Why come canyoning with us this summer?

Why canyoning with us?

At Spéléo Canyon Ariège, you are welcomed in our canyoning center around a coffee to get to know each other. We take the time to introduce ourselves, get to know each other and explain the program for the day. We provide you with the equipment from A to Z, starting with canyoning shoes, the complete neoprene suit, the harness and the helmet. With us, you are above all a trainee, big or small, we train you in canyoning descent techniques. This is why you will have a complete briefing at the entrance to the canyon to be able to move safely along the course. We have been teaching each person according to their level and their desire to learn for several years now. You will benefit from the unique know-how of instructors who are also international canyoning trainers! With family, friends or for a bachelor party, we always adapt to our audience. After having enjoyed the outing, we meet at the center to have a drink and talk with you about the day.

What is canyoning?

First of all, canyoning is an outdoor activity in the mountains. Lovers of nature and wide open spaces will be able to enjoy themselves and take in the view. The idea is to descend into a gorge or canyon. To do this, you go up to the start of the canyon, this is the approach walk. The duration of a canyon varies depending on its size and its approach walk. It varies in the Vicdessos valley between fifteen minutes for the Marc canyon and two and a half hours for Estat canyon. Once you reach the beginning of the canyon, you will descend using several techniques. The first and essential one is to walk in the water, on the rocks. Then, depending on the obstacles you encounter, you will be able to jump into a "pot" of deep water. If jumping is not possible, you may be able to slide down a slide or descend on a rope by rappelling. Of course, no jump is mandatory for us. When you arrive in the water, you will swim to reach the next obstacle. The obstacles are often waterfalls of varying sizes.

Why is canyoning good for you?

Canyoning is a mix of several activities, between walking, swimming and rope, you use all your muscles without even realizing it. You spend yourself with a smile and that's good for hanging out at the beach afterwards. Your brain is busy analyzing an environment it doesn't know. Suddenly, it no longer thinks about the effort it is making or the work that remains to be done at home. Everyday worries fly away in a waterfall of fresh water. Faced with more or less difficult obstacles, everyone faces their fears and challenges. Surpassing oneself is at the heart of the activity. It's still super cool to turn around to see that you have gone down that rappel or jumped that waterfall, it's not every morning that you do that, it makes you smile and it works the zygomatic muscles, one more muscle that works!

To spend a unique moment in the heart of nature, in the heart of the Ariège Pyrenees Natural Park, where you can surpass yourself while being accompanied by professionals, it's happening with us!

So, what are you waiting for to go canyoning with us this summer?

Getting started in the Artigue Canyon

How to start canyoning?

I started canyoning by chance, if chance exists. I met Rod in Ariège during a barbecue with friends. He was looking for people who spoke English to go on an outing to the Canyon de l’Artigue. He was giving a Assistant Instructor training course within the ICOpro structure. I was with two friends, we knew how to speak English but we knew nothing about canyoning and we had never heard of ICOpro. We said yes, and off we went.

The future Assistant Instructors welcomed us enthusiastically. They came from all over the world; a Scot, a Brazilian, a Frenchman, an American… They showed us the canyoner’s equipment and the activity. It was about going down a canyon using various techniques; we were going to go tobogganing, abseiling, jumping and walking. During the approach walk I remember feeling a mixture of curiosity, apprehension and well-being. We were moving around the mountain and that was already great. Rod showed us how to use the pirana to abseil down a rope. Well, we knew that, it was not bad. All that remained was to do it.

The international Assistant Instructors reassured us, we weren't too smart in this river nestled between the rocks. I was afraid of heights, or at least I thought I was, I didn't like the heights and the first jump was difficult, after that it was as funny as a kid jumping into the water. And then the rappel... The first rappel I didn't act proud, I wondered if the rope would hold, I didn't know what to do with my feet, a little drop of sweat ran down my forehead and it went very well.

So we spent a good part of the day, going down the Artigue canyon in joy and good humor speaking English. It was a treat to share this moment with my friends but also with these people who came from faraway lands. At the end of the canyon we turned around with our friends to say that we had gone down our first canyon. We all met at the Spéléo Canyon Ariège center to debrief the day. We received our ICOpro cards, we were family, we were initiated. And for me it was the beginning of the canyoning adventure.