But there is gradually developing an autonomous practice, a trend that Speleo Québec wants to promote with training and a new Guide to the security and supervision of canyonism.
“People are interested, they ask more, so we will be there to work on it, open new sites, increase the number of members and improve the training offer to ensure that people can do so safely,” said Guillaume Lamarre, director of Speleo Quebec, the Quebec Federation of Speleology.
Canyonism is a sport that consists in descending rivers cashed that have an uneven profile. It mixes hiking, swimming in bright waters and climbing.
As the number of practitioners is still relatively low and does not justify a federation of self, it is Spéléo Québec which inherited this sector.
There has always been a fairly strong rapprochement between speleology and canyonism, in Quebec and internationally. The French Federation of Speleology has developed several canyonism techniques.
Guillaume Lamarre, Director of Speleo Quebec
He notes that these techniques are very close to what is done in speleology.
Photo Jérôme Genairon, provided by Speleo Québec
Charlevoix is ​​a pampered region when talking about canyonism.
“In speleology, we go from top to bottom. It is the same thing in canyonism, which is not at all the case in climbing, for example, where we go up with the wall. The devices, the rescue techniques in canyonism have progressed a lot from those of speleology. »»
“Finally, canyonism is a bit like doing speleo, but in the open air. »»
Over the past 20 years, the Canyoning-Québec company has developed several supervised practice sites, notably in the Quebec region and in Charlevoix. There are some other actors and other sites in Gaspésie, Saguenay and in Chaudière-Appalaches.
Speleo Quebec, however, noted a certain lack of uniformity in the practices of the various players in the sector.
We tried to consult all the actors to agree and establish a guide that puts forward good practices for supervised activities.
Guillaume Lamarre, Director of Speleo Quebec
The Guide to practice and security supervision of canyonism also aims at autonomous practice.
“Many people contact us and tell us that they have made guided tours, but that they would like to know if they can do it independently,” says Lamarre.
The guide obviously addresses the security issues associated with canyonism.
“There is an aquatic component: you need skills in swimming and knowing the rivers,” emphasizes Guillaume Lamarre. There is a technical level linked to verticality, it is necessary to master the rope techniques. »»
There is also a commitment issue: if you can get out of certain easy routes halfway in the event of a glitch, you have to cross the whole course in other cases.
“We can be far in the middle of a ZEC, there is no cellular network and a rescue could take some time. »»
Like many outdoor activities in Quebec, canyonism faces an access problem.
Access is probably the most delicate issue. We must always make sure to negotiate access if we want to allow autonomous practitioners to go.
Guillaume Lamarre, Director of Speleo Quebec
Even when talking about public land, access is not automatic. Some may be surrounded by private land.
“In this case, you must request access to private owners to have access to public lands,” says Lamarre.
Photo Daniel Lapierre, provided by Speleo Québec
There is also potential for canyonism in Lanaudière, as here at the fall in Bull.
It is also necessary to discuss the terms of access with the ZECS and the outfitters if they are responsible.
“With regard to unorganized territories, it is quite easy to go there, but at the same time, these are often more remote places, where there are neither trails nor roads. Sometimes we have identified interesting routes on maps, but there can be work to do to go. »»
Speleo Québec works on an interactive map that would indicate the different sites, supervised and not.
It has been about four years since Guillaume Lamarre himself practiced canyonism. According to him, the most interesting aspect of this activity is a different perspective on rivers.
When we are in the middle of the waterfalls, we feel the strength of the water, we hear the noise, there is a different energy, a different look at a landscape which opens from a perspective that you do not see normally.
Guillaume Lamarre, Director of Speleo Quebec
And then there is the question of heat.
“Summer is always fun to go back to the different waterfalls a little. »»
Consult the Speleo Quebec website
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