Athlete Mirella Bernabeu walks a line of 510 metres suspended 180 metres high between Aragón and Catalonia, a milestone she considers a female record in Spain.
The athlete Mirella Bernabeu has managed to complete a highline line of 510 metres in length over the Congost de Montrebei, between the Urquiza Olmo ridge in Aragón and the area of the ermita de la Pertusa in Catalonia. The crossing was completed without any falls, according to diariodelaltoaragon.es.
Bernabeu claims that this crossing represents the female record in Spain for length on a chained highline. The absolute national record cited by the athlete herself stands at 1.3 kilometres, so her 510 metres would mark the longest distance completed by a woman in the country.
The installation of the line was suspended about 180 metres high, allowing for views of the Congost de Montrebei, the Canelles reservoir, and the cliffs separating Aragón and Catalonia. "It was quite exposed," explains Bernabeu, who also highlights the vastness of the views and the feeling of walking over the landscape of the gorge.
"It was quite exposed"
The setup of the line required months of administrative procedures. The process began last year when Bernabeu started the paperwork to obtain the necessary permits. The project involved Medio Ambiente de Aragón, the Confederación Hidrográfica del Ebro, and the Generalitat de Cataluña.
Initially, the activity was scheduled for October, but restrictions to protect birds forced a change of plans. Ultimately, the permits allowed for the setup to take place during September.
The setup turned out to be one of the biggest challenges. The permit prohibited the use of drones due to the presence of birds, a common tool for launching the first line. The team opted for a traditional method: from the ridge, a cord was launched that several teammates transported by kayak across the water to the other end. The operation was repeated from the Pertusa area until all elements were joined. The entire process took three days of work.
The installation consisted of a main line and a second safety line, known as backup, which accompanies the athlete throughout the journey. In this modality, the goal is to cover the greatest distance possible without falls; when achieved, it is considered that the line has been chained. There is also the variant of completing a round trip without falls, known as full man.
Several participants in the setup at the Congost de Montrebei managed to walk the 510 metres without falls and even complete the round trip. Bernabeu also chained the entire line, a result that, according to her records, establishes a new female reference in Spain. During the crossing, the athlete was able to observe vultures soaring in the area in an atmosphere she describes as particularly quiet and peaceful.
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