Canyoneering
Canyoneering, also called canyoning outside of the US, is a method of traveling through canyons to reach a destination. While canyoneering, you can employ any number of techniques, as they are quite a diverse geographic phenomenon. Often times you will find yourself doing more than basic hiking, including scrambling, climbing, abseiling, swimming, and rappelling. Canyoneering can become quite technical and for the more difficult ascents and descents, can often times require tying into a harness for safety. Canyoneering is a great way to enjoy a beautiful landscape while pursuing a more technical path. Although it provides a new perspective into your surroundings it also provides new dangers that would not be as much a worry while hiking along the top of the canyon. Flash floods, steep crevasses, isolation risks, and long drops are all concerns while traversing the bottom or walls of a canyon. Precautions to limit these risks can involve bringing specialized equipment. Helmets, wetsuits, rope, harnesses, climbing or technical shoes, along with packs and proper food supplements can all help to limit the risks involved with this more isolated sport. Without being properly prepared, accidents can result in long periods of waiting as access is limited and rescue teams can find it hard to gain access to parts of the canyons. If canyoneering for the first time, make sure you are prepared, know your exits, surroundings, and are with someone with experience in the sport.
