Sierra del Cadí – Pedraforca (3)
LAST week I was ascending Pedraforca (2,506 metres) in the Sierra del Cadí – the range that lies just short of the Pyrenees in Cataluña – and had passed the Coll del Verdet pass and then shinned up the rock ‘wall’ which leads to the summit ridge, making use of the fixed chains.
At the top of the ‘wall’, I realised that it would be easier to proceed to the summit, rather than going back down. Predictably, at this point of the mountain, at a height of just under 2,400m, there are quite awesome views of the surrounding area.
It’s a great vantage point to observe the Sierra Cabirolera
ridge, where I was stuck overnight, and the valley which contains the scenic old village of Gósol.
It’s a good spot to gird your loins before setting off for the summit.
The first section is fairly inoffensive – on a path moving across the ridge, which is wide enough not to be frightening. The path favours the right-hand side of the ridge, with the vertical drops on the other side. It’s a well-trodden route which traverses across to reach a cairn marking the Cim Nord (north peak) of the massif at 2,438m.
From the Cim Nord there is brief flirtation with the top part of the ridge – err to the right to avoid looking
over the precipice on the left.
The going now gets a bit slower, as there is section which descends for a short distance, before the route bears left for a steep climb up the rock to reach the ridge once more.
Now it’s the final run up to the summit – an easy section
along the clearly visible path to reach the top.
You will want to spend a bit of time at the summit, after the effort expended to get there.
It may be quite busy as walkers will be coming up on the easier route from the other side, which you will be
taking to get back to base.
Care must be taken as there are killer drops all along the left side and people will be manoeuvring to take photos. Find a spot for some quiet contemplation before heading straight on to start the descent.