Montserrat. Ascent to Montgròs (1.133m) from El Bruc
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Here 🔥The Montgròs is one of the most emblematic peaks of Montserrat. Accompanied by the "Plecs del Llibre", the "Salamandra" or the "Roca Plana dels Llamps", this peak stands out for its morphology and its access through eroded "channels". In this route we propose an ascent from the base of the massif and a walk through the gap that splits Montserrat in two, the "Plecs Llibre".Torrent de Migdia".
Summary:
Linear route of outward and return along the same route from El Brucin which we will ascend to the Montgròs (1,133m) by the Camí del Bassal dels Gats until Coll de l'Ajagudathe Torrent or Canal del Migdiathe source of the "Cadireta". and the Salamander Channel.
Technical specifications:
Distance: 11 km (outward/return)
Cumulative difference in altitude: +/- 833 m.
Timetable: about 5 hours. Walking time non-stop2h30min (ascent) and 1h45min (descent).
Water: there are none along the whole route. There are no shops in the residential Bruc and the water from the Cadireta fountain is not accessible.
Difficulty: High. The climb is very steep almost all the way up.
Recommended equipment for the summer: light boots or trekking shoes, walking sticks, GPS (optional), canteensome food, sun protection, sunglasses…
Suggestions: Possibility of continuing to Monistrol, following the route: Crossing from El Bruc to Monistrol, along the Migdia stream.
Itinerary:
(0h00min; 0,0 km) El Bruc residential (405 m). We are at the beginning of the urbanisation. We go up Avinguda de la Moreneta and then Avinguda de Can Jorba, at the end we go to the right and we see a dirt road.
(0h10min; 0,6 km) Track (425 m). This track will take us to Can Jorba. We walk among white pines and olive trees. In five minutes you reach a tetrabifurcation called "Els quatre camins" (the four paths), go straight on towards El Bruc. Soon after (0h24min) you turn right following the signs to Can Jorba and Montgròs. You see the impressive mountain in front of you.
(0h30min; 1.7 km) Junction (456 m). We go to the right along a dry torrent, where the "torrent de Migdia" and the "torrent del Bassal dels Gats" meet.
During the rainy season, an impressive flow of water can come down from the mountain. On the left we pass an old agricultural cistern protected by a trellis. We come out onto a track and go left.
(0h40min; 2,3 km) "Camí del Bassal dels Gats" (2,3 km) (489 m). This path, also called "de los Franceses", more or less follows the stream of the same name. We cross a considerable difference in altitude, alternating between Mediterranean areas with heather, white pines, viburnums... and more stony areas.
On the way we will spot pine cones eaten by an arboreal mammal, the squirrel, and possibly hear or see some wild goats. At around 700-800 metres we can see the transition from the pine forest to the more Mediterranean holm oak forest. We keep our eyes peeled and climb a path with "milestones" on the left.
(1h25min; 3,8 km) Coll de l'Ajaguda (829 m). The views are impressive, we see "la Ajaguda" (lying down in Spanish) with its curious hole, "el Montgròs" above us with "els Plecs de Llibre" (needle that resembles folds of leaves or books) and the "torrent del Migdia", towards which we descend along a path between holm oaks and boxwoods.
(1h30min; 4,0 km) "Torrent del Canal del Migdia" (1h30min; 4,0 km) (815 m). We have reached the "gap" that splits Montserrat in two halves, on its southern or noon side, hence the name. On the left we would find the Joc de l'Oca RavineWe go to the right through a dreamlike landscape. This path takes us through holm oaks and Mediterranean boxwoods, but the most surprising thing is the remnants of vegetation from relict times. Holly, maple and yew trees dot the route. We pass a rocky shelter and continue through this spot where an elf or goblin will appear at any moment.
The shuffleboard and its defensive strategy
This tree contains some alkaloid toxins called taxins, present in the bark, leaves and seeds, to prevent consumption by herbivores. Curiously, the reddish-coloured fleshy structure that forms the fruit is edible and is used by birds, such as crows, to disperse the seeds. The fame of this toxin reached the famous mystery writer, Agatha Christie. The well-known author, in her book "A Handful of Rye", uses the poisonous toxin extracted from a tree that the family has in the garden to "kill" the victim and, evidently, Miss Marple ends up solving the mystery.
(2h00min; 4,8 km) Montgròs detour (952 m). If we decide to tackle this demanding climb, we must take into account the occasional overpass, the steep climb and the steep descent. Shortly after the ascent, we come to the "Font de la Cadireta (The water is filtered and accumulates in an artificial reservoir with a lid. This water point is used by one of the amphibians of the massif, the salamander, to reproduce. We then have to cross two rocky channels with a steep slope.
We arrive at a pass where we leave the PR that would go down and we do the last steep slope to the left.
(2h30min; 5,5 km) Montgròs ( 1133 m). We have a very wide panoramic view of many spires, Sant JeroniAfter resting, we will carefully retrace our steps down to the Canal del Migdia, where we have the option of returning along the same path or, as we said in the suggestions section, completing the crossing from south to north as far as Monistrol.
Don't miss any adventure in the Pyrenees!
