It started off as Trish's 60th birthday celebration to fulfill a long held ambition, to abseil in the Barranco del Infierno. It did not take much encouragement for four friends to join her, and so we booked a guided expedition with Tururac. None of us had been abseiling before, and we did not know what to expect. Neither did Tururac in taking us, though they did not seem concerned that we were all aged 60 or over, and the eldest, Sheila, was 72 years old.
Always quick to find a way of raising money for charity, Sheila decided to ask her friends and family to sponsor her on this trip. The money raised would go to MABS (Marina Alta Breast Cancer Support group). The rest of us asked our friends for sponsorship. They thought us all completely mad, but we were able to raise well over 1000 Euros for this charity.
October 18th was the Big Day. We met with our guides Paco and Julia, and with the other abseilers , all of whom were Spanish (and a lot younger!) Two had driven up from Torrevieja that morning, and four from Xàtiva.
Julia told us there would probably be water in the barranco, so we would have to wear wet suits and leave our cameras behind. However they would be taking a waterproof camera and would give us a CD of photos afterwards.
What a great day! We had to do around seven small abseils, following the course of the Girona River as it cuts narrow and deep into the bedrock of the gorge to create a series of steps and pools. The abseiling turned out to be quite easy, once you had developed the courage to step off into thin air. However, we had not counted on having to swim. Problem: Sheila can't swim! and so, at one particularly deep pool, the team made a float from a rucksack and pulled her across with a rope. There was much laughter all round.
We experienced more of a problem hauling ourselves up slopes. We don't have the upper body strength we used to, and it is tough to bend your legs when you are dressed up like a Michelin man. Traversing a steep wall as if you are Spiderman is also a bit of a challenge and it resulted in some very unladylike language. However our guides ( and the rest of the party) were very patient, did not hurry us and we were very safe.
We were expected back at our cars by 5.00pm, but finally clambered out of the barranco to reach Juvees d' Enmig as the daylight disappeared at 7.00pm.
Tired, but elated. We did it!
Thank you Tururac team. You are the best.
(Now, when are we going to go again? Next time when it is dry, with softer shoes for better toe holds..and with our cameras...We must take our cameras. There are some spectacular shots that remain only in our memories...we want those photos....and such beautiful dragonflies)
Chris Betterton-Jones
