Caving, hiking and others Mountain Activities !
The DAHU marathon takes place in the heart of the Ariège Pyrenees, so you might as well enjoy the mountain ! Whether you are a big or small athlete, here are our proposals and suggestions :
CAVING
The Vicdessos cave, 5min from the marathon, is one of the most beautiful introduction to caving in the Pyrenees. We will join an underground canyon punctuated with small waterfalls and beautiful galleries under the mountain of the Olbier Rock.
This caving crossing in the heart of the Vicdessos cave is accessible from 10 years old. A small river that meanders on black marbles, veins of white quartz of all beauty that ends with natural slides like an underground aqualand.
Sensations and change of scenery guaranteed !
Chris, tireless dancer and professional caving guide, offers you two routes in this underground river :
– one without a rope, simpler
– another, a bit more technical, with ropes, to descend into small natural wells.
– Duration 3 hours, 6 people per group,
– Equipment provided : caving suits, knee pads, neoprene socks, gloves, helmets, lighting and, if necessary, harness and descender.
– Participants must provide sportswear such as jogging (or leggings), t-shirt (thermal if possible), fleece and a pair of sneakers that are not afraid to go into the water.
SMALL HIKE - Montreal-de-Sos Castel
– difficulty : easy
– walking time (without breaks included) : 2h
– height difference : 200m ascent 200m descent
The Montréal-de-Sos castle ruins dominate the Vic-de-Sos valley, nothing like it to have a magnificent panorama ! And as a bonus : several incredible little caves allow us to access the castle.
The departure will be in Vicdessos from the tree climbing parking. The climb lasts about 45 minutes, then we will take the time to picnic near the dungeon, before the descent through the Olbier village.
MEDIUM HIKE - Suc Orus village Vicdessos loop
– difficulty : easy
– walking time (without breaks included) : 2h30
– height difference : 300m ascent 300m descent
Starting from the mountain center, we will join the village of Sentenac, then, on the south flank, we will go to the Orus village, a magnificent Ariegeois village that dominates the Vic-de-Sos valley. From there, we will go back down to Vicessos to take, possibly, a well-deserved beer, before going back quietly up to Suc.
GREAT HIKE – Arbu Pond
– difficulty : medium
– walking time (without breaks included) : 3h30
– height difference : 400m ascent, 400m descent
At the foot of the 3 Seigneurs Pic, the splendid Arbu pond is the high mountain lake closest to the marathon. 5min carpooling will take us to the start of the hike, which starts with 45min of slight incline to get warmed up.
Then follow a 30min steep track and a gradual ascent of another 30 minutes to the pond. If there are motivated people, we will offer to go down by a variant, to the Mountain Center !
Other things to do in Vic-de-Sos valley !
– Treeclimbing, via ferrata and canyoning in Vic-de-Sos, for youngs and olds :
Http ://www.montcalmaventure.com/
– Niaux Cave : walk for 30 minutes in a cave to reach the incredible room of prehistoric paintings Https ://www sites-touristiques-ariege.fr/grotte-de-niaux/
– Other walks : Soulcem, Bassies, Port de Lers et Pic des 3 Seigneurs.
