This story offers a chronological reading of the events to try to understand how the Sierra de Guara has become today the mecca of canyoning in the Pyrenees, in Europe and in the world.
THE KEY DATES OF CANYON EXPEDITIONS
The first description of the Mascun canyon dates from 1874: a French explorer Alphonse Lequeutre crossed the region. He even says that the canyons inspire distrust in him, which is why he keeps his revolver in his hand. Then, several explorers attempted to map the Sierra de Guara: Lucas Mallada in 1876, The Count of Saint Saud between 1881 and 1885.
Lucien BRIET, the photographer of the Sierra de Guara
Between 1904 and 1908, the speleologist and photographer Lucien Briet carried out more in-depth and very involved explorations for the time. He traveled the Pyrenees on foot with his photographic plates, rented donkeys to carry his equipment and hired the services of peasants to serve as his guide. He published several works which went unnoticed for half a century, but he already anticipated the future popularity of the region.
The first explorations of Pierre MINVIELLE
From 1950, Pierre Minvielle, who knew the work of Lucien Briet, discovered the Sierra with his father. He undertook a long and meticulous work of exploring the canyons. We owe him in particular:
– The first descended from the Balces estrechos in 1951 with J.Mole, still considered a hiking trail;
– from 1965 to 1967, the explorations of the caves in the upper basin of the Rio Vero, then the complete descent of the Rio Vero: this is the first canyon truly carried out;
– The exploration of the Gorgas Negras in 1967.
At that time, the enterprise was complicated, and despite warnings from locals: “hay pozos” (There are water holes), Pierre Minvielle’s team continued their explorations. They were then driven by the search for adventure and very attracted by the aesthetics of the Sierra de Guara gorges.
Pierre Minvielle multiplies the conferences and releases a first topo of the canyons in 1974. His vision of the Sierra de Guara is very poetic, he often speaks of the fantasy of the relief. The central square of Rodellar today bears his name!
DESCENDING THE CANYONS: CANYONING
During these years of exploration, the decisions of these pioneers were taken with the mountain in mind. Like a mountain where we try to get to the top via a specific route, they try to go up the rivers to find the source of the canyons. In the same way as in caving, this ascent technique allows you to avoid being trapped in the event of an impassable obstacle.
Once spotted in one direction, they were able to travel through the canyons in the direction of the current. The first descent of the Mascun was in 1973 by Thibault Henry Labordine and Jacques Michaud.
Around 1980, outdoor sports developed: bare-hand climbing, board sports, paragliding, etc. The avenue of neoprene surfing wetsuits changed the situation and made it possible to accentuate the pleasure of a descent from canyon without being cold.
At the same time, the Sierra de Guara is facing an unprecedented rural exodus which is emptying isolated villages. Stunned by 40 years of Franco’s industrial policy, subsistence mountain life is collapsing with the departure of residents to the cities.
CANYONISM GUIDES AND THE NATURAL PARK
In the 1980s, high mountain guides decided to take groups into the canyons: this was the phase of professionalization of the activity. Businesses are being set up and this fun and aquatic discipline is developing in other mountain ranges. The 1990s marked 2 major developments in Sierra de Guara:
– The creation of the natural park in 1991 covering 47 thousand hectares, imposing a rigorous framework for access to the canyons for the protection of the heritage of the Sierra de Guara;
– the development of specific diplomas to supervise canyoning.
A true trigger for renewal, tourism linked to canyoning is becoming the economic lifeblood of the Sierra de Guara. The region is repopulating, especially in summer: campsites, hotels, restaurants and canyon guides are developing their activities thanks to the international reputation of the Guara canyons.