Canyoning Initiation Course

The "Canyoneur Initiation" training day, under the educational label: "Universal Canyoning Academy", is an example of what sets us apart from other canyoning providers.

Canyoning is a trendy activity, accessible to all and which combines physical activity and sensations. How to choose the instructor or the organizing structure among the dozens who offer the "same thing" in the mountain valleys where you are going to spend your holidays?!

At Spéléo Canyon Ariège, we offer you a wide choice of canyoning activities supervised in the best safety conditions and with all the comfort possible. Our goal is to be very different from our competitors!

Imagine, you choose to come to Ariège this summer, you are alone or with your friends and you want to do an unusual canyoning outing. For this, it goes without saying that you need to be a small group of 6 to 8 people maximum so that everyone feels taken into consideration. The instructor will thus be able to give you his advice in an individualized manner. Then you must be well equipped, with almost new equipment and of course your size!

The day's schedule

Our "Canyoneur Initiation" day consists of gradually taking you into the canyon. After a welcome over coffee to get to know each other, we will discover the day's program. Together we will prepare the necessary equipment. The morning will take place at a school cliff, an easily accessible location 30 minutes by vehicle from our center. We will teach you the basics to progress on a rope, namely: how to rope, move on a handrail and of course abseil! Being dry, in a pleasant place and taking your time makes it much easier to learn canyoning! We will have a little time to climb and put into practice our various learnings.

A picnic break to regain some energy and off we go for the canyon! Having trained in the morning and knowing all the rope techniques will greatly facilitate your descent into the canyon. You will only have the pleasure of enjoying the atmosphere and the landscapes!

The aquatic part remains to be discovered!

We will see which swimming stroke is best suited to canyoning, we will learn to jump but of course, jumps are never obligatory!

Knowing your teammates a little better will help create a great atmosphere of sharing and fun during the canyon and your outing will be all the more exceptional!

And why not a 4 or 5 day introductory course?

After this crazy day of fun, we will return to the center to share the best moments of the day over a beer.

We will also offer you a summary booklet of all the techniques that we will have seen together during the activity.

It is possible to complete this day with other classic, but technical outings, which we offer in the summer. You can organize a 2, 3 or 5-day course and benefit from a decreasing rate and personalized educational monitoring.

This is how we are very different from our other colleagues, our priority is your well-being and our goal is for you to be an actor in your exit thanks to all the learning that we will have seen together.

Becoming a canyon crew member

With my friend Nico, we have gone on several mountain activities trips for our early summer holidays.

It is our special time away from our family duties to share adventure and freedom with each other.

After having tried out different nature sports, we became a little more interested in canyoning which combines a lot of techniques in an aquatic and vertical world.

This year, we are motivated to do more than just follow our instructor, we want to "get our hands dirty!"

I saw that there were courses to learn the first techniques in order to become a “canyon team member”.

A short training course to discover canyoning which takes place over two days. It also includes an E-learning course to prepare for the course.

Nico is excited by the idea, and we decide to register several months in advance to make sure there are still places available for both of us. We rush to study the online courses to prepare ourselves well.

What is a canyoning crew member?

The training program is intense and rich in learning! The mornings are devoted to theory, all aspects of canyoning are covered (general knowledge, organization of an outing) and in the afternoons we put into practice on cliffs and canyons.

A canyoning team member is a person who assists the leader of the outing to a certain extent (an instructor, a friend who is already independent, etc.).

This team member must therefore be able to descend, ascend a rope, hang on correctly, know the knots, understand the instructions given by his leader and many other things!

Nico points out to me that in addition to all the knowledge that we will acquire, the course is a good way to meet people. It is offered for small groups of 6 people who have done a few canyons in order to remain on a human scale.

Come on, be patient! Just a few more months of waiting and let's the adventure begin!

Chamjesk Adventure

The Chamjesk Adventure, a 3-day advanced canyoning course

A “Chamjesk Adventure”? Ok, but what does “Chamjesk” mean?

10 years ago, the Himalayan Canyon Team led by Rod Sturm, opened the way by descending for the first time "the biggest canyon in the world" at the foot of the Annapurnas (Nepal). The opening of this legendary canyon, named Chamje Khola (V7.A7.Ex), required the 11 participants more than 2 years of preparation, and the development of specific vertical progression techniques in "explo" mode, then 2 days of approach for 3 days of descent (2300m of vertical drop) to achieve this feat.

Today, the team of Speleo Canyon Ariege, led by Rod since 2004, after more than a year of reflection, prospecting and development of equipment is finally ready to welcome its trainees to give them a similar experience, adapted to their level.

Why such a professional approach? Why make the leap from an “associative and voluntary” adventure to the design of a commercial “product”?

Nowadays, the time for environmental waste is over, we all know that. And making an audience dream of adventure when they will have less and less chance of experiencing their own seems illusory and unfair. For the leader of Himalayan Canyon Team, only "Grey & light" expeditions and projects are still viable...

Rod with the team of Speleo Canyon Ariege decided to limit long trips and distant expeditions to refocus on the natural potential near their canyoning training center in Niaux, Ariège.

Thus, a mini-expedition in “Chamjesk” mode for an audience close to the Pyrenees seems much more coherent in order to allow initiated canyoners to live their dream of adventure, to share an experience with one of the pillars of the development and opening of international canyoning.

How can we share these extraordinary adventures with mountain activity lovers without going to the ends of the earth?

Rod and his team have imagined and developed a 3-day "combo" in the heart of the Ariège Pyrenees based on the model of the opening of Chamje Khola, aimed at amateur canyoners of all levels, in order to introduce them to the confidential world of canyon exploration through a unique program in the world. A great sporting challenge, respecting the environment, including two bivouacs, and reinforced by a specific educational program. This canyon improvement course will allow participants to train, perfect their canyoning autonomy techniques, strengthen their safety in practice, and finally, learn more and more... And it is certain that Arthur's photos will be circulating on the web for a long time to make more than one dream!

So what is the goal of this “Chamjesk Adventure”?

Linking three of the most beautiful and largest canyons in Ariège (Subra + Estat intégrale + Artigue), totaling more than 1000 meters of descent, and requiring two bivouacs, trained and supervised by Rod himself assisted by his essential photographer, Arthur Serres..

In order to descend safely, Rod, who alone will be able to supervise this advanced canyoning course, will teach trainees new exclusive techniques for descending large canyons and numerous tips to help them improve their autonomy in the activity.

The internship program will therefore include the preparation of this mini-expedition and training in the basics of information collection allowing the smooth running of such a challenge. A private screening of the 52mn HD film by Chamje Khola for a better understanding of the issues and to sharpen everyone's motivation.

Thus, prepared and trained, the small team of 6 trainees maximum will be ready for theaventure et l’exploration.

The activity will begin on the first day with the descent of the Canyon de Subra (V3.A2.III), including training in autonomous and team progression techniques and training in de-equipment techniques. Participants will be introduced to the specificities of the expedition (safety, reading, communication, efficiency, speed, equipment, etc.). Then in the evening, a comfortable bivouac at the foot of the canyon will allow you to recharge your batteries.

The next day, after a long approach walk of almost 3 hours, the highlight of the show will take place. The descent of the Canyon d’Estat intégrale (V4.A3.IV) which has never been descended with “clients” because it is a long descent of more than 700m of elevation gain, requiring technique and endurance. Improvement in the techniques of progression in autonomy and in a team will therefore be essential in order to progress quickly and safely. All this is completed by training in the techniques of de-equipment and optimization of the “expedition mode” (safety and mutual assistance of pairs, efficiency and speed, “light technique” and equipment, etc.). In the evening, at the exit of the canyon, the 5-star Chamjesk bivouac will take place: unforgettable!!!

Then on the third day, after a short transition walk, the descent of the Canyon de l’Artigue (V3.A3.III), much more aquatic than the two previous canyons, will allow a complete wash of the whole team. The Artigue is a classic in Ariège, and in order to bring something new to the participants already familiar with this superb canyon, the objective will be to progress independently and as a team with the assistance of Rod. Training in aquatic progression techniques (reading and analyzing obstacles, helping pairs and making decisions, anticipation, jumps, fun and safety, etc.) will allow team members to descend this canyon almost alone – And for those who want more, the (optional) link-up with the little Marc canyon (V3.A3.II) will be the icing on the cake!

Becoming independent in the Argensou canyon

The Argensou canyon and the journey towards autonomy

After a few outings in canyon, the idea came to follow a path in this field. To be able to progress, it was necessary to become autonomous. For this, Rodolphe offered training as an autonomous canyoner in June. Here I am embarking on the autonomous adventure.

I met my training colleagues, French. Together we followed the training course, between theory and technique and we had a good laugh, I must say. One fine day, we left with the equipment towards the Argensou canyon to put into practice what we had learned.

The weather wasn’t really with us, a little fine rain settled on our suits and it wasn’t that warm for a month of June. But we weren’t there to sunbathe, we wanted to become independent in canyoning. The Argensou canyon is a very easy canyon to begin canyoning when you are supervised, for us it was a challenge.

Everyone had a workshop to equip, we concentrated on knowing how to do it. The first time I found myself alone in front of the rope, it was something. What should I do again? And if I'm wrong... Concentrate, breathe, find the right solution.

Finally it worked, I set up a rope for the first time in rappel and I went down on it. I still had some doubts about the equipment. How could all this hold up? I was treated during a rope cutting exercise. I stayed a good twenty minutes above the void, a teammate had cut the rope following the procedure but something was wrong without putting me in danger. After that, I no longer doubted the equipment and for twenty minutes at the edge of the waterfall I had time to understand the fear of heights.

The training was very interesting, both in terms of canyoning and on a personal level, without forgetting the human side. We had spent a week together with colleagues, it was a good time for exchange and sharing. After this week we were autonomous in canyoning, we were certified by Universal Canyoning Academy and Rodolphe Sturm. It was the opportunity to move on to the next step.

If you are also tempted by the autonomous adventure, take a look at the training here: autonomous canyoner training