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2025 LCC Alpine Paddling Holiday |
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News
items or reports on club activities should be sent to website@liverpoolcanoeclub.co.uk |
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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 L, Colin L, Steve M, Jacki J, Richard
K, Suzy KW, John A, Chris M, Claire M, Dominic F, Martin A, Nikki A, Nick and
Noah L
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 thunderstorms
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
Click
or tap for more photos………
Day 02 Sunday: Espace Eau Vive de l'Isle de
la Serre by Claire M
After a morning run, I was
preparing for a chilled afternoon watching everyone kayaking from the safety of
the bankside. Then John Cooke said we are hydrospeeding if you fancy joining
us. I did have to think for a minute, did I want to chill and sunbathe or do
something that was way out of my comfort zone? With a bit of encouragement, I
decided to give it a go!!!
All suited up & after
some brief instructions, we were ready to go. John told me to follow him &
we gave the bottom wave a go, which wasn’t too bad, but we were now heading up
to the top of the white-water centre to make our way down to the bottom. The
top waves were really good fun & I was following John like my life depended
on it. We stopped before the biggest drop, all chatted about what to do &
John headed off with me to follow him.
Mark
Benson on a hydrospeed
All was going well until a
kayaker came along. He hadn’t told me what to do when a kayaker got in the way.
Chris from the riverbank could tell I wasn’t best pleased that I now had to
negotiate a kayaker. I managed to get past him, went down the first drop and
went right instead of left, where John was. That wasn’t in the instructions; I
was now leading myself down the next few drops. I held on for dear life &
made it. It was so much fun.
Next, we went halfway up,
jumped in & tried to surf the wave. I think I managed 10 seconds, lost the
float and went down the rapids feet first. Most people
managed to surf the wave and were all laughing when we got to the bottom.
Claire
Murphy on a hydrospeed
We were off again for one
last run all the way down. No kayakers in the way this time, so I can’t blame
them for me losing the float and taking those last rapids feet first again.
It was a great afternoon of
fun & I’d earned that beer in the bar afterwards.
Click or tap for more photos………
Day 03 Monday: The Veneon
We
decamped and headed over to Grenoble, then up the Romanche
Valley, and turned towards the Veneon. We drove
up past the new road and new flood defences following last year’s flood.
On glimpsing the river, it was clearly in flood, and it was very clear we were
not going to paddle today. The heavy storm last night had clearly affected
the whole of the mountain region.
The Romanche in flood on the drive up
Plan
B was to walk over the footbridge to the waterfall. This had also
been washed away, and the whole valley had changed. Even worse, the
small café was now closed due to all the flood damage. We walked up to
the get-on of the river section next to the start of the Via Ferrata.
This rapid had changed significantly and was a mass of swirling, grey glacier
meltwater.
Martin
explores the changes from the 2024 floods at the getting.
Richard
and Suzy had Via Ferrata gear and headed up on a three-hour, grade 3
route.
A Via Ferrata, meaning “iron path” in Italian, is a
protected climbing route found on cliffs and mountains, typically involving
ladders, steps, and cables fixed to the rock face. It’s a thrilling
activity that bridges the gap between hiking and rock climbing, offering a
relatively safe way to experience challenging terrain.
Day 04 Tuesday: Lower Guil to St
Clements, Slalom site River by Marcus S
I
am writing about the trip I undertook today. I have been camping in
the French Alps and have also been white water kayaking. We put on up a
dusty road in the Guil Valley and paddled past a very high waterfall. The
water was very cold but crystal clear. We played on some fun rapids
before joining the main river. The colour here was dark brown after the
floods, and our clear stream did not mix in very well. It was very bubbly
and wobbly here.
2025 07 22
Lower Guil by Sarah G 005
We
then paddled down through many gravel islands with lots of flooded trees.
There was a very strong headwind. When we got to the slalom course,
we paddled down through some very big waves and got out at a beach next to a
café. We then had to swim down the river to practise throw-line
rescues. You had to shout “line” and then the swimmer had to hold
their hands above their head to catch the line.
It
was enjoyable, and now I am currently eating pasta and looking forward to the
next journey we have tomorrow.
Day 05 Wednesday: Camping Le Ecrins slalom site to St Clements, Slalom site - Middle
Durance River by Sarah Gille
After a morning walk to the
top of the slalom course, the levels had dropped to what appeared to be a more
favourable level. The shuttle was sorted, and the clever people in the
group had already dropped their boats at the get-in by the FÉDÉRATION FRANÇAISE
DE CANOË-KAYAK (FFCK) site. The others had an enjoyable carry with
the boat and kit across the campsite in the heat.
Terry drops in to a stopper at St Clements
Some of us set off from the top of the slalom course and, after getting used to
the fast-flowing water, tried to catch eddies and surf the numerous
waves. We regrouped and set off downriver in three groups, having
fun in the wide river, trying to eddy hop, surf where we can and avoid the
trees. Not to mention a few quick ‘cups of tea’ on the wave, with a bit
of ‘washing up’ afterwards if needed.
We chatted and enjoyed the views, and soon arrived at the slalom course where we had
been the day before. A few decided to paddle straight down, while others
went back up and played in the features and pulled some amazing moves. A
slight out-of-boat experience was had by one paddler, and the chase was on to
catch the boat and paddle before the next feature.
Kurt in Olympic Slalom Champion mode, powering away
from the gates
Eventually, everyone was off
the river, ready for a picnic or a drink in the café by the rolling pool.
Another great day in the
sun/cloud/wind (but no rain).
Day 06 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
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.
Day 06 Thursday Upper Durance by Chris
Murphy
The previous two days had
seen the group complete one paddle a day, so I suggested that we tackle the
Upper Durance in the afternoon as it was on our way back to the campsite. “Good
idea, Chris”, said Keith, “You can do the write-up!”
12 of us got on in two groups
of six, at the lay-by by the side of the busy main road, and we began to make
our way down the river. This used to be nicked named the smelly river due to
the sewage outlet that spilled out into the flow. Whilst it has been cleaned up
considerably in recent years, there was still a definite odour lingering in the
air, which meant no one particularly fancied rolling. Despite this, the eddy
hopping opportunities are plentiful, and there is also a half-decent wave for
those who want to play. Not Murph the Surf, who, as usual, was too busy
filming everyone else. (The sacrifices I make!)
Mark B on the Upper Durance
Eventually, we came to the
get out, and the two groups took different strategies to get up the steep
riverbank to the lay-by where Claire was waiting to run the shuttle. Those of
us who had walked along the road were able to watch the second group pull their
kayaks up the steep slope one by one, displaying great teamwork.
Chris
Day 07 Friday Lower Gyronde
by Oscar K
There was a little river
called Gyronde
Which fed a mighty great pond
Chris came a cropper, but it
wasn’t a stopper
So fortunately,
he didn’t abscond
Nick on the Slalom Course near the end of the run
Day 07 Friday Durance to
Embrun by Oscar K
There was an old man from the
Mersey
Whose name was Dominic Fahey
He paddled with might, and to
his delight
The Rab Wave
showed him some mercy
Marcus punches through the Rab Wave
2025 LCC Alpine Paddling Holiday Day 8
Saturday: Slalom Site by Sarah G
In the afternoon, some of us
went to play on the Slalom course next to the campsite. This year, it has
changed after the floods, with a much wider channel and the top hole now being
a large V-shaped tongue. This is an ideal place to play and practise eddying
skills.
Day 08 Saturday Durance to Lac de Serre-Ponçon by Terry Smith
What a memorable day paddling
with peers in the French Alps. We launched our kayaks onto a gentle, grade one
stretch where the Durance river joins the lake. The
water glided smoothly beneath our paddles. The Alpine air was fresh and
exhilarating as we set a relaxed pace, the one-mile journey was perfect for
savouring and the awe-inspiring scenery around us.
Snow-capped peaks rose in the
distance. Above us, paragliders traced colourful arcs against the blue
sky. As we floated downstream, an eagle soared overhead. After our short
river journey, we portaged the kayaks to the serene Plan d’Eau
lake. Our little group settled by the lakeshore, sharing hearty food and
piping hot coffee—nothing ever tastes as good as it does outdoors. It was
more than just a paddle; it was a day of connection, natural beauty, and simple
joys amid the wild heart of the Alps.
Terry Smith
: )
Day 08 Saturday Upper Durance by Dom
Dom surfing the little play wave on the Upper Durance
In the afternoon, we loaded
up and headed up the valley towards Briancon and put
in at the third layby opposite the helicopter landing pad. The river was still
high from the day’s sunshine and glacier melt further up the valley. We paddled
as two largeish groups and headed down, breaking in and out. We journeyed past
a couple of rafts and soon found the playwave. Nikki
tried out Stuart’s Medium firecracker and immediately fell in love with its
auto surfability. It could soon be a new addition to
her fleet!
Nikki tried out Stuart’s Medium firecracker and
immediately fell in love with its auto surfability.
Jacki and I had to lead down
the hardest grade 3 section, picking our route and finding the eddies. Lower
down, we had to count the number of eddies we made in a 150m section of the
river. Rocks had seemingly been placed left and right and are one of nature’s
natural slaloms.
We headed on down past the
campsite and soon found the Danger – Barrage 300m sign. We took out below the
tunnel around the side of Prelles Dam, and with
John's training the day before, walked the kayaks up on a throw rope. We had
become a well-oiled machine.
Day 09 Sunday The
Ubaye Racecourse by Kurt T
A Team: Keith, Martin, Nikki, Terry, Sarah, John
B Team: Stuart, Kurt, Roy, Jackie, Dom, Stephen
Swim Tally = 9 (no names
shall be mentioned)
As we were staying at our
usual base camp in L’argentière la Bessèe, we had an early morning to set off to my favourite
alpine river in the next region over. The Ubaye
Racecourse!
We dropped a few of the group
off at Du Lac near the get-out for some sunbathing and light watersports. Four SUPs were also unloaded for some
post-river activities to come later on.
All twelve of us set off from
the usual get-in of Le Martinet Rafting centre. It was a cool morning, and the
sun hadn’t quite come over the peaks of the mountains yet.
Dom on Sharks Tooth Rapid
The levels were pretty low, but it was manageable. The whole group paddled
okay for the first couple of km. We had a swimmer not too long after, and it
wasn’t their last of the day.
It was a slow start, but we
made steady progress until we hit the first major rapid. Where the river splits
into two channels. We all got out to inspect and to decide on the best line we
could take. (During winter/spring, the river often floods, changing the
riverbed, creating new flows.)
Five Paddlers portaged
(including Ste Hitchin). The rest went down with no issues.
The rest of the section was
standard until we hit the gorge, just above the infamous shark’s tooth rapid.
We had a few swimmers whilst navigating our way through, but these were dealt
with speed and efficiency, with paddlers back in boats ready to continue the
rest of the section.
The rapids soon sloped off,
and we arrived at Keith’s famous picture rock in the big eddy above the final
grade 4 rapid. All got down this apart from one… Stuart also had to roll his
way through. We put this down to his “slicey” boat.
Keith’s famous picture rock in the big eddy above the
final grade 4 rapid
Heading under the Roman
bridge, we tackled the last remaining section as one big group. Getting out of
the river on the left side of the boulder beach and up the steps towards the
cars.
We then headed up to Du Lac
for a snooze, beer, swim and paddleboard.
A great day was had by all,
and an amazing test for some paddlers in the group. New skills learned, tested
and lifelong memories were made for parts of the group doing their first
descent. All with a smile on their face.
Day 10, Monday Glacier Blanc by Keith
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The 4 of
us got up early to miss the extreme heat of the day during the climb. Terry drove us up past Ailefroide
climbing centre and parked at Refuge du Pré de Madame Carle. In the car park,
we saw three chamois (mountain deer) and 4 marmots. The sunny conditions were actually cloudy with very light rain. We set off up the hill and crossed several
glacial streams. After about an hour,
we saw the Glacier Blanc. Marcus had
told us all about the hidden glacier noir with it covering of rocks and debris.
After a short rest, we
descended to the infamous bridge for the annual photograph to show how fast the
glacier was retreating. We then headed on up in light non-wetting rain towards
the ancient refuge. After about 30
minutes, we climbed up the Refuge du Glacier Blanc. There was still some non-wetting rain falling
so we headed inside to the warmth of the dining area. 4 bowls of hot drinks were purchased but
Terry had dropped in on a game of chess being played by some German walkers and
proceeded to tell them the rules of the game.
After constant coaching from Terry the next game had him playing against
all three. 45 minutes later and he was
still playing!
We eventually headed down in
the still non-wetting rain and emerged at the Ecrins
museum which was now open. The photos
and models of the glacial recession were impressive. We finished with drinks at Refuge du Pré de
Madame Carle.
Glacier Blanc (like 90% of the worlds glaciers) has been
retreating (Shrinking) over the last 100 years due mainly to global warming.
Glacier Blanc is
on the east side of Barre Des Ecrins the southernmost
of the 4000 m peaks in the Alps. It is the largest glacier on the peak. The
glacier began a sustained retreat after 1870, that ceased in 1895-1900 , 1915-1920, 1935-1940 and 1980-1990 (Cossart et al,
2006). The glacier has shrunk by 5-10% of the total glacier volume during
1981-2005 (Rabatel et al, 2008). The series of
images below are used to examine the retreat over the last 14 years of Glacier
Blanc with LCC trips to the region. The first image is from 2008 and shows
the glacier very low down and almost level with the bridge. By 2025 it has retreated right up the valley
and is now along way above the refuge at 2550m.
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2020 |
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Glacier Blanc (like 90% of the world’s glaciers) has
been retreating (Shrinking) over the last 100 years due mainly to global
warming.
Day 10 Monday Mountain Kart by Ste H
Serre Chevalier Vallée
Mountain Cart and scooter
experience https://www.serrechevalier-pass.com/fr/mountainkart
On a day off, 6 of us decided
to head up to Serre Chevalier, up the valley through Briançon and try some
downhill summer sports, namely Carts. 3-wheeled contraptions with big rubber
tires and a cloth seat. Independent brakes and footrests. What could possibly
be more fun?
Roy in front of the Serre Chevallier Sign
On arrival at the base of the
cable car, we purchased our tickets to take us up to the top, where we were
kitted out with helmets, goggles and shown a safety video. The staff were
great. Then we were fitted for our carts S, M, L & XL. At 6’2”, in was very
comfortable in my Cart. We rolled them down to our next form of public
transportation, chair lifts. If you’ve never been on one, they are great. One
cart is attached to each Chair with 3 riders on each.
Soon at the top, we kitted up
and rolled to the start of the easier of the 2 runs. One at a time trundled
down the start of the hill. The next 4 km was a blur! Quite literally the most
exhilarating adrenaline rush of sharp turns, dust, grit, skidding around
corners and vibration I’ve ever experienced. You can dictate your speed, and
there is plenty of room to pass or be passed by other carts. As the writer
found out, weight and nerve on the downhill section make up time, and despite
starting 2nd and making a hash of a corner, resulting in being in 4th
for a spell, the front runners were reeled in until a slow cart blocking Sarah
enabled an F1 overtake and a win!
Mountain Kart by Sarah Gille
Sadly, run 2 on the hard
course was not as successful. Roy took a scooter option on this run and had a
great time standing up on the red track. However, my dreams of a second victory
were dashed by an out-of-cart experience on a sharp left-hand bend, OUCH!
Gravel rash be damned, this is brilliant, and we were all on a high that day.
Thanks to Sarah for spotting the opportunity, and Dom, Jackie, Roy, and Stuart
for making it a fantastic event. Well worth the fee.
Stephen Hitchen
Day 10 Monday Argentiere
Stadium by Sarah G
In
the afternoon, some went on the Lake on paddle boards while others used their
kayaks to try out the slide down into the lake. We also did some rolling
practice.
Day 11 Tuesday Lower Guil by Martin A
Day 11 Tuesday Lower Guil by Martin A
After some confusion over
shuttles, we arrived at the get-on and were soon unloaded. As we prepared to
launch, Keith stole Roy’s small Firecracker (which was practically underwater –
squirt-like), so Roy had to paddle Keith’s playboat, which dwarfed him.
We split into 2 groups of 7,
and Keith’s group launched first. We made our way down the first few easy
rapids, enjoying the scenery, including some cool rock towers and the waterfall
that wasn’t. We played on some waves.
Sarah below the walls of the Fortified Village of
Mont-Dauphin
Before long, we overtook
Keith’s team and Jackie took over leading and led us through the last of the
rapids on the Guil, through the confluence with the Durance and expertly found
the route through the many channels of the Durance down to the top of the St
Clements slalom site.
Steve hits a wave on the slalom course
After a quick breather, and
without any hesitation (well done, Sue!), we all dropped into the slalom
course. Some stopped to play on the various waves while others took a more
direct route. The slalom site was overrun with other paddlers, and probably the
busiest we’ve ever seen, so nobody stayed too long.
A great run with no swims on
the slalom course. Well done, everybody!
Paddlers: Roy, Nikki, Martin,
Jackie, Mark, Sue, Colin, Keith, Stuart, Sarah, Steve, Terry, John & Dom
Day 11 Tuesday Middle Guil by Nikki A
The second river of the day,
and we were upping the ante.
We drove up the Guil valley,
stopping to inspect the get-out, the get-in and Tunnel Rapids. After much
discussion and watching another group paddle Tunnel Rapids, we decided to get
on below it and just enjoy the best part of the river. A non-stop Grade 3 with
a harder Grade 4 section towards the end.
Five of us launched. Roy and
Keith took it in turns leading the way, with Sarah following, then me, and
Stuart bringing up the rear.
The get-in and Tunnel Rapids
Deep in the gorge, we picked
our way slowly through the rocks and waves, eddying out regularly to check the
route. I tried to smile for the many photos, both on the river and from the
bank or roadside high above, but I was too busy concentrating most of the time!
The further downstream we
got, the steeper the river got. We relied on Keith and Roy to pick good routes
down the rapids, but we kept our distance to give us each space to pick our own
lines between the boulders, through the waves, avoiding the stoppers and
reacting to whatever the river through at us, including all the must-make
eddies. After one such eddy, I broke in to drop down into a small pool before
the next rapid, but the river got the better of me and I found myself upside
down. Rolling back up (yay me!), I hurriedly paddled for an eddy… just in time…
we were at the top of the grade 4 section.
I hurriedly paddled for an eddy… just in time… we were
at the top of the grade 4 section.
Stuart got out to have a
quick look and gave us some brief instructions. Roy went first, followed by
Keith. With both down safely, Sarah followed. As Sarah disappeared over the
drop, Stuart said to me that Sarah had the perfect line. However, I couldn’t
help but observe that Sarah hadn’t popped out the bottom the right way up.
However, Sarah is never upside down for long. After taking a deep breath, I
headed to my possible doom. I squeezed through the entrance rocks and dropped
over the edge, trying to guess which edge I was going to land on and be ready
with a brace, but I popped straight up and out and breathed a sigh of relief.
There was another harder
rapid requiring us to navigate some big boulders and holes, and then we were
onto easier water for the last 100m to the get-out.
A thoroughly enjoyable, if a
little challenging, river section that kept me on my toes. Thanks, everyone.
Day 12 Wednesday, Lower Durance by Nick
L and Noah L
After a week and a half of
Alpine adventure, Day 12 brought the group to the Lower Durance for a
second time – a refreshing change of pace after the steeper and splashier
rivers of earlier in the trip. This was
our first river, having driven out for a late holiday and only just joining the
club who were, by now, well into their routines.
We launched just below St
Clément, into a broad river flanked by spectacular Alpine scenery. The
Lower Durance is often described as a "relaxed" paddle – and it
didn’t disappoint. A long, wide river with fast-flowing current, plenty of wave
trains, and the occasional boulder garden to keep us alert.
Noah paddling on the Lower Durance
The group quickly found their
rhythm, cruising along with some gentle ferry gliding and eddy hopping. A few
playful sections gave us the chance to practise surfing and breaking in/out,
but it was mostly about covering distance and soaking in the sunshine (with the
occasional cooling splash).
Nick on the Rabioux Wave
One highlight was the Rabioux Wave – a classic feature that always
brings excitement. Some charged through the tongue with confidence, while
others tested their luck trying to surf or spin, with varying degrees of
success. The viewing rock made for a great photo spot and commentary platform. We had lunch here, and Terry and Marcus had
to leave to get to the rafting session they had booked for 2 pm.
Noah paddles through the “Rab” Wave
No swims today – though a few
"questionable lines" kept the rest of us entertained. Credit to our
newer paddlers, who handled the current and features with growing confidence.
We finished the paddle just
above Embrun, tired but happy, and more than ready for ice cream.
Another fantastic day on the water, blending mellow cruising with just enough
challenge to keep us sharp.
Day 12 Wednesday, Rafting the Lower
Durance by Terry S
Today I really enjoyed an
organised commercial raft trip that was filled with laughs and spills, along
the Durance River. We enjoyed several grade three features from the safety of the
raft and had amazing fun. Thank you, sue for organising this event.
Terry Smith :-)
Day 13 Thursday, Veneon
by Roy M
The
mighty Vénéon delivered a truly Alpine experience –
glacier-fed, fast-flowing, and unmistakably cold! We put on just below the Via
Ferrata, beneath towering cliffs and snow-dusted peaks, and paddled down to Le
Plan du Lac, conveniently finishing beside the local rafting centre.
A few lively boulder gardens and wave trains kept
everyone on their toes
The
water was crystal clear, ice-cold, and turquoise – the kind of glacial beauty
that’s hard to describe but unforgettable to paddle. A few lively boulder
gardens and wave trains kept everyone on their toes, but it was the scenery
that really stole the show.
Halfway
down, we stopped for a short walk up to a spectacular waterfall, thundering
down the cliffs above us. Nikki and Sarah braved the plunge pool at the base –
a quick dip that was equally exhilarating and freezing! A true Alpine refresh.
Nikki and Sarah braved the plunge pool at the base
After
the main paddle, we decided to explore further up the valley, scouting for
Roy’s elusive friendly stretch of Grade 3. What we actually found was a serious step up: steep, technical white
water, much more in the Grade 4/5 range. Safe to say we left that section to
the experts (or future ambitions…).
A
memorable day – stunning scenery, playful rapids, and the kind of cold that
keeps you moving. One for the Alpine scrapbook.
Day 14 Friday, Isere by Stuart T
Day 14, Friday, Isere by Stuart T
Having arrived at the Bourg
St Maurice campsite the previous evening, we had unpacked and set up the LCC
campsite. The campsite is fantastic, based next to the river. Featuring
its immaculate shower block and bistro. All for the sum of 5 euros each per
night, brilliant. The river is dam-fed,
with one am and one pm release (all at no cost). Today’s release was to be
around 30 Cumecs.
Martin paddling on the Isère
Following our breakfast, Roy,
Keith, Nicky, Martin, Sarah, and Stuart made their way to the get-in, only 30
meters from the tents. The river is classified as grade 4, so the water
gradually builds in intensity. It has a big volume, with lots of stoppers,
pour-overs, and boulders to avoid. Having paddled together for two weeks, we
worked well as a team, taking frequent stops in the not-so-frequent eddies.
Those paddling low-volume boats were having more of a view of the sky at times.
After the Aimes rapid, named
after the nearby town, we met up with lots of rafts and their supporting safety
kayakers.
We then arrived at the gorge
section, where the currents formed a huge recirculating eddy that was difficult
to escape.
Roy, Stuart, Nikki and Sarah in the gorge
At this point, the rafts all
stopped and allowed their clients to climb the high walls and jump into the
deep water. With one last tough wake-up rapid, we made it to the get-out, 20
kilometres and 2 and a half hours later.
Some of the team went for ice
cream to celebrate, while Steve had kindly agreed to pick us up.
This is one of my favourite
rivers.
Stuart T
We all journeyed home in
small groups on various days, some driving overnight while others took as long
as three days visiting various French towns.
Steve and Roy even visited Belgium to pay respect to Steve's Grandfathers
war grave. As we drove, we were all
starting to plan next year's trip.
