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-   -   I cringe everytime I view this video walk of El Chorro in Southern Spain. (https://www.fodors.com/community/europe/i-cringe-everytime-i-view-this-video-walk-of-el-chorro-in-southern-spain-349645/)

goldwynn Apr 25th, 2008 05:23 AM

I cringe everytime I view this video walk of El Chorro in Southern Spain.
 


Apparently this has been closed for the last 15 years for repairs. I never would have noticed.

Check out this link at ..... http://www.brightcove.tv/title.jsp?title=1438490562


Carta_Pisana Apr 25th, 2008 05:39 AM

amazing. the guy must have been a mountain goat in a previous life.

I have no problems with heights, just issues being in high places without railings.

nice music

kleeblatt Apr 25th, 2008 05:50 AM

I've heard of the trail. Thanks for posting the spine-tingling video.

goldwynn Apr 25th, 2008 02:20 PM

Further to the initial posting I was curious that if the pathway was closed for 15 years, just when was that video shot. In fact very recent and I found some sort of answer with Wikipedia as quoted below.

"Built in 1901, the walkway has now gone many years without maintenance, and is in a highly deteriorated and dangerous state. It is one meter (3 ft) in width, and is over 700 feet (200 m) above the river. Nearly all of the path has no handrail. Some parts of the walkway have completely collapsed and have been replaced by a beam and a metallic wire on the wall.

Many people have lost their lives on the walkway in recent years. After four people died in two accidents in 1999 and 2000, the local government closed the entrances. However, adventurous tourists still find their way into the walkway".


ComfyShoes Apr 25th, 2008 03:52 PM

Very cool. The last minute or so is specially interesting.

kgh8m Apr 25th, 2008 04:15 PM

That's CRAZY. Esp. since this guy isn't using a safety line.

What's more impressive is the people who built it...

artlover Apr 25th, 2008 04:33 PM

I got vertigo just watching this!!! But what really amazes me is how the hell did they ever build this path!

MelJ Apr 25th, 2008 07:13 PM

I was gasping out loud! I don't like heights, bridges or narrow paths and this one really freaked me out!

LoveItaly Apr 25th, 2008 07:59 PM

I got vertigo watching this video too artlover! Good grief. And is the only way to return back down the same way?
Yes Melj, it freaked me out also.

I had a doctor, a good friend. Any adventure in the world he would challenge. I think I am glad he hadn't heard of this walk, lol.

Nikki Apr 25th, 2008 08:10 PM

I have nightmares like this.

Loisde Apr 25th, 2008 08:35 PM

Thank you for posting this, but it will now take me two weeks to unclench my butt.

markrosy Apr 26th, 2008 04:19 AM

El Chorro is a legend.

It had been apparently closed for 20 years when we first went during our honeymoon, 13 years ago.

The locals kids get off the train from Malaga on the Alora side of the gorge. Usually they are heading for the Lakes on the other side of the gorge, for a weekend of camping. They then have two choices.

1. Boring very long walk by the road.
2. Not very boring shorter adventure via El Camino del Chorro.

It's part of male Andalucian culture to have a crack at it. I tried and gave up after 20 yards. Many have died doing it but as ever the Spanish are not great on Health and Safety. This in the absence of the silly Anglo Saxon litigation culture.

If anyone noticed - it is actually the scene for one of the big war fims. I think it was either Von Ryan's Express or The Great Escape. The director uses it as the Alps in the film.

The gorge is one of the unknown wonders of the Costa Del Sol.

If anyone here has done the walk - I bow with respect.

markrosy Apr 26th, 2008 04:28 AM

Just watched the film after posting - I have never written something with more sincerity - the person with the camera has a death wish.

What doesn't come across on the film is the fact that most of the path is not ground based. It is a concrete ledge propped up on a vertical 600 foot cliff face.

You notice the holes in the concrete - each time they fragment - I can only think that someone dies.

To do this walk whist filming is beyond anything I can comprehend.

sandi_travelnut Apr 26th, 2008 05:51 AM

So that's the condition of the walk AFTER repairs? It didn't seem like the walker was hooking and unhooking his saftey line during the walk like the others that I saw. I could never do it....

JAGIRL Apr 26th, 2008 07:16 AM

Unfortunately if given the opportunity I'd probably do it. :-o

But I'd probably wet my pants several times while up there. That is <font color="red">really crazy</font> that people are allowed to get up there at all!

markrosy Apr 26th, 2008 11:47 AM

JAGIRL

That's the spirit of Spain. Wouldn't happen in the UK.

gracie04 Apr 26th, 2008 01:44 PM

I'm not sure if this is brave or just stupid!

Walking on a &quot;path&quot; with holes in it hundreds of feet above the ground is not my cup of tea. To each his own, I guess.

Hats off to the people who built it, though.

Johanna

knoxvillecouple Apr 26th, 2008 04:15 PM

Heck - of course I couldn't actually take this walk, my palms actually started sweating just watching the video!

I guess I'm in awe of those who &quot;built&quot; it, but there's a part of me that says WHY?

Sam

markrosy Apr 26th, 2008 10:48 PM

That is another Spanish trait - do as instructed without question.

Similar to the &quot;write stratas of rules and ignore them all for fun&quot; trait in Italy.

Viajero2 Apr 27th, 2008 04:06 AM

Well, this is one more from the people who entice and run in front of enraged bulls. They truly give meaning to the words bravado and cojones.... 8-| 8-X


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