Via ferrate La Pichona Prehistokids Prehistochilds

With Shana, Augustin, Erwän, Thiago, Eric, Clea, Mahé, Faustina, Raphaël, Thaïs, Eloise, Sebastian, Christophe, Nico et François.

During this very rainy week, we keep looking at the weather. This precipitation was becoming necessary but not welcome for this weekend. It will do. And Monsieur Eole will remain shy, thank you Mr. Wind.

We leave to do “the Pichona”, via ferrate in Saint Paul de Fenouillet from 150 meters long, developing on 80 vertical meters. Here is a good way to discover the sensations of climbing and freedom at full throttle, understand in a vacuum. Breathtaking experience, between hiking and mountain climbing. For the boeotians, the via ferrate (from italian “track”) is a sporting route laid out in a rock wall, equipped with specific metal elements intended to facilitate progression. Safety is optimal thanks to a lifeline that allows practitioners to self-belay. The Italian army developed this activity from the beginning of the XXth century by equipping certain steep passages of the Dolomites with handrails and rungs to allow Alpine military troops to cross these passages with heavy equipment..

So “via ferrate” ou “via ferrata” ? In French, we are talking about via ferrata but the term via ferrate from Italian (and with the accent of papi Matilde) is much more charming.

14h15, preparation in the parking lot. We check helmet, harness and lanyard via ferrate. Processionary caterpillars start. Security techniques are well applied. Just repeat them three times at the start 🙂 . All obstacles are successfully overcome.

The seasoned club members swallow the passages easily and take full advantage of the landscape. Richness of our outdoor activities. The little mountain dwellers in the grass help the youngest to unblock a stuck lanyard, alpine club spirit. The padawans follow and imitate the friends.

Health ballad for Raphaël, Mahé, Eric, Thaïs, Cléa and Eloise. Big up Cléa ! I know the emptiness can still impress him, like others before her, and others after her, adults included. She controls her apprehension better and better, allowing herself to help girlfriends on the most impressive or difficult steps. You can be proud miss !

Newcomers demonstrate skills. Augustins, banana in the face, seems adored. Congratulations young man, we forget that you are in first grade. Erwän and Thiago focus on the manipulations. Erwän even allows himself to do “the starfish”. I do not know what it is, don't want to know in real life :-), but just understood that it's very scary. Eric is super comfortable. Thank you, man, for helping the friends to equip themselves : just for the installation of the harness, except… for you :-). And big big bravos to Faustine and Shana, just 6 years, but above all to confront not well morphos. Nice feat the misses !

As more and more often in the valley, some vultures fly over us. The goat, guardian of the premises, was seen.

Thank you dad Seb and Christophe for having accompanied us : quiet forces.

Small film with guest star Thibaut 🙂 . Usually, the children fall asleep when they get back in the car. Mais là, it did not work. cool .