PYRENEES (eng)

 

 Mountain skiing with good mates



                Pyrenees is a range of mountains that extends from the Atlantic coast to the Mediterranean Sea. The highest peak rises to a height of 3404m (11,168 feet). Generally the best season for kayaking is when the snow is melting April-July, and the highest season for work is July-August. On the western part, in Euskal Herria, the mountains are smaller and rain is needed. Most kayaking rivers are in central Pyrenees, with the highest peaks. There are many low volume creek rivers, and still have to run more. Usually the roads are near the rivers, but going from valley to valley takes time, specially crossing the range.

Kayaking Adour de Lesponne river, and smiling.

                There are few river guidebooks that are like bibles for some: “White Water Pyrenees” from Patrick Santal, Gorka Ferro’s Aragonian rivers guidebook, etc.  You can check water levels in internet:

-For the south: www.saihebro.com (or http://195.55.247.237/saihebro/index.php?url=/datos/mapas/tipoestacion:A/mapa:H3),

-For the north: www.eauxvives.org 

-For the Leitzaran and Araotz rivers near Donostia: www4.gipuzkoa.net/oohh/web/eus/02.asp

Raft guiding “El Puño” rapid on the Ara River

                Since 2000 I’ve been many seasons on the Pyrenees kayaking, river guide working, climbing, canyoning, mountaineering, skiing, partying, driving, dancing, drumming, juggling, biking and partying again. 

Enjoying the scenery of Monte Perdido and other peaks.

                I river guided  on the Ara IV, Esera III+, Cinca and Gállego III(4). I based in Murillo de Gallego-Ayerbe area (Gallego river), Torla-Broto area (Ara river), Ainsa-Boltaña area (Ara&Cinca rivers), Campo (Esera river) and wherever I wanted in my old sky-blue Mercedes Benz 208 named “KUKI”, slow but tough warrior.

Kuki Banda. Welcome to my nomad house.

Upper Ara river, the slides of Bujaruelo.

The big slide of Bujaruelo section, the end of a long rapid.

Zinketa river, another creek jewel.

                   Descended River list

PYRENEES
RIVER	SECTION	DIFFICULTY
Leitzaran (Gipuzkoa)	. Klasikoa	IV (5)
Bidasoa (Gipuzkoa)	·Endarlatza-Hondarribi .LesaKA	II II-III
Oria (Gipuzkoa)	Tolosa	III
Araotz (Gipuzkoa)	Urtegitik-Oñati	IV
Artius+Basaburua (Nafarroa)	Aizarotz-Urritza	III FirstDescent
Beartzun (Nafarroa)	Urtegitik-Elizondora	IV
Ubagua (Nafarroa)	Riezu	II-III
Urederra (Nafarroa)	Zudaire-Eraul	III (4)
Urrobi (Nafarroa)	. Auritz-Arrieta . Arrieta-Itoitz	III-IV II-III
Irati (Nafarroa)	. Irabiatik Aribera . Aribetik Itoitzera . Foz de Lumbier	III III-IV II-III
Zaraitzu (Nafarroa)	Foz de Arbaiun	III+ (4+)
Larrau (Zuberoa)	2sekzioak	IV
StaGrazi-Uhatxa (Zuberoa)	Kakoueta Goikoa Kakoueta Behekoa	IV-V IV-V
Ezka (Nafarroa+Aragon)	Desde Burgui Desde Salvatierra	III-IV IV
Veral (Spain)	. Upper · Middle . Lower	IV-V III (4+) II-III
Aragon Subordan (Spain)	Alto Echo-Cruce Lizara	IV (5) II-III
Aragón (Spain)	Canfranc-Castiello	III+
Asabón (Spain)	Villalangua-aforo	III-IV
Pozas de Bergosal (Spain)	Poza del arbol-puente	IV
Gállego  (Spain)	· Clásica · Baja	III (4) II (3)
Ara   (Spain)	· Bujaruelo · Las Rampas · Pte los Navarros-Torla · Torla-Broto · Broto-Fiscal · Janovas-Boltaña	IV-V IV-V (6) IV (5) IV II-III (4) II-III
Chate (Spain)	. Puente-Ara	IV
Forcos (Spain)	. Bergua-Fiscal	III-IV (5)
Cinca (Spain)	Lafortunada-Ainsa	II-III (4)
Barrosa (Spain)	. Hidroelectrica-Bielsa	IV (5)
Zinketa (Spain)	· Alto · Cañon Rojo . Bajo, clasico	V V (6) IV+
Irues (Spain)	. Confluencia-Lafortunada	IV (5)
Esera (Spain)	Alto (BañosBenasque-Senarta) Seira-Campo Campo-Km 19	V III-IV III+
Noguera de Tor (Catalunya)	· Alto · Bajo	IV III-IV
Noguera Pallaresa (Catalunya)	· Alos d´Isil-Boren · Llavorsí-Sort · Sort-Geri	IV-V III-IV III-IV
Aspe (France)	Desde Fort du Portalet	III-IV (5)
Lescun (France)	3km	IV
Aydius (France)	4km	IV-V
Brousset (France)	Alto	IV
Cauterets (France)	. Clásica . Middle gorges . Lower gorges	V-V+ IV (5) IV-V
Gavarnie (France)	. Clásica, alto. . Gorges de Luz	IV (5) IV-IV+
Adour de Lesponne (France)	. Hidroelect.-Baudean	IV (5)

SPAIN
Sella (Asturias-Spain)	·Arriondas-Ribadesella	I-II
Porma (León-Spain)	· Embalse-Boñar	II-III
Esla (León-Spain)	· Embalse-km12	II-III
Piqueras (Rioja-Spain)	Alto desde embalse  Bajo	IV III (4)
Najerilla (Rioja-Spain)		II-III