Our Final Day

With our trip drawing to a close there was one final chance for a paddle.

After eight days of classy graded white water paddling the alpine rivers have left their marks, not just on the equipment but the paddler as well. Everyone’s paddling has significantly improved throughout the week, with people paddling far harder grades of rivers than they originally thought they were capable of. Eight Days of paddling has certainly exhaust the team, but well worth it. The wonderful words of peer pressure “Man Up” instantly popped up for anyone looking for an excuse to get out of Particular River or difficult drop.

With water in the Alps decreasing day by day we were certainly luckily to have had the rivers in medium to high water flow. Groups arriving closer to our departure had to travel further afield to find good solid graded water.

The weather has definitely ended far better than the miserable wind and rain we experienced at the beginning half of the trip; I think we can finally call this a summer holiday.  A few even managed to use their short sleeve cag or just remove some thermals from beneath their dry suit.

This has been an exceptional trip enjoyed by all; there has been exciting times and scary ones, but most of all we got some phenomenal memories to take away with us. With so many more rivers still to attempt the countdown starts here to next year’s trip.

Very Hung Over

10 Very hung over paddles gathered their kit and headed to the Upper Guile. Due to the recent flooding parts of the mountain road had been washed away. A diversion had been set up but was controlled by traffic lights that changed every hour because; the road was only wide enough for single lane traffic. With a late start and time not on our side, to catch the traffic lights changing, we had to forego breakfast. Once on the river we headed down through a short gorge, just keeping up right seamed a mission as certain people were still drunk. The upper Guile was in medium to high water flow making the short 7Km paddle very quick. The get out was not means difficult but had a boat gone passed this point it was certain to have been broken into pieces. Just after the get out was the Guile Gorge 2 Kms of river in a gorge just the width of a boat (not a place to be exploring in any water flow).

Yet again we forgot it was Sunday and supermarkets don’t open. 10 very tired and hung over paddlers headed to Guillestre where we found a Pizza/ Pasta restaurant for lunch, very nice but a bit slow on service. It was going to be another make shift dinner out of left overs as we were out of fresh meat and veg.

The afternoon was spent sleeping in the shade of some nearby trees eating as much as possible simply to avoid having to take any food home. The evening’s entertainment was a trip back up on the Fournel, where we could make as much noise as we required and to avoid the risk of being thrown off the campsite.

Day 7 - Via Ferreta

The cheapest way to scare yourself:

After a late night we spent the morning chilling out at the campsite. Yet again for breakfast we cleared the local deli out of Brioche and raisin swells, the locals queuing behind us won’t to impressed. Mid-morning most of us took an ice cold plunge into the lake alongside the salmon course. A reward for this was a cold beer Jack had sunk to the bottom. Another cheese filled baggett for lunch followed an afternoon on the Via Ferreta course in the Durance gorge. We hired the harnesses from a local sports shop. On arrival to the Via Ferreta we were greeted by a map of the various routes, green, red and black. Now the instruction being in French we found it difficult to translate and picked a black route. Off we went, started climbing higher and higher, crossed suspended bridge after suspended to reach the highest point another suspended bridge some 650 feet up swaying in the wind. Very early on the group of 8 became 7. Harnessed on we began to cross the gorge, some fantastic views if you didn’t crap yourself from the sheer elevation. Once the other side a short climb up to reach the highest point before turning around and crossing back over the bridge. A couple of extremists decided to leap over the barrier of the water pipe crossing the gorge, slightly higher than the suspended bridge and take a free run back across. Jack was disappointed when his pulley wheel from his kayaking kit wouldn’t fit the zip line hanging above the bridge. If you were lucky some kind person stood and jumped on the bridge to shake wobbly passengers into a state of erratic panic. The evening was spent BBQing and raving with dance music pumping from van upsetting most of the neighbours except next door who wanted it louder. Some sore heads in the morning.

Day 6 - Run Away Boats

An early start to what ended up a disastrous day. The day started by paddling the Upper Ubaye, poor Jason took two horrific swims within a few hundred meters of leaving the bank. His boat went cartwheeling down the river and stopped suddenly on a rock flattening the front end. Joe mistakenly told Richard to eddy in because there was a large drop just the corner, what a mistake as he leaped out and tried to divert the drop, however we had only stopped to gain space between the two groups.

The afternoon was spent on the ubaye racecourse, what a mistake. Jason took another swim in monster stopper and then the fun began. His boat was stopped some several hundred meters later, by this time it was too far down river for him to get back. It was lugged high up the valley side and left under a tree for collection later that night. In the process of trying to stop the runaway boat Simon found himself swiped out by a tree heading upside down a grade 4+ rapid. With rocks pounding him in every direction he called it a day and popped his deck. The damage was later revealed when his helmet was heavily gouged and battered. He was majorly pissed off with this because after 8 years of paddling he has never swum. Luckily unlike Jason he walked away with a bruised hand & shin and lost shoe. Whilst this was all happening Jason climbed the river bank to the road and thumbed a left to the finish.

The river Ubaye consisted of some almighty stoppers some friendly and quite a few boating eatting ones. The wave trains were the hight of small vans. Normally wave trains are fun and bouncy, however behind these waves out of sight there were non boat friendily stoppers waiting to catch paddlers unaware. For some this river was not so enjoyable, seeing the get out was light relief.

The last swim Jason took, turned his already battered legsinto overdrive with swelling. His ankle swelled to the size of a small melon. The evening was spent trying to find the tree hiding Jason boat, this took several hours. With a late finish that night we quickly headed to the local pizza shack for dinner before closing time. To top the day off we lost our travel money in the supermarket, we think.

Some impressive insurance claims are going to have to be made when back in the UK for lost and damaged kit.

Today’s statistics: 4 Swims, 5 Injury’s, 1 Broken boat, Lots of bruises.

The art of waterfall running safely

A lazy start, with the morning spent doing throw line practise, live baiting and the recovery technics for pinned boats. We were unaware at this point that these technics would come in useful for the afternoon’s run.

A short drive to the famous Fournell where we could practise boofing (the move used to launch yourself away from the edge when running waterfalls) and how to land without breaking your back. The Fournell is a series of drops from 3 foot to 15 foot over a short section of river 500 meters long. Lots of runs had by all except Richard who was chief photographer, (a new facebook profile picture was found by all). Before running the drops we split into two groups half on safety whist the other half ran it. With people positioned for live baiting at the bottom drop we began running them. We were told in certain turns kit not recovered from this point very quickly would be lost for ever. No recovery point after this without death.

The largest of the drops produced some spectacular footage with people completely disappearing under the water, decks popping and some plunge pool recirculation for those who had a mishap on the way over. This drop also provided the ultimate playground for a few to strut their moves on the way over.

With our cameras full of photos and video footage we cleared the water a lit the BBQs on the river bank and watched the sun set into the evening.

Today’s Statistics, 1 Swim, 0 Injury’s

Durrance Gorge

Breaking news, the river claims its first victim. In an attempt to find a more technical and difficult river we find ourselves with a broken boat and a swimmer who came out black and blue all over. The Durrance gorge was an absolute must on Jason’s wish list of rivers to paddle. A phenomenal river with boulder gardens, underground caves, and trees blocking the path down the river at head height. Some fanatics video footage was recorded of the on the ultimate feature the Slot and Drop. This is a narrow opening between two huge boulders just wide enough for the boat before a rock pummelling drop. Just remember on the slot to put your paddle length ways down the side of your boat to avoid getting stuck. Immediately after the slot a power stroke on the right (no room on the left, as pinned tight to the gorge wall) before going into the drop. If you were lucky the drop would grab your boat and spit you out onto the gorge wall. A quick roll and frantic paddle to the first available eddy before the next drop. All was well until this point. Three swims soon followed this feature one resulting in an epic boat chase down the rapid for what was about quarter of a mile. Unfortunately their paddle was never found. Somehow Jack managed to split his boat open in two places and spent all afternoon repairing it. It seemed Richard had the best idea of the day not to paddle this river, a few others wished they had done the same.

The afternoon was spent repairing Jacks boat and sightseeing for Al, Simon, Dave, Jason and Richard. A brisk walk to some gite on the mountain side at 1723 meters with some breath taking views and several waterfalls of 110 meter.

Today’s Statics, 3 Swims, 1 broken boat, 1 injury and 1 lost paddle

Lower Guisane

After a late night drinking session, loud music and PC plod turning up to turn the music off, we were all feeling rather delicate. A re-run of yesterday’s river was in order as we know the lines and didn’t need to think too hard. By lunchtime we were half normal and stopped in a local park to have lunch on a jetty overhanging the lake. After feeding the trout in the lake we headed off to the Lower Guisane. This is best described as a boulder field in a fast, steep narrow gorge. Split into three groups we headed on down. We were soon grinning from ear to ear with excitement, for the majority this river soon became one our all-time favourite rivers. A bench mark was set, to match it, or better it. Poor Richard was wondering what kind of rivers we were all looking at paddling after another panic attack half way down.
Jason jokingly said we need to check our insurance to see if he could claim for a new boat, whoops I lost it paddling. Will he may not need to say that when he stoved the front end in on the boat after hitting a rock.

On exiting the river the eddy was missed by a couple. A line was thrown for a rescue which went wrong and the line was lost washed down the river.4

Sorry lack of photo today as river was too technical for stopping on.

Today’s statistics 0 swims, 0 Injurys and 1 panic attack.

Insane Guisane

On arrival to the next river the Upper guisane we stopped and set lunch in the local picnic site. A civilized lunch of filled Baggett’s, cakes, chocolate bars and crisps. Upper guisane’s little devil the S bend, a grade 4 rapid with massive boat grabbing boulders. We have quickly learnt that with the sheer volume of water flowing down the rivers enhances their grade rating. A grade 3 in the Alps in is more like a grade 4 in the UK. Tonight’s dinner, broccoli bolognaise with onion, mince, garlic, peppers, mushroom and red wine with long spaghetti and parmesan cheese.

Today's Satistics: 0 Swims, 0 Injury's, 1 Mild Heart Attack.

French Lessons

We were woken this morning by the sun rising over the mountains and the mist rolling off the peaks. Off to the local patisserie for breakfast and practice our French, un, one of the them please, pointing to the raisin wells. With breakfast over and giant lunch box set we headed into the mountains to paddle Briancon George on the river Durance. Our French speaking skills can into practice again when we tried to negotiate our way onto the river as it was blocked by a building site, no luck so a dodgy climb across a locked bridge over a huge person eating weir. The Briancon George is best described as river on steroids. A steep narrow gorge with large volumes of water pummelling through it. With the adrenaline pumping we heading on down. For Richard the adrenaline became too intense and started to have a heart attack, finding an eddy to stop in was easy said than done, what would come first, the eddy, or him passing out (the eddy). With everyone buzzing we loaded the vehicles and headed to the next river to see what else was on offer.

Introduction to white water French style

The local patisserie was discovered and chocolate filled brioche was severed for breakfast. The locals weren’t too impressed when we emptied the shelf of baguettes, local cheeses, pate, and ham for lunch, first come, first severed. The sunshine run of the river Durance from SND to Embrom did live up to name and produce a whole 10 minutes of glorious sunshine in-between the thunderstorm. The sunshine runs little secret, Rabi wave, a monster play hole of 7 foot with equally impressive wave train.

Typical boys out paddling spend so long on the water we forgot to head to Ed’s before closing time to get mincemeat for tonight’s dinner, vegetable pasta dish it was.

Today’s picture was taken by one of the Olympic Dutch rafting team training on the sunshine run.

Today’s statistics 0 swims and 0 injury’s.

Day 1

The long trip, 18 hours of Dave detours and special routes we arrived at our picturesque campsite. The alps greeted us with 24 degress of glorious sunshire and bizzare rain showers. We set about making our camp but Dave, Al, Sean and Alex couldn't wait and plunged into the ice cold river alongside the campsite. An eariler evening booze cruise to Eds ensured plenty of beer and chicken for our long awaited supper. Cooking tag team Jason and Simon set unpon cooking our 3 course curry for 10 people. An eariler night beckons as zombified people embark on tomorrows sun run challenge.

eight of Hastings canoe club are about to embark on a alpine adventure.

we are leaving on Friday evening but the fun begins with trying to fit all the kit / food and 8 boats in to 2 vans iv allowed all day.

were booked onto the 10pm ferry to Dunkirk then a 12 hour drive across France to a small town located in the durance Vally called L'Argentiere-la-Bessee were camping on a small campsite situated next to the river Durance

i will try and post regular updates and pictures through out our trip

ill let you now how the packing goes on Friday

until next time

Tiny