blisters/socks

Where can you find information about canyoning in the Spanish Pyrenees ?

Tough question : tough because there is hardly a region in the world where more info about canyoning (or properly speaking: descenso del barrancos) is available.

A little history : from 1889 to 1908 a French gentleman called Lucien Briet explored the region and canyons of the Aragonese Pyrenees, which he inventarised (the big ones). From the ’50ies onwards, French cavers explored the now classic canyons of the same region. The first topoguide, “The 100 most beautiful descents of the Pyrenees” (French edition) appeared in the beginning of the 70ies and with it the first professional guides and guided tours (1972 – as far as I can trace ). In 1980 the first topoguides, which could be utilised by a “general” public, were published and the sport boomed. I guess that for the moment about 400 canyoning-topos are published concerning the Spanish Pyrenees, with some brand-new and very promising books (especially of the French Pyrenees, long neglected) in the running. One can safely say that the cradle of modern “canyoning” was in these mountains, where first French and then joined by Spanish cavers explored, tested and worked very hard to make the sport as mature and independent as it is now. About the terminology : Canyon (derived from cañon, meaning gun-barrel) was first used to describe the the awesome Grand Canyon. However, in Spain, nobody ever uses the word except when hunting. . . The word “canyoning” does not exist in Spain and is not understood by the general public. “Barrancismo” or ” Descenso de Barrancos” is used from the very beginning. Some 30 years ago, French guides and press needed an evocative, appealing word to describe the sport (and every one of you knows how hard it is to explain it to an outsider) and created “canyoning”. Now I see the term “canyoneering” popping up. . . frankly, who cares ?!? I keep using the term “canyoning” because I am used to it, altough I have been living for the last 10 years in the Spanish Pyrenees (I’m Belgian). Which brings me back to your original question : where to find info about this region ? In the Pyrenees you can find the topoguides and maps everywhere, thing is, they are all in French or Spanish, and at least one in German. As far as I know nothing has appeared in English yet. If you’re interested in coming over and the language(s) is/are no problem, let me know : I can give you a list of the best titles or send copies. If there is such a thing as a language barrier, I’m happy to translate the topos of interest (not everything please ?!?).

Best spots: Around the National Park of Ordesa / Monte Perdido and the Sierra de Guara (only 40 miles apart), you’ll find an incredible number, beauty and diversity there (five kinds of rock : limestone, granite, conglomerat, schist and flysch – with all their special peculiarities, erosion and difficulties). Best period: mid-april to mid-june, a lot of water, lots of flowers and not many people (you don’t want to visit the more popular canyons in august, believe me. The last information I had was that between 150.000 and 200.000 people practise canyoning each year in Spain). Purists may faint at this number, but the impact is surprisingly low. Studies in the Vero, by far the most popular one (20.000 visitors each year. . .) have shown a better water quality after the season than before (!!!, probably due to the gunk accumulated during winter washed out by springtime high waters), the only significant difference by the end of the season was in the number of insect larvae between the pebbles where people trod. However, I just heard of another French universitary study that proves just the opposite – I haven’t got my hands on it yet so I cannot confirm this. So debate is still heated and will stay so for quite a while I guess.

If anyone needs details, my mail: pocoloco@skynet.be fax : + 32 16 23 54 16 phone + 34 616 59 56 84 (outside canyoning-hours please, I am not answering calls under a waterfall, sorry )

Happy canyoning,

Koen Viaene

—– Original Message —– From: Jay Youngdahl jay@swcp.com> To: canyons@egroups.com> Sent: Monday, June 19, 2000 8:24 PM Subject: RE: [canyons] blisters/socks

> How can I get information about canyoneering in the Spanish Pyrenees?

—–Original Message—– > From: Poco Loco Adventures [mailtoocoloco@skynet.be] > Sent: Monday, June 19, 2000 10:57 AM > To: canyons@egroups.com Just plain, 3-mm neoprene socks do the trick, the kind you find in every > diving/surfing shop without special soles (intended for walking across the > beach to deep water, we don’t need that). I have been using these for 15 > years without one blister. We even put them on for the walk to and from a > canyon. They also do a remarkable job of keeping pebbles and gravel out of > your shoes and keep up your overall body temperature much longer in cold > water than with just a neoprene suit. At home in the Spanish Pyrenees you > seldom see people without in canyons. > Another tip: use very cheap mountain boots (with a flexible sole). These > offer acceptable grip and some ankle support, always welcome on the type of > surface we prefer.

Happy canyons

Koen Viaene

—– Original Message —– > From: Teril Morton MORTONT@tucson1.otis.com

To: canyons@egroups.com

Sent: Monday, June 19, 2000 5:55 PM > Subject: [canyons] blisters/socks

I normally hike in running shoes but when walking for extended

distances through water I usually get blisters on my feet. Does

anyone have reccomendations on the best type of socks to avoid this?

Teril

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Old school buds here:

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Just plain, 3-mm neoprene socks do the trick, the kind you find in every diving/surfing shop without special soles (intended for walking across the beach to deep water, we don’t need that). I have been using these for 15 years without one blister. We even put them on for the walk to and from a canyon. They also do a remarkable job of keeping pebbles and gravel out of your shoes and keep up your overall body temperature much longer in cold water than with just a neoprene suit. At home in the Spanish Pyrenees you seldom see people without in canyons. Another tip: use very cheap mountain boots (with a flexible sole). These offer acceptable grip and some ankle support, always welcome on the type of surface we prefer.

Happy canyons

Koen Viaene

—– Original Message —– From: Teril Morton MORTONT@tucson1.otis.com> To: canyons@egroups.com> Sent: Monday, June 19, 2000 5:55 PM Subject: [canyons] blisters/socks

> I normally hike in running shoes but when walking for extended > distances through water I usually get blisters on my feet. Does > anyone have reccomendations on the best type of socks to avoid this?

Teril

> —— > Old school buds here: > http://click.egroups.com/1/5536/3/_/561701/_/961430144/

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To unsubscribe from the Canyons Group, send an > email to: canyons-unsubscribe@egroups.com