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©STEPHANE MEURISSE

100% adrenalin canyoning

Shake it up, folks!
Montcalm nature sports resort

For a day of thrills and spills, there’s nothing like canyoning at Montcalm in the Ariege Pyrenees. For my 25th birthday, my friends organized a surprise birthday party for me, with only one clue: don’t forget to bring a backpack with a used swimsuit and sneakers. Departure on Saturday at 8am. We left Toulouse very early on the A66 Ariegeoise freeway and crossed Tarascon-sur-Ariège an hour later, heading for the Vicdessos Valley.

First impression: the valley is truly superb, with a river running alongside the road, and as we reach Auzat, we catch sight of Ariège’s highest peak, the Pic du Montcalm at 3077 m, towering over the valley.

Surprise

At the water's edge

We settle in, the gîte in Auzat is cool and pleasant, the view is superb, the weather is wonderful and we take the opportunity to have a picnic by theEtangde Lers, a few kilometers away. Surprisingly, the scenery is absolutely magnificent, the pond superb and directly accessible by car. Free black horses in summer pastures, paragliders in the sky, the place, surrounded by high peaks where there’s still a little snow, is a real postcard.

The water in thepond is really cold, and I announce to the group that I’ll be foregoing a swim… Laughing, Cyril (who organized the day) informs me that thepond is reserved for fishing and that we’ll meet in an hour at Marc‘s village. We have coffee on the shady terrace of the restaurant next to thepond, where the view is truly remarkable.

It’s time to head for the village. Paul, our instructor, greets us in front of the hamlet’s chapel. His vehicle reads “ Spéléo, canyon, escalade ” ( caving, canyoning, climbing ), and I begin to realize that my jersey is finally going to come in handy! Each of us is given a neoprenewetsuit and booties, a helmet and a climbing harness. The suit fits perfectly, and my friends inform me that we’re going canyoning!

Fun and sensations

What a blast!

As Paul adjusts my harness, I tell him that, apart from a bit of hiking, I’m not particularly sporty. He reassures me that we’re going to slide down the riverbed using rope techniques, and that the activity is great fun! Everyone is soon kitted out and it’s an excited group that heads up the trail along the steep river. A quarter of an hour’s walk and we’re back at the starting point. The river has a moderate flow and we slip into the cool water to enter between the rock faces.

First slides, we quickly get into the swing of things, sliding down these natural walls before landing in large, crystal-clear pools.

The cold tickles my nose, I sneeze, and Paul and I burst out laughing – what a great job he does!

A challenge to meet

First difficulty, a ” Tyrolienne ” passage! After a demonstration, Paul adjusts my harness carabiner on a rope that crosses the river high up and with my back to the ground, I progress by pulling on my arms. Great!!! I’m through, applause, the whole group follows. A few more slides and we reach the first difficulty. A big jump into a huge natural basin! Impressive! Paul explains that there’s no obligation and that you can abseil down another route. We couldn’t miss it! My friends jump in (after a few hesitations and giggles), and then it’s my turn to stress out – it’s high! Everyone’s splashing around at the bottom and cheering me on, so I take the plunge and keep my arms at my sides, staying upright as Paul tells me. What a jump!

The big jump

A big splash, a heel strike and I join the others, overexcited at having dared! And the natural diving board is even more impressive from below! The gorges are very beautiful and I stop several times to contemplate the scenery, unusual from this point of view.

Proud of me!

A successful premiere

A final 8 m jump and we’re back on the Pont de Marc. Everyone’s delighted, we’ve really had a blast, and for my part, I even feel I’ve surpassed myself, having never done this type of activity before.

A taste for it

Towards new challenges

After the effort, the comfort, and we find ourselves discussing our exploits of the day with Paul on the banks of the river at Auzat, over a well-deserved drink. Of course, we talk about canyoning, and Paul mentions the Lartigue canyon, one of the most beautiful inAriège, with its turquoise pools, and a much more physically demanding 4-hour descent! How about it? A quick glance between us, we raise our glasses and make an appointment to come back this summer for an even more intense experience!

The Ariege Pyrenees, your oxygen bubble!

Looking for unspoilt nature, the great outdoors and white water?
In winter, ski, snowboard, skating, snowshoeing, sledging, dog sledding, at Ax 3 Domaines, Beille, Ascou and le Chioula, Mijanés and Goulier...

In summer, hiking, mountain biking, paragliding or canyoning...

And all year round, enjoy the benefits of the thermal waters at Ax-les-Thermes, Ussat-les-Bains or the Bains du Couloubret.
And don't miss the Grotte de Niaux and the Parc de la Préhistoire.

Not forgetting the history of our mountains and their heritage, pastoralism and local produce!

Book your next mountain vacation!