La Cebadilla HEP and the Rio Toril

[Tuppers]

Not wanting to sound like a train-spotter, but I’m sure other people have wondered the same thing. Is the cableway at the side of the HEP pipeline ever used? Well, yes it is. Video clip attached for those who want the evidence!

I walked up the side of the pipeline yesterday to do a circular of the Rio Toril valley and there were guys at the top, middle and bottom of the track. It appears their company is repairing part of the acequia Sevillana which feeds the pipe and they’re using the ‘train’ to move materials.
The route I took along the north side of the valley is less than inspiring and follows the acequia before it descends to the Rio Toril. The path is marked at the acequia but as it drops down a ridge, it is at best vague and at times is horrible. I got the usual greeting from the pack of manky dogs at the cortijo de las Mergas and although the path is relatively easy to follow up to the cortijo, it peters out to nothing a few metres thereafter. From the acequia near the ruined cortijo de la Hoya, the route is easier to follow around to the acequia del castillejo and then an easy traverse and descent to Cebadilla.
I had wondered whether the lower path along the north side of the valley (which starts at the bridge over the pipeline) would have been a better choice but when I looked across from the south side, I could see that the path has been totally wiped out by a huge landslide. Anyone getting that far would have to descend to the valley bottom and then climb back up again.

[La Gringa]

Useful info...thanks for that

[elperronegro]

(09-29-2011 08:13 AM)Tuppers Wrote:  Video clip attached for those who want the evidence!

Sorry Ian for the delay in attaching video. Here it is ....





Never seen it working in 10 years of playing around this area. Thanks for this.