Pont Cabradís

Pre-Pyrenean landscape

Ernst and Ulli are friends of mine. They are, by the way, the persons most responsible for me living in Catalonia, and besides own a beautiful finca in the Solsona district, in a village called Guixers. When they bought the estate, more than 10 years ago, it wasn't more than some flee-infected ruins full of goat feces, but during the years, the two of them have made a tremendous effort which transformed the finca into what it is today. There they live on about 1300m above sea level, in the middle of nowhere, and I believe to remember, that once their nearest neighbour was mentioned to live several kilometres distant. Surrounding their place, there are mountains, too, for Guixers lies in the heart of the Pre-Pyrenees. You cannot find the really high mountains there, but it's still a quite mountainous landscape. Last weekend, Lisa and me visited Ernst and we didn't let slip away the opportunity to go on a hike there...
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Ernst suggested we make a trip to a spot called Pontcabradís, a route, that exists in the old maps of that area, but with the years had been reconquered by nature. Some three years ago, then, a local entity rearranged the ancient route by trimming the vegetation, marking it with trail markers and preparing the more exposed sections with chains, ropes and even a ladder. Additionally, a number of information panels had been put in place.

Information Panel at a natural viewing balcony

Since we wanted to be back for lunch, Ernst brought us to the point, the trip's more interesting part begins. Later he would pick us up at a spot, also accessible by 4x4 and he gave us the necessary instructions in order to find it. Three hours we had, and together with Ernst's dog Troll we went off.

Elisabet with Troll

Contrasts

From the first moment on, it was Troll who led our small expedition, always one turn ahead of us, but despite of him experting pressure on us, we took our time to enjoy the surroundings. Pictures of things such as the stunning landscape, insect wildlife and jungle-like vegetation were taken in the course.

Detailed view of the local plant life

An ant, thoroughly studying an informative panel

The path started high above a canyon, initially following the flank of a mountain and repeatedly leading us to spots which offered nice views from above. At the same time the intensely shining sun was substituted by increasingly dark clouds, we entered an ever denser forest while slowly loosing height.

A natural viewing balcony

More or less by the time we reached the river for the first time, it started to rain. Due to the fact that Ernst had provided us with waterproof jackets, it didn't bother us all too much. The only worry I had was the river crossing lying somewhere further upstream. Would it be possible in case of a high water?

A very well signalled hiking path

At one point, a small landslide (probably from the previous week) had affected our path in a way, that we actively had to search for its continuation. While I was doing so on our left hand side, Troll didn't follow me, but instead "looked strange", according to Elisabet. It turned out that he seemed to know which direction to take and he soon indicated her where to best cross the obstacle of shattered trees and mud. A while later then, we arrived at Pont Cabradís, a huge rock that a long time ago had fallen into the river bed from high above. By tunneling its way beneath this barrier and probably also by eroding it over the ages, the river has caved out an important space as can be seen in the following picture.

At Pont Cabradís

By now it was raining cats and dogs and no river crossing could be found. I quickly put off my shows, tucked up my trousers and waded through the water in order to have a look at the other side of the river. In that moment Elisabet mentioned that Troll again was calling her attention, indicating her this wasn't the right way. For a second time, the dog was right. A moment later we were following him back upwards. Our way, it turned out, would make use of the very barrier which actually made a perfect bridge for a river crossing. Since its name contains the word pont (catalan for bridge), it's actually quite logic it serves as a crossing...

The rest of our hike, although short, was peppered with more chains and ropes as it was with rain, and since the ground was slippery, it made for an interesting walk. By now, we were following the river back downstream, mostly close to its bed. Due to the rain, the totally wet landscape had a very virgin and beautiful aspect. Small, spontaneously formed waterfalls and the low hanging clouds added some further interest.

Scenery during the rain

 

After our climbing down a ladder, we soon found an ascending forest road, exactly as Ernst had told us hours before. Following the road, we knew, we would encounter our meeting point. Just the moment we came around the last turn, we saw Ernst arriving. Glad for not having to wait for him under the rain, the three of us appreciated very much the fact he had arrived a little earlier.