The Mascun

The Mascun Canyon is one of the most impressive landscapes in the Rodellar region of the Aragonese Pyrenees, renowned for its natural beauty and canyoning challenges. It is divided into two main sections: the lower Mascun and the upper Mascun. The upper Mascun, wilder and more impressive, attracts adventure sports and climbing enthusiasts thanks to its incredible scenery and its numerous rope abseils. It is this large-scale canyon that we propose to discover on this dedicated page.

THE MASCUN CANYON Canyoning in Rodellar

The Rio Mascun has its source on the desert plateau of the Sierra de Guara then flows not far from the El Puente campsite into the Rio Alcanadre. Surrounded by steep cliffs, the river winds for 15 kilometers at the bottom of the canyon, made famous by its epic exploration in 1956 by French cavers. Two villages are located on the edge of the canyon: Otin, a now abandoned village, and Rodellar, the outdoor sports capital of Guara.The Arabs named this gorge “Maskhrun”, which means “The abode of witches”, because of a multitude of fairy chimneys and peaks reaching towards the sky, like the Cuca de Bellosta (120 m high). height) which borders the ascent path towards Otin.Its descent is usually organized in spring, during the months of May and June, because the river becomes dry in summer.

THE GRAND MASCUN SUPERIOR, A CANYONING ADVENTURE

The Mascun Supérieur is a demanding and committed course which appeals to experienced canyoneers. The route begins with an approach walk of approximately 3 hours from Rodellar to Salto de las Lanas, during which we gain altitude to climb to the Sierra de Guara plateau. These steep trails cross wild landscapes, rich in Mediterranean vegetation and overlook the cliffs of the canyon.

The Salto de las Lanas, a sensational entrance

At the entrance to the canyon, an imposing rock amphitheater opens and the small torrent falls into the canyon to form magnificent hanging basins. The adventure takes a more technical turn: dizzying abseils, jumps into pools of crystal clear water. We enter the magical setting of the Mascun canyon.

The heart of the canyon: the Pozo Negro

As you progress through the canyon, the passages become narrower and narrower and lined with tall, smooth cliffs. We enter the deepest part, the river passes through an immense cave and continues into a very sculpted mineral world of rare beauty. Depending on the water level, the course can be very difficult, with multiple rope abseils. It requires a good mastery of canyoning techniques and excellent physical condition. This course is intended for people who already have experience in canyoning.

FROM EXPLORATION TO MEDIA PUBLICATION OF THE CANYON

The higher Mascun has not always been an easy place to access. Its history dates back several decades, when canyoning pioneers, fascinated by the beauty of this site, began to explore it in the 1950s. The first ascent of the canyon was carried out by Pierre Minvielle and his companions in 1956. The exploration was carried out by going up the watercourse, was fueled by several trips and misadventures, and lasted several years. The first descent of the canyon following the direction of the current dates from 1973 by Thibault Henry Labordine and Jacques Michaud. It was punctuated by a big celebration with the inhabitants of Rodellar. These canyoning pioneers played a key role in publicizing the site. Thanks to their efforts and the publication of stories and guides, the Upper Mascun has gradually become a mecca for global canyoning, attracting followers from all over the world.

“The harmony and baroque inspired by its rocks bear comparison with the famous American canyons” Excerpt from The Forgotten Sierra, Pierre Minvielle, ed. Rando Editions

DIFFERENT WAYS TO DISCOVER MASCUN

The upper Mascun canyon is not only accessible by canyoning. Indeed, there are several ways to discover this fascinating place. Hiking is a great way to enjoy the beauty of the site without venturing into the gorges. Well-marked trails allow you to discover the canyon, the Fara du Mascun. The Fara du Mascun Supérieur hike begins in Rodellar, passes through the village of Otin (exactly the same path for the approach walk to the canyon) then descends into the ravine via old mule paths used by the villagers to go get water. The return to the village is via a natural ledge (aerial path) offering a panoramic view of the impressive rock formations: an immersive experience, conducive to observing local fauna, such as vultures and other birds of prey, as well as to discover the endemic flora. Hikers can thus explore spectacular landscapes from a different angle than canyoning activity.

SOME ANECDOTES

The ascent of the canyon – Pierre Minvielle

Arriving at a visibly impassable passage, the team of seasoned speleologists cannot find a line of weakness to climb one of the two banks of the canyon. Back in Pau, Pierre Minvielle had the idea of having a removable metal mast of around ten meters made, in order to cross the jumps. The following trip, under the incredulous eyes of his companions, he successfully climbed the mast and installed a rope so that the team could continue the exploration. Arriving in a wider part of the canyon, he came across a shepherd and his flock of sheep who had come to drink: higher up, there was in fact a path via a natural ledge. “For us, the Mascun was not an easy or difficult canyon, it was the total unknown. Was it even penetrable for humans? Excerpt from The Forgotten Sierra, Pierre Minvielle, ed. Rando Editions

Night in the Mascun – Samuel Brault

In training to obtain the instructor diploma, I am participating in a canyoning course in Sierra de Guara. During the descent of the Mascun. Jean, tired by the journey, falls heavily from his height and breaks his ankle. We carry it to get out of the narrow spaces, but there is still a long distance to go to get to Rodellar, the only place at the time where we can call for help. Night falls quickly, so we decide to split the group in two: some go to call for help, I stay with Jean and an instructor. It’s the month of April. The helicopter surprises us around 6 a.m. by sending the embers from the fire flying. After Jean’s rescue, we resumed the descent of Mascun, not without fatigue. That day, I stayed in a neoprene suit for more than 24 hours, a great experience to complete my training!