Garganta de Ordiso
verified
Ungraded
High flood risk
Torla, Huesca
The aquatic counterpoint to Lapazosa: same valley, half the vertical, but cold continuous water, mandatory jumps, and a real flow-management problem.
First descent August 1988. Combines well with Navarros, Lapazosa, or Crapera for a Bujaruelo cluster trip. Cold-water tolerance is the limiting factor; check Vignemale snow pack and recent precipitation before committing.
Logistics
| Manager | Periphery of Parque Nacional de Ordesa y Monte Perdido (Bujaruelo / Rio Ara headwaters) |
|---|---|
| Permit | No permit required. |
| Distance | 4.2 mi total (1.2 mi descent) |
| Elevation | ~492 ft loss |
| Time | 3 to 4 hr (40-50 min approach, 2-3 hr descent, 20 min exit) |
| Technical | FFME 2C2 II (v1a5 II). Longest rappel 10 m (33 ft). Aquatic character with multiple mandatory jumps, very cold water, slippery rock. Full wetsuits required even mid-summer. |
| Season | Jul to Oct, best in August when flow drops |
| Flood risk | High. Permanent strong flow from the Rio Ara headwaters and the Vignemale snowfields. Documented as having spectacular floods. Cancel on any rain in the upper basin. |
| Vehicle access | 2WD to San Nicolas de Bujaruelo, then on foot. Beyond Bujaruelo gate, only authorized vehicles. |
| Crowd | Moderate |
| Coordinates | 42.7155, -0.1282 |
Sources
- ropewiki: https://ropewiki.com/Ordiso