Guies d'Arrel, nature without barriers

Inclusive tourism is a practice that seeks to ensure that all people, regardless of their physical, cognitive or sensory abilities, can enjoy barrier-free tourist experiences .

This type of tourism not only considers the physical accessibility of spaces, such as ramps, elevators and adaptations in transport and accommodation, but also includes accessible communication (guides in Braille, sign language, etc.) and the creation of experiences adapted to the diverse needs of visitors .

Guies d'Arrel: a pioneering company

Until a few years ago, the mountains, and by extension the natural environment, were off-limits to people with disabilities. For a person in a wheelchair, any path, however simple, was an insurmountable barrier. The solution? Stay at home. There was no other option. The same thing happened to people with visual disabilities: without a mountain guide, the possibility of going out into the mountains disappeared in an instant.

We must not forget that people with disabilities have the right to enjoy nature. Just like anyone else. Because they are just another person. Tools such as the joëlette chair and the directional bar have made it possible for people with these specific needs to enjoy the mountains with guarantees of safety and comfort.

The tools are there, but the most important step is to answer the question: "What now?"

Guies d'Arrel responds to this need.

Guies d'Arrel started its journey in 2020 with a single purpose: to bring the natural environment closer to people with functional diversity. Guies d'Arrel is a daring initiative. Yes, daring. When Àngels Gascueña, guide and director of Guies d'Arrel, started this initiative in Berguedà, no one had dared to venture into the territory of guiding people with disabilities in the mountains.

So, it was not unusual to hear expressions like: "What's a blind person doing in the mountains?" or "For someone in a wheelchair, the mountains are impossible."

“When I decided to create Guies d'Arrel it was relatively simple. Someone had to respond to a right that no one was developing or applying. People with functional diversity have a right to it. I had to provide a response worthy of a professional guide.”

For Àngels Gascueña, mountains and forests are spaces to enjoy, share and grow as individuals. Spaces for everyone, without exclusion.

“Because they are there. It's simple. There is no need for long arguments or very complex phrases to understand that I do what I do because people with functional disabilities are there. And being there means that they have a right, that they are not invisible. As human beings we cannot accept that they stay at home without being able to enjoy the mountains.”

Because they are there. It seems simple. The argument is solid. But it takes practice and time.

Access to nature for all

Guies d'Arrel stands out for its dedication to inclusive tourism, offering nature experiences for everyone, regardless of their abilities. Breaking down barriers so that you can enjoy the mountains and nature without any limitations.

Each user is a small world with its own particularities and needs. Inclusive mountaineering requires an extra effort when planning and carrying out a route. It could be said that Àngels Gascueña's guiding service is tailor-made, like a tailor-made suit.

“Guides where a lot of emphasis is placed on raising awareness of the natural environment, to preserve the great wealth that Mother Earth offers, to be able to enjoy and grow alongside the magnificent mountains, forests and valleys, and all the biodiversity that lives in it. It is a space to soak up life, disconnect from the stress we endure daily, to release emotions and look at ourselves without filters."

One more thought: the vast majority of people with functional diversity can never, never, never enjoy the natural environment whenever they want. It was not without reason that I emphasized this "Never."

“The vast majority of people can enjoy the mountains whenever they want. We organise ourselves and go out to the mountains. For people with disabilities, the 'Whenever I want' becomes more of an 'I don't know if it will be possible'. So these types of people, when they enjoy a hike or the wind in a forest or the sound of a torrent, the emotions they experience are intense and unforgettable.”

“I thought that life would not give me any more surprises. I was wrong.” (Josep, user of a joëlette chair). José's case is not extraordinary. A man over 70 years old, who had never been able to go out into the mountains. It is impossible to express the enormous joy he felt when he saw himself, like everyone else, intensely enjoying this surprise that he could not have imagined.

The Talmud, the sacred book of the Hebrews, says: Whoever saves a life, saves humanity. That's what it's all about. There are those who think that the challenge is enormous. The reality is that great changes in society are produced by the sum of bold wills. Where others say "It can't be done" those same wills break down barriers. Both physical and mental.

“Contributing our grain of sand to the world of accessibility, creating equal opportunities and making the mountains a place for everyone.”