Canyoning!

 

 

 

 

One Wednesday we set out for a Canyon in the foothills of the French alps in a small village called La Trivalle.  We were using a guide service, Terre Liquide.  They geared us up with wetsuits, harnesses, helmets and rappelling devices and we took off up the mountain roads.  After a super sketchy drive we arrive at the top of the canyon to find 60mph winds.  It was a bit intimidating.  FInn has been saying for months that he doesn't want to do this, he got it in his head that he was afraid to jump in the water...this was not a confidence inspiring start.  Fortunately the wind subsided upon decent down into the canyon.

 

The plan was to climb / slide / belay down into the canyon and play in the water.   Here is Emma leading the way. 

 

 

 

Here is Maggie on the first rock slide of the day. 

 

 

And Finn was talked in to sliding in,  he was hooked and never looked back.

 

 

 

 

Ben sliding in backwards per the guides recommendation.

 

 

 

 

And here is Emma doing the same.

 

 

 

We picked up this drifter and let him come with us.

 

 

 

 

There was canyon pools to play in.

 

 

 

 

And a spot where you can walk on water.

 

 

 

 

Then we found this little cliff to jump off of, here's Maggie pitching off.

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Finn didn't even need convincing to jump off this rock.

 

 

 

 

 

 

A bit of upside down sliding for this brother sister combo.

 

 

 

 

Here are Mike and Kim, damn Mike, watch the hands, this is a family blog.

 

 

There was a slide a bit too steep do on our own so we were belayed further into the canyon by the guide.

 

 

 

 

This is Maggie on a long off camber slide.

 

 

 

And Mike.

 

 

 

 

We tried a 7-8 person slide train, we got a bit un coupled and then a quick re-coupling once we all hit the water.

 

 

 

 

With out kids on this trip Dave and Julie are looking so relaxed.

 

 

 

 

This is where we had to climb cables further into the canyon, we used a typical dual carabineer safety system where each climber is responsible to always have at least 1 beaner on the safety cable.

 

 

 

 

After the cable down climb we climbed down this rope and then had to let go and drop into the canyon pool below. Here's Maggie.

 

 

 

 Mike.

 

 

 

 

 Dave doing the same. 

 

 

 

And then the final drop before the hike out.  That's me up there, the guide said is was 7 meters, so if you have some kind of which craft converter please let me know how high that is.

 

 

 

And here is Ben.

 

 

 

And after being taunted with walnut salad jokes

Mike pitched off too.

 

 

 

And Finn finished our day with a last jump...

 

 

 

We had a long hike out, 20 minutes in 'guide time' which felt like a 45 minute sufferfest.  Great day.