Ice Canyoning in Quebec

Sometimes on a press trip, I find myself trying things that I would never try on my own. While in Quebec on a food tour where we were following the Flavour Trail, my itinerary included ice canyoning. People on perfectly solid ground choose to rappel down a frozen waterfall.

In my case, we were with an experienced tour guide with Canyoning-Quebec. And when I say experienced, I really mean it. He has a diploma from the Ecole Francais de Descente de Canyon and had been exploring the Jean-Larose Falls for 26 years. Canyoning-Quebec has been recognized for excellent risk management, courteous customer orientation, and education and ecological philosophy.

Even when I knew they were experienced and considered very safe, I found none of that knowledge in my rational mind kept my knees from shaking and my heart beating in my ears as I climbed down. Before the falls, we had tried two test hills so we could learn the technique. The falls, however, were something else. While they were frozen, we were visiting on a day where the temperature was hovering right around freezing. Occasionally bits of ice would break off and fly by my head. This was not comforting. We had crampons on our boots to dig into the ice, but sometimes the ice was so slippery that my feet slid away.

Halfway down, I decided I was done. I didn’t need to go any further. I had enough to write a story. Too bad for me. The options were pretty limited. I could just stay there. I could try to climb back up (and that seemed like a tough option), or I could keep going. I guess I had to keep going.

I glanced down to see how much further. I shouldn’t have looked. At the bottom of the waterfall, the water was running, and a small lake had formed…surrounded by rocks. Okay, no more looking down.

Step, step, step, I slowly crunched my way down. It seemed like hours, but they tell me it was only twenty minutes. At the bottom, I was very glad to take off my harness and gear. I sat in a snowbank and rested. Everyone in the group who came after me thought it was an exciting and exhilarating experience.

Many wanted to try it again. Not me. Now that my legs had stopped shaking, I was ready to go back to the hotel. Which way? Up the 400 steps covered in ice.

Now that some time has passed, am I glad I did it?

Yes, I am.

Would I do it again? I’m still undecided. But clearly, many find it to be a thrilling experience. If you like a little thrill in your life, and ice canyoning sounds like your kind of activity, I do recommend going with Canyoning-Quebec. Their professionalism and patience was outstanding.