CANYONING/ADVENTURE COURSE/CLIMBING/AQUATIC DESCENT/RAFTING/HIKING
INSURANCE: All of the activites with "Des Guides pour l'Aventure" are covered by public liability insurance.
If you do not have a personal sports insurance we strongly advise you to take one for occasional pratice. We can recommend an individuel insurance accident with http://www.sport.lycea.fr/
PRICES: Our prices include: a state qualified instructor or Montagne Guide, individual technical equipment of quality in accordance with UIAA safety standards and European, and R.C. insurance. Our rates do not include: accommodation, picnics, and transportation.
CONDITIONS of PARTICIPATION: Our activities are open to all. However depending on the activities and courses, certain conditions are to be taken into account: age limits, knowing how to swim, technical level. You should not have a medical contraindication to the practice of the activity chosen (canyoning, climbing, floating, descent of the Grand Canyon, rafting, hiking and adventure trail). Important: you are not the object of a medical contraindication, but you are dependent on specific medical treatments, or your state of health requires special attention, you must imperatively inform the monitor before the start of the activity.
1/ Information concerning all outdoor adventure sports and activities
- Understanding the risks associated with certain activities and environments:
Outdoor adventure sports are exciting and rewarding activities but encompass risks associated with the natural environment (weather events, obstacles and ground movements, landslides, falls, etc.) as well as risks inherent to each sports activity (that range from “minor” to “strong” depending on the level and type of practices involved).
These risks are significantly higher for certain sports said to be “environment-specific” (high mountain, back-country skiing, climbing in adventurous terrain, caving, canyoning, kayaking in class 3 rivers and above, scuba-diving, etc.) where the guidance of a highly qualified professional is strongly recommended.
- Limit of the guide/instructor’s liability:
The primary role of a guide or instructor is to limit risks as much as possible, without ever asserting that it’s possible to completely eliminate them. This inescapable share of risk, which is inherent to any outing in a natural environment and any notion of adventure, can be the source of moments of discomfort, inconvenience, incidents or even accidents, linked to the specific characteristics of the activity and/or the natural environment in which it is carried out, irrespective of any fault on the part of the guide/instructor. This specific aspect must be taken into account prior to contracting with a professional guide/instructor. The client must therefore knowingly assume their own share of responsibility when deciding to engage in an activity and a natural environment whose inherent objective risks cannot reasonably ignored by them.
- Precautions and duties of the client with respect to the guide/instructor and the group:
Prior to any activity, it is essential:
- that the client inform their guides or instructors of their physical, psychological and technical profile and of any resulting precautions, restrictions and contra-indications with regard to the practice of the sport (by means of an information form provided or any other suitable means of information),
- to take good note of the information provided by the guide/instructor in order to be properly prepared with the appropriate gear.
During the outdoor activity, in order to not jeopardize one’s own safety and that of the group, it is crucial to:
- come the recommended gear (when not provided by the guide/instructor),
- comply with the guide or instructor’s instructions,
- and not hesitate to ask for more information if there are any doubts or concerns.
2/ Information specific to Canyoning
- Difficulty ratings:
The rating of a canyon applies to average or normal flow during the usual period of practice and is objectively evaluated according to a 3-component rating system:
- Vertical difficulty - rated from V1 (very easy, no abseiling, no rope, no climbing up or down) to V7 (extremely difficult or even exposed)
- Aquatic difficulty - from A1 (very easy, no water or water movement, optional swimming,) to A7 (extremely difficult or even exposed, violent water movements, dangerous jumps, etc.).
- Engagement - rated by a Roman numeral from I (travel time <2h, easy and numerous escape routes) to VI (travel time >2 days, long and difficult escape routes)
- Risks inherent to the activity and the environment:
- At all rating levels, the standard risks associated with walking (fall or stumble leading to strain, sprain or even fracture) during the approach, progression in the canyon and return phases, augmented by the risk of slipping on wet or mossy ground encountered in the canyon – that may be avoided by being particularly vigilant to foot placement and the use of specific techniques (taught at the beginning of the activity) to prevent or cushion any impact is case of slipping.
- Gradually from level A2 onwards, risks linked to the aquatic environment (thermal discomfort due to insufficient protection, slight injury to sinuses and eardrums or, very exceptionally and in extreme cases, the risk of submersion or even drowning in flood situations) – canyoning should therefore generally be avoided in stormy weather, all the more so for non-swimmers.
- Gradually from levels A2 and V2, risks linked to jumps and toboggan slides (accidental slipping, bad take-off, bad trajectory and/or bad reception which can lead to sprain, sprain or fracture on rocky ground, or injury to eardrums and sinuses when landing in water) - that may be avoided by only executing jumps and slides authorized by the guide or instructor and by rigorously respecting (and requesting if necessary) instructions and technical advice from them.
- Gradually from level V2 onwards, risks linked to rope use on vertical passages (in the event of poorly controlled progression, slight risk of burns/dermabrasion of the hands and sprains/sprains/fractures – against which one protects oneself by wearing specific gloves and by rigorously respecting the instructions and technical advice provided by the guide/instructor.
Nota bene:
If you are physically or psychologically fragile or if you have any specific contra-indications to the risks mentioned above, and if you do not know how to swim, you must expressly inform the guide or instructor prior to beginning the activity, and if possible, prior to finalizing the booking.
