The presence of Cascade 04 in Corsica can be explained by the fact that the story began at a meeting organised by the Corsican Regional Department of Youth and Sport with the emergency services (PGHM in Ajaccio) and canyoning professionals in the region, as well as the SNAPEC union and its accidentology representative (Gilles Delaporte). A visit to the 3 emblematic canyons of Bavella was organised in order to reflect on the recurrent accidentology of these descents, which enabled us to note the obsolescence of much of the equipment in place and that a good part of the anchorages of the Vacca were destroyed by an impressive flood.

Quite quickly, we proposed to come back with some gear and at least get the Vacca cleaned up for the season. In the end, we'll have time to do an 'overhaul' of the Pulischellu and the Purcaraccia, which aren't in a disastrous state but need updating.

Arnaud Pauvret, a member of the PGHM and a trainee canyoning instructor with the DR, is taking charge of the consultation process. The idea is not to re-equip without the advice of local professionals and the necessary authorisations.

Thierry Olive's DR par le Biais, aware of the major interest of these canyons, is encouraging us. Norbert Apicella from the FFME gave us his backing and put us in touch with local contacts and Max Cassan from SNAPEC.

Arnaud also gets in touch by phone with the bosses of the local canyoning companies, and some of the instructors accompany us to Puli to make sure we're doing our job properly and to fine-tune the equipment.

Following our reconnaissance and the recommendations of the locals (sorted), an order for equipment was placed and we set off again for Corsica.

It's a totally voluntary project, so a big thank you to the PGHM for the logistics, to Arnaud for the accommodation and vehicles, to Florent Baghioni and Eric Chauviré for the manpower and the laughs, to the BGC for the equipment (grinders, drills, etc.) and to the Col de Bavella hostel for the entrecôtes. The stainless steel equipment set up was financed personally and by the Bureau. The old equipment was dismantled and masked properly. the protocol :

We can really be satisfied with this investment of voluntary energy by the pros in such classic canyons, and that it also serves the individuals who use them and the overall image of the activity. The action seems to have been well received by the locals, despite their initial surprise at the presence of continentalers on the job. In anticipation I would like to respond to a comment: NO, we didn't do a "scrapyard", we removed a lot more obsolete equipment than we put in. The few "new" anchors were requested (and some were refused) by the PGHM, the FFME or pro-locals. The stainless steel gear is much less visible than the old rusty anchors from before.

The pile of shit we've taken out: