2025 LCC Alpine Paddling Holiday Day 8 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… Read More »2025 LCC Alpine Paddling Holiday Day 8 Saturday: Durance to Lac de Serre-Ponçon by Terry Smith

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.

2025 LCC Alpine Paddling Holiday Day 7 Friday: Lower Durance by Oscar K There was an old man from the MerseyWhose name was Dominic FaheyHe paddled with might, and to his delightThe Rab Wave showed him some mercy

2025 LCC Alpine Paddling Holiday Day 7 Friday: Lower Gyronde by Oscar K There was a little river called GyrondeWhich fed a mighty great pondChris came a cropper, but it wasn’t a stopperSo fortunately, he didn’t abscond

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… Read More »2025 LCC Alpine Paddling Holiday Day 6 Thursday: Upper Durance by Chris Murphy

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… Read More »2025 LCC Alpine Paddling Holiday Day 6 Thursday: “Insane Guisane” by Nick Coughlin

2025 LCC Alpine Paddling Holiday Day 5 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… Read More »2025 LCC Alpine Paddling Holiday Day 5 Wednesday: Camping Le Ecrins slalom site to St Clements, Slalom site – Middle Durance River by Sarah Gille

2025 LCC Alpine Paddling Holiday Day 4 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… Read More »2025 LCC Alpine Paddling Holiday Day 4 Tuesday: Lower Guil to St Clements, Slalom site River by Marcus S

2025 LCC Alpine Paddling Holiday Day 3 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… Read More »2025 LCC Alpine Paddling Holiday Day 3 Monday: The Veneon

2025 LCC Alpine Paddling Holiday Day 2 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… Read More »2025 LCC Alpine Paddling Holiday Day 2 Sunday: Espace Eau Vive de l’Isle de la Serre by Claire M