2025 LCC Alpine Paddling Holiday Day 1 Saturday: Espace Eau Vive de l’Isle de la Serre
This year was to be a three-campsite trip with paddlers dropping in and out at different times. We started at the Isle de Serre White Water Centre, just outside Lyon, which breaks up the outbound journey. We then moved on to l’Argentière la Bessée to camp next to the Durance River. There is a lake and a White-Water course next door. At the end of the first week, some of the group headed home to return to work while others stayed on to paddle the surrounding valleys. We then moved up to Bourg St Maurice and camped at the Isère campsite to paddle the river Isère and its tributaries. The trip is a holiday with late starts and sunny conditions. The paddling is from easy grade 2 to harder grade 4+, and you can choose which paddles you join in on. Ideal for families with plenty of additional activities to try.
Stuart T, Roy Mc, Keith S, Sarah G, John C, Mark B, Marianne B. Sue and Colin L, Steve M, Jacki J, Richard K, Suzy KW, John A, Chris M, Claire M, Dominic F
The annual Alps Holiday has been running every year since 2008.
Day 01 Saturday: Espace Eau Vive de l’Isle de la Serre by Keith
We arrived at L`Isle de la Serre White Water course early in the afternoon and set up on the campsite, which provided excellent camping, showers, a café and several restaurants in the nearby town. The advanced team were unable to negotiate the ex-army mess-tent with two fridges and a stove as a base. Martin and Nikki`s tarp had to make do during the intense thunderstorms that occurred every night.
The rain was intense during the thunder storms
The advanced crew had had a few runs the previous day after their journey out. We decided to follow suit, and we all enjoyed a few runs in the late afternoon. This course is man-made but very natural-looking, with rounded boulders and playful waves and good eddies for all. There are plenty of play waves, and it is a great place for getting used to the speed of the water. The water is also very warm at 25 degrees C, so no cag.
Oscar runs the large drop halfway around the course