Ribeira de João Delgado (C)

In August 2013 all anchors were fine, but in 2014 a landslide buried the C90 head equipment. In January 2017 the R2 rope and maillon were replaced; R3 got a new hanger doubled by a French spit from November 2016; the R6 handrail link was replaced; the handrail to R7 was moved higher; and a new handrail bolt at the C90 head was placed out of the flow. In March 2017 a new landslide left earth retained at the Véu da Noiva lip. In August 2020 the C90 handrail was buried and the old, damaged one had to be used; the R8 ledge had disappeared along with R8, so the line went direct R7→R9 (harder pull), and no new rebelay was placed because of loose blocks. In May 2021 all bolts on the big drop were doubled, tripled and linked; the debris on top was washed away; the big waterfall goes MC 5, C40, C50 all on the right. In October 2022 the R2 rope was very degraded (a big tree serves instead), all anchors needed replacing, the R8 rings were damaged with the left ring folding and trapping the rope, there was rockfall on the big waterfall, and radio contact between R8 and R9 is advisable. In May 2023 four anchors were added (the rappel with the rope-protecting tree, the last rappel before Véu da Noiva, two handrail bolts) and a chain with two U-bolts was glued on the first pitch of Véu da Noiva: bring a wrench to tighten the chain link. In June 2024 all anchors were doubled and in reasonable state; the piton on the beach exit is in poor condition. In September 2025 the anchors were OK; R2 has an alternative left-hand anchor not on the sketch. In June 2026 all anchors were good except R6, where a slide destroyed the belay ring.

Access: the main hazard. The approach is the crux. The old road is overgrown with thorns (bring cutting tools), the steep section after the stairs is narrow (as little as 20 cm) and exposed, and the area slides regularly: rockfall at the entry in 2023 and 2024, a landslide on 13 September 2025 requiring extreme care, and in winter 2025/26 a huge landslide that destroyed a 10 m section of the path. In June 2026 the approach was extremely difficult, with exposed ground and many slips, and required climbing a short grade-4 pitch to reach the main path. The approach needs good mental strength and could be destroyed at any time.

Exit. The classic exit is along the sea on the right bank to the Córrego do Inferno parking: only at low tide with small swell (in May 2021 a 1 m tide and 1.8 m swell was just possible); a 3 m rappel piton was placed in 2020 to avoid the surf. From the beach the way to the road can be found via the concrete channel of Corrego da Furna (32.815134, -17.079525). Since 8 August 2026 there is a bolted return ascent on river left of the last waterfall: from the end of the old road two starting bolts, rappel to the edge, next bolt under the big block, then further bolts down towards the waterfall; it needs two ropes of at least 40 m, rigged before the tour; after the last rappel face the wall and climb the grassy hill to the right to find the rope, ~60 m of ascent. This exit works even at high tide and big waves.