I tested it for you Canyoning in the Bauges Bauges Massif

I’ve tested it for you!

Canyoning is a thrilling experience that combines immersion in the elements and pushing yourself to the limit. Pauline was introduced to canyoning at the Ternèze canyon in the Bauges massif. It was her very first discovery of this discipline.

Suit up
for adventure!

The meeting point? A small car park in Curienne, just 15 minutes from Chambéry. On site, the instructor pulls out the full artillery: booties, wetsuit, gloves, balaclava and helmet. He explains the purpose of each item, outlines the first safety rules, and off we go. Already ready to dive into the adventure.

It’s very hot, and I’m a bit worried about having to wear all this equipment for the approach walk to the canyon. But we can take shoes and **the walk is easy and short**, lasting about 20 minutes and taking us straight into the heart of nature, in the forest and in the shade.

Once the group has arrived, the instructor gives us our safety instructions. You really have to listen carefully and jump where he tells you to jump. He explains what’s going to happen, and **we start with a moment of acclimatisation**.

First dive

We got straight into the water to acclimatise to the huge temperature difference between the scorching air and the freezing water of the Ternèze canyon. The tightly-fitting wetsuit quickly became a protective second skin. And what a pleasure it is to feel that coolness when it’s so hot outside!

The initiation starts with a “joke” from the instructor: turn your back to the current and let yourself fall, without seeing where you’re jumping. It’s a little test of confidence… and courage! Step by step, you learn to let go and trust your guide. Those who hesitate can try again, until the fear turns into a shiver of amusement.

Then comes the build-up. The first jumps are tiny, just to get the hang of it and keep your “straight as an I” posture as you enter the water. Then the natural slides and slightly higher jumps come into play. You’ll have to scramble, climb and squeeze your way through… and the challenge increases with each stage. The canyon is transformed into a veritable playground, with adrenaline pumping as the waterfalls come down.

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I was born in Chambéry and I thought I knew its history… but I learnt loads! And above all, it’s told with such gusto that you never want it to end. Seeing your own town portrayed like that is quite moving. There’s also a real sense of complicity between the actors, a beautiful harmony that makes the show even more enjoyable to follow.

Maud

Thrills
and overtaking

There’s even a section where you have to be underwater for 1.5 metres. You can’t see anything, you’re in the river, under a rock. You need to know how to swim and, above all, you need to overcome your fear.

For those who are not comfortable with certain sections, you can progress by abseiling. It’s up to each individual to decide whether they want to push themselves to the limit for a particular passage, and to be helped accordingly. In any case, the group and the instructor encourage everyone, which is stimulating.

I think that to enjoy canyoning, it’s best to have already done a bit of climbing, or not be afraid of it. You feel more at ease.

I must admit that I was impressed by the section where you had to breath-hold under a rock. But in the end, it was easy, as the instructor had told us.

End of session,
with a smile on your face

The initiation lasts around two hours. On the course, there’s a lot of walking in the water. The instructor explains the geology of the Bauges Massif Natural Park, and is very good at explaining what we see around us in the massif.

Once the introduction is over, there’s a short 5-minute walk back through the forest. You can have a bite to eat and choose an aperitif option, to finish off with a convivial moment.

I didn’t really know what to expect before I tried it, which is why I’m sharing my experience today. I thought it was going to be similar to the via ferrata, but I wasn’t expecting to be in the water and swimming so much.

My impressions and my opinion of canyoning

In the end, I’m glad I dared to do the jumps and I’m happy to be able to talk about it to visitors at the Chambéry Montagnes Tourist Office reception desk. Daring to jump when you can’t see where you’re going really requires you to let go. You have to trust your instructor and the other people in the group.

The activity is open to children aged 8 and over. They’re often less scared than adults!

“A moment of sporting relaxation My advice for enjoying this experience: let go and let your childlike spirit shine through.