Canyoning

Is understood to mean Canyoning (also canyoning and abseiling ) the commission of a canyon from top to bottom ( in the early days of sporting canyoning also from bottom to top ) in different variants. By abseiling, climbing down, jumping, sliding, swimming and sometimes even diving takes you to the appropriate equipment through the canyons. As an adventure sport is established canyoning than two decades ago in Spain and southern France. In recent years, the breakthrough was followed also in the northern Alps. In the U.S., canyoning is more commonly known as canyoneering. It got there by European influence in the late 1990s an enormous surge in development.

The sport of canyoning

In addition to the sporting appeal of the adventure is primarily on the experience of nature in the foreground. In this sport, team spirit and mutual trust play an important role. Some environmentalists criticize canyoning, since parts of nature are committed, otherwise remained untouched by the human. Especially the commercial marketing for tourism would cause problems. Reply supporters of canyoning, canyons that partially several times a year by floods far longer be changed, as by the influence of the people who go through these canyons. In many tours is primarily the common experience of nature in the foreground.

Security

Canyoning requires a level of alpine and water technical skills - you are usually entered into a tour, a withdrawal is before the end of the tour often no longer possible. This sport should be performed at the beginning only under expert guidance. The techniques used soft z.T. significantly from those of, for example, in high alpine area or go from climbing, a transfer of these techniques to the canyoning can involve significant risks.

For all canyoning tours should consider a knowledgeable local, or certified Canyon Guide to rate. There are for this outdoor area now several organizations that train professional canyoning guides. Mountain Guides qualify through additional training as a canyoning guide.

Previous information about the weather conditions is essential, since in a large water catchment area, the water level can rise dangerously in heavy rain in minutes in a narrow gorge. Also of special risks, such as a possible water outlet of a reservoir or snow melting, which increase the risk in some areas until late in the spring, should first explorations be confiscated. The observation of the weather must already begin days before a tour and extend over the entire tour length. Therefore, meteorological knowledge and the interpretation of weather phenomena ( such as appearance, stages of development and dangers of clouds) is crucial. Show some tragic canyoning accident that maximum security is required for this sport. The rule is not to go alone, 3-4 persons are considered to be optimal group size.

Requirements

Anyone wishing to pursue the sport independently, should slip resistance, have no fear of heights, good physical condition and sufficient theoretical and practical skills in the following areas:

• Rope techniques ( abseiling, detachable systems, etc.)
• Wild Water Technology ( analyzing flow patterns to swim by sweeping waters etc. )
• Meteorology (analysis of weather conditions)
• Communication ( clear verbal and non-verbal communication skills )
• First aid ( plus accident and crisis management)
• Orientation
• Equipment
• Conservation

Equipment

For Canyoning following equipment is required depending on the tour:

• Neoprene pants ( Long John ), at least 4 mm
• Neoprene jacket, at least 4 mm
• Neoprene socks, at least 3-4 mm
• Appropriate footwear
• Alpine Ruggedized helmet
• Canyoning (no harness )
• Some carabiner
• Descender with Kappschlinge
• Devices for rope ascents (eg shunt or TiBlock )
• Waterproof ton with first aid material
• Whistle, signal rocket, mobile phone
• Working cables, customized tour (highest abseil )
• Emergency cable ( longest point )
• Handbohrset, anchorages and loop material
• Canyoning Ruggedized backpack

To get to know this sport, there are a number of commercial providers who also provide the equipment for guided tours available. For independent touring, it is advisable to join an appropriate association or to attend relevant training courses.