One of the very cool things that Ramie seems to always manage when researching our travels, is finding alternative things to do in the same area as our main attraction. Our trip to Zion National Park was no exception. While delving into local activities she discovered canyoneering, best described as exploring a canyon through activities like rappelling, climbing, swimming and hiking.
Our first collective reaction was . . . huh? The second reaction was, “that could be very cool”. We are all athletic so that part was OK. It was more myself and Tia’s aversion to heights coupled with the simple fact that it was unknown to us so a bit intimidating.
Not only did it end up being tons of fun but the challenging parts made us feel good about ourselves in overcoming our fears and trepidations. If you’re considering canyoneering (hopefully you are) here are a few things to ponder, consider and prepare for . . .
Don’t let fear of canyoneering keep you from giving it a go
There are elements of canyoneering that were certainly intimidating on the surface. And there will be grueling elements that will test your will and challenge your capabilities but if you take your time, listen to your guide and follow instructions . . . you’ll be fine. The biggest challenges for us included:
- Rappelling straight down from high distances (our highest was 80 feet)
- Being suspended in mid-air with only the rope to hold onto
- Scaling walls with no support (actually not as difficult as it sounds)
- Water temperature that was plenty cold but we weren’t in it for long
- Hiking and climbing up steep rock inclines
Something important to remember . . . your biggest challenge will be your imagination. After we finished we all remarked that what we just did was actually easier than we would have ever imagined beforehand. If you enjoy a physical challenge give canyoneering a try, you won’t regret it.
Choose a veteran guide who knows the canyon like the back of their hand
This is important for a few reasons, some obvious, some not so much. First off the guide will have a few local spots to choose from, each of which they will most likely have traversed hundreds of times. Just as important is how often they have taken groups out in these canyons. As you can imagine doing something on your own is quite different than guiding another, with much less experience, to accomplish the same thing.
Your guide will go through the basics and have you repeat certain tasks prior to any actual canyoneering. He’ll explain the equipment, show you how to use it and why certain elements are so important. He’ll also double-check your equipment and, more importantly, show you how to check it yourself.
Trust your canyoneering equipment
One of the first things our guide pointed out to us was your equipment is king. If you strap up correctly and follow best practices you will not be in danger. Unlike in the movies, rappelling ropes simply do not break. They are designed to support thousands of pounds so you don’t have to spend a moment worried about that. Connecting the rope correctly to the Carabiner is much more important but your Guide will instruct you on proper protocol.
We would have dressed a bit different had we better understood what we were getting into. The following would be our recommendation for what to wear and bring:
- Fitted, but comfortable, lightweight dri-fit top, bottom and socks
- Light mesh shoes with rubber gripped soles
- Your feet will get wet so no heavy footwear
- Lightweight backpack (ideally with hydration pack)
- Water-proof pack to store your phone or other vulnerable items
On the Reel
127 Hours (2010)
Starring James Franco, Amber Tamblyn and Kate Mara. Directed by Danny Boyle.
This gripping real-life story of survival and the will to live examines one person’s journey overcoming the physical, emotional, and intellectual strains of an unthinkable situation. It is also a cautionary tale of why you should never tackle nature alone.
Pace yourself
No matter the shape you’re in or how good of an athlete you are this is still a new experience requiring a different set of skills than you have probably used before. It can be dangerous but only if you don’t follow instructions or lose focus. There will be moments that will humble you but that’s always healthy. Mostly you will feel a great sense of accomplishment when you are finished.
Canyoneering works best as a group endeavor. We recommend going with a group of family or trusted friends. They can provide support should the going get tough. It’s also easier to have a group laugh when one of you slips and falls waste deep in the water.
Take the time to soak in the atmosphere
Canyons are beautiful and amazing marvels of nature. While certain tasks require your full attention there will be plenty of times when you can just soak in the experience. Nature has carefully crafted canyons for millions of years and each is utterly unique.
Hope you enjoyed this article and found it useful. We’d love to hear about your adventures so please leave us a Comment below. Thank you and, as always, happy travelling!
