Ribeira Seca (Inferior)

Flow is typically normal to low outside rainy spells: normal in April 2023, low in September 2022, medium-low in May 2021, low to average in early February 2023 and February 2024. On 24 February 2023 the flow was very high, with R1 and the dam/levada at the start running heavily.

The canyon was partially re-equipped in March 2019 in normal/low flow: R1 sound, R2 given new hangers, R3 given a second bolt, R4 and R5 given new anchors (each still lacking a parabolt and hanger), R6, which previously had no anchor at all, given two parabolts without hangers or nuts, and R7 sound. At the end of May 2021 a **large landslide at R6** swept away equipment and blocked the canyon with trunks and mud; it remained passable but at high risk. In September 2022 R6 was re-equipped with two points and a chain, 20 m up. As of February 2024 the anchors are poor overall: several had to be placed afresh on two successive descents, some bolts placed in 2023 had been buried, one new bolt was placed in 2024, the rock on R6 is sharp (lowering each other is the safer option) and a rope was left in place on R7. Carry spare anchors.

A **dangerous tree choke** blocks the end of the narrow section between R5 and R6, and there are multiple landslides and rockfalls along the route; the "bridge" marked between R5 and R6 is in fact an enormous landslide. Until the choke clears, descend only in very low flow.

Access/exit. The path marked on maps NW of the canyon does not exist. Exit at a wooden bridge: go up on the right, follow the dirt road and take the right fork at the junction (the left fork goes through a private garden) down to the main road. A sheep track before R7 may offer an earlier exit, though this is unverified.