Hidden canal

Beautiful atmosphere in this varied line that winds through the rock face. It starts from the Ordiguer couloir and leads to the Sàbat couloir.

Approach · 1h45

At the bottom of the small village of Estana (1485 m), follow the marked path with yellow bands toward Prat del Cadí, at 1820 m, after passing Collada Roja, (large concrete cairn).

Cross the meadow northward, which climbs through the forest to the foot of Roca de l'Ordiguer, an impressive rock formation that separates Ordiguer couloir from Cristall couloir. Follow right (north) until the couloir appears.

Route

The lower part of Amagada couloir is shared with Ordiguer couloir, start up the initially gentle snow slopes, then very quickly take right into the couloir that appears (before the narrowing of Ordiguer couloir).

Climb it by 40/45° slopes (leave a dead-end branch on the left), then at 45/50°.

You come up against an imposing rock barrier, 2 options:

- climb the steep snow slope diagonally on the right. From the collet thus reached, by a 30 m abseil, step into Sabat couloir (it is possible to avoid the abseil by mixed climbing diagonally left);

- cross the barrier on the left (snow, 65°). Continue on gentler slopes and reach Sàbat couloir by a traverse (this option requires good conditions and good filling).

Once Sàbat couloir is reached, climb it to the summit (45/50°)

Descent

From the platform, head southeast to the summit of Pic de la Canal del Cristall. From the summit, descend east and reach Cristall couloir. Descend it, 45° at the start then 40° after.

You arrive on the approach path.