canyon exploring with Michele Angileri

Canale dell'Arma

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One of the most enchanting places in Calabria, very rich in natural beauties and outdoor sports opportunities. Canyoning enthusiasts find here different trails, first of all the Canyon of Lao River. It begins 2 Km down the village of Laino. We can go through Lao Canyon on foot only in summer, when water level is at its minimum. But even in summer current is strong and may be dangerous..

Very near to village of Papasidero but almost invisible from it and the neighbours, the canyon of Canale dell'Arma gives us a beautiful and rather long canyoning trail.

Name	Canale dell'Arma
Area	Calabria, valle del Lao
Nearest village	Papasidero
Entrance altitude (above sea level)	480 m
Exit altitude (above sea level)	130 m
Length	2 km
Longest rappel	28 m
Rock	Limestone
Rating	5 (summer)
Explored by	First part: Michele Angileri, Andrea Monaco and Gaetano Peluso, october 5th 2001. Second part: Michele Angileri and Antonino Ratto; august 2nd 2002

I remember ...

That time we couldn't get descending the whole canyon ... The first part revealed itself longer and more difficult than we had thought. Long narrows with many low rappels needing a bolt, almost no down-climbing possibility. This means long time to descend little relief.
The altimeter was telling us we were about half the canyon, but we used more than 4 hours ... So when we saw that path on the right we considered leaving the canyon to avoid a call to Rescue Service. We had told Virginia (Gaetano's wife) to call for rescue if we had not called her before 8 PM.
Following summer I descended second part of Canale dell'Arma canyon, realizing the time left the first time would have been enough to complete the exploration.