SIERRA DE GUARA, SPAIN
BARRANCO DE OTIN
Guara is the kingdom of the
barrancos, canyons which bisect the harsh landscape of the mountain. Water flowing over stone has
created the giant steps in the Barranco de Otín. It all starts with two long abseils
into the unknown, down into the depths of the mountain, down into the «oscuros» - virtually
subterranean passages. The filtered light gradually fades as the descent of the barranco continues,
whilst the wind whispers between the narrow canyon walls. A Glimpse of blue sky, with circling
vultures, reminds you of the world outside. More abseils follow, long and overhanging, descending
among eroded baroque limestone sculptures, or swim a great plunge-pool…
Finally, you are
left with magic impression that the sierra lets you see, in its most secrete folds, its absolute
beauty... Before returning to the light, under the implacable sun of High Aragon.
KEY INFORMATION
Time:
2 hours
approach, 3 hours for the canyon, 1 ½ hours for the return.
Equipment:
anchor points in place.Take two ropes of minimum 45 m.
First descended:
in 1982 by Ch. Abadie, C. Goni, A. Palacin, A. Santolaria and
S. Valon.
Map: Guara Sierra and Canyons Park. 1/40,000,published by Pireneo in Huesca, 1998.
GET THE WHOLE STORY FROM:
“Descentes de canyons dans le Haut-Aragon”
(Descending canyons in High Aragon), volume 1, Guara Sierra and western High-Aragon, Patrick Gimat
with collaboration from J-P. Pontroué, Edisud, 1995.
Departure: Rodellar.
Difficulty:
a lot of abseiling.
Canyon very often dry.
Height: 250 m and 500 m long.
Time of year:
all year round. Avoid mid-summer
.
