Quite aside from hiking or technical rock climbing, canyoneering is a rapidly growing sport that incorporates walking, scrambling, bouldering, technical rock climbing, rappeling, kayaking and even swimming.
The narrow slot canyons of southern Utah are just one of a wide number of international sites for the sport, ranging from the Alps to the Andes, Rocky Mountains to South Africa and China.
“Canyoneering often combines skills used in climbing, mountaineering, and hiking all together,” said Jamie O’Donnell, program supervisor for the National Outdoor Leadership School’s Rocky Mountain branch. “Terrain dictates route finding through steep exposed areas with rock fall potential. Canyons have vertical features that can sometimes only be navigated using climbing techniques or rappelling. In general, steeper terrain often necessitates the uses of hand-lines, pack passing (when you are carrying heavy packs for multi-day trips), and spotting. Canyons also may have water that is not by-passable therefore requiring you to swim through it with all of your gear. This can mean managing for and avoiding cold-related injuries/illnesses given the cold nature of the water and the canyons in general. Tricky route finding also often requires lengthy scouting sessions where you piece together a way to get around pour-overs or other impassable features.”
The American Canyoneering Association has developed a rating system for specific canyons — their level of difficulty and the expertise needed for a successful trip. Descending a Class 3 canyon will require the skills listed under Class 3, as well as those listed under Classes 1 and 2.
