast scenes very well…but, you can stick it in a pocket and it is way better than an iPhone.
–Consider carrying an extra sling/carabiner/PAS or whatever so you can clip in, sit in your harness, and be comfortable while taking pictures.
Now for some images to give you an idea of the adventure that awaits you above Centelles…
The famous and talented videographer, climber, and parasail pilot, Xavi hams it up at the start of the route. He is actually carrying an ultra-lightweight parasail and harness in that small pack (“hike or climb, and fly” he calls it) with the intention of flying off the top if the winds cooperate (stay tuned!):
Les Baumes Corcades #1, Centelles, Catalunya, 2018
On the first ladder. Technically, we are probably too close together in this shot. You want to keep members of your party separated enough so that, if there is a fall, noone clobbers the climber below. Also, if the cable is pressed against the rock, consider clipping your carabiners with the gate out–not an issue on most of this particular route as the cables were almost always well-separated from the rock:
Les Baumes Corcades #3, Centelles, Catalunya, 2018
We started in the late afternoon (date was July 4th) and were in the shade most of the way–while the town baked in the hot summer sun below. Here, Xavi has arrived at the start of the Nepalese bridge:
Les Baumes Corcades #5, Centelles, Catalunya, 2018
The view looking into the shade and toward the bridge. Best to go one-at-a-time due to the bouncy-bounce effect of the cables you walk upon:
Les Baumes Corcades #4, Centelles, Catalunya, 2018
Now it’s Xavi’s turn, with one lanyard clipped high and one clipped low. That extra sling he has girth-hitched to his harness helps a lot for stability as you move across (and make it easier to take pictures). Note the summer camp kids on the lower, somewhat-less-scary-but-still-quite-fun, variation:
Les Baumes Corcades #6, Centelles, Catalunya, 2018
Mid-way across the bridge…with more kids streaming across the lower variation:
Les Baumes Corcades #7, Centelles, Catalunya, 2018
Looking back after crossing about 2/3 of the bridge…and the kids keep on coming!
Les Baumes Corcades #9, Centelles, Catalunya, 2018
Much of the route takes you along some huge traverses, sometimes with the big metal staples for your feet and sometimes not, as in these images:
Les Baumes Corcades #10, Centelles, Catalunya, 2018
Les Baumes Corcades #12, Centelles, Catalunya, 2018
This traverse ends with a steep down-climb:
Les Baumes Corcades #15, Centelles, Catalunya, 2018
Occasionally, there is some simple walking, with time to admire the view. The kids are on the long traverse depicted in the previous two pictures:
Les Baumes Corcades #15, Centelles, Catalunya, 2018
Another steep section to surmount the cliff band–I believe there is an easy variant to avoid this if you wish:
Les Baumes Corcades #17, Centelles, Catalunya, 2018
After a very short bit of hiking, you’ll look up at the last magnificent vertical section with the ladder. It’s the overhanging part that Xavi is on that is a bit strenuous:
Les Baumes Corcades #19, Centelles, Catalunya, 2018
Here’s the situation as you start the ladder. Note the approved vía ferrata lanyards and carabiners–that’s the kind of thing that should be used:
Les Baumes Corcades #21, Centelles, Catalunya, 2018
Once we arrived at the summit, Xavi set up and played with the wind a bit. Unfortunately, the bereeze wasn’t particularly consistent and the direction was a little off, so he packed things up and we hiked down togther. Great judgement on his part, I thought. It’s unbelieveable that you can stuff a human flying machine into such a small day pack (the whole kit weighs in around 9 pounds)…my how things have advanced from the primitive and dangerous hang gliders (“hang divers”, some jokingly called them!) of the days of yore:
Les Baumes Corcades #23, Centelles, Catalunya, 2018
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