2025 LCC Alpine Paddling Holiday Day 6 Thursday: “Insane Guisane” by Nick Coughlin
Today’s morning river was my favourite Alpine run, the Guisane. A group set off from the campsite at 9 am. Some waited halfway up, and eleven of us went up to the top. We had looked at S bends on the way up, so we split into groups to do the river before that. The top of the river winds through pretty woods with a few small features. Everyone seemed to be enjoying a bit of typical alpine river paddling. There is a very bouncy run through the town of Le Monêtier-les-Bains. The river then passes through a gravel section for a few hundred meters before entering a wooded section. We got out on the left bank before S bends.
We split into smaller groups of two and three. Keith went down first, followed by Oscar and me. The whole group managed to get down unscathed, and Marcus joined us halfway down.
The rest of the group joined us at Les Guilberts, and everyone paddled to the get-out at the Bio resort. This last 8 km section is one of the most picturesque in the French Alps. It winds its way through some quaint French Villages with restaurants and balconies that overhang the river. Every bridge is covered in colourful flowers and despite the speeding river, it is very tranquil and calming.
A great morning on my favourite French river.