by Charly Oliver and Rich Carlson
Canyoneering, canyoning, cañonismo, barranquismo, kloofing, gorge walking, river trekking, river tracing – these are all terms for basically the same adventure sport – exploring canyons – that involves hiking, wading, swimming, rock climbing and rappelling – often over waterfalls.
Some people perceive differences in how the various terms are used based on canyon type or the techniques used. In fact, the terms are based primarily on geography. The term “canyoneering” is uniquely American, but is also used in areas that are influenced by American canyoneers. The term “canyoning” is used in Europe and Australia and in other areas that are influenced by European or Australian canyoners. “Cañonismo” and “barranquismo” are Spanish terms used by some canyoneers in Mexico and Spain. “Kloofing” is an Afrikaans word, derived from “kloof”, meaning cliff or ravine.
Gorge walking, river trekking and river tracing do have unique connotations compared with the other terms. Gorge walking is a mild form of canyoning practiced in the UK, primarily Wales and Scotland, in streams with limited verticality. It involves hiking, wading, swimming and jumping over small waterfalls. In canyons with taller drops where rappelling is required, the term canyoning is used. River trekking and river tracing are terms used in Hong Kong, Taiwan and Japan. In Japan, river tracing enthusiasts follow canyons upstream, climbing up waterfalls instead of rappelling down them. Some people in Japan have discovered it’s also fun to go down the canyons, and are starting to use the term canyoning.
A Little History
Canyoneering in its simplest form has been around since prehistoric times. People sought out canyons as sources of water, food and shelter. Ancestral Pueblo Indians, more commonly known as the Anasazi, began exploring the canyon country of the Colorado Plateau before the time of Christ. In fact, evidence can be found of prehistoric people inhabiting canyons not only in America, but also in Europe, Australia and around the world.
The technology available to modern canyoneers – synthetic ropes of virtually unlimited length, wetsuits and drysuits, sticky-soled shoes, mechanical descenders and ascenders, bolts and portable hammer drills – allows us access to virtually any canyon on the planet. As a result, around the world today’s canyoneers race to lay claim to “first descents”. But we should all pause to consider the accomplishments of those who came before us. Many canyons – perhaps all but the most technically challenging – were probably first descended in bare feet, sandals or moccasins. Generations before us, challenging vertical first descents were ticked off using hemp and manila ropes.
The first known use of the term “canyoneering” was by a member of John Wesley Powell’s expedition down the Colorado River by boat in 1869. The term is still used in reference to white water rafting in the Grand Canyon.
Contrary to what some people may tell you, the better-known version of canyoneering – traveling through canyons on foot – did not come to the U.S. from Europe. In fact, the sport developed independently – in Europe by cavers in the 1930s, in Australia by bushwalkers in the 1950s, and in the U.S. by hikers, climbers and paddlers in the 1940s and 50s. The independent development is evident in the different techniques and equipment used in each area.
Photo Credit: Canyoneering, southern Utah style, 1920’s. J. Cecil Alter collection. Used by permisssion, Utah State Historical Society. All rights reserved.
A Little Geography
It makes sense that canyoneering in the U.S. is most popular in the “canyon country” of Utah and Arizona, primarily in the areas that lie within a physiographic province known as the Colorado Plateau. Originally named the “Colorado Plateaus” by explorer John Wesley Powell, the Plateau is in fact a huge basin surrounded by highlands and filled with plateaus.
Covering an area of 130,000 square miles, the Plateau includes much of southern Utah and northern Arizona, plus portions of Colorado and New Mexico. It is split from northeast to southwest by the Colorado River. The river’s tributaries and its tributaries’ tributaries form a maze of dramatic sandstone canyons.
The southern edge of the Colorado Plateau is marked by a rugged escarpment called the Mogollon Rim. The Rim – dropping as much as 2,000 feet in places – cuts across Arizona from northern Yavapai County to the New Mexico border. Just below the Rim lies a maze of mountain canyons that drain into the Salt and Verde Rivers and their tributaries. These canyons are also very popular with canyoneers.
Beyond the Colorado Plateau, canyoneers are exploring mountain terrain throughout the western United States. Armed with skills and techniques taught by the American Canyoneering Academy (ACA), aquatic canyon routes have been developed in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains, the Sierra Nevada and San Gabriel Mountains in California, the Cascade Mountains in Washington and elsewhere.
In Europe, canyoning is extremely popular in the Pyrenees (Spain and France), the Alps (France, Italy, Austria and Switzerland), and throughout the Mediterranean (Greece, Crete and Corsica).
The Blue Mountains near Sydney provide the most popular venue for canyoners in Australia. The sandstone canyons resemble those found on the Colorado Plateau, but the landscapes are covered with gum trees (eucalyptus) instead of juniper.
Reunion Island, off the east coast of Madagascar, is considered by many to be the mecca of canyoning. The island is reported to have the highest concentration of wild water canyons on the planet – more than 100 have been descended there.
Other areas around the world where canyons are enjoyed include: Mexico, Costa Rica, the Caribbean, South America, Canada, Hawaii, New Zealand, Japan, Taiwan, China, India, Nepal, South Africa, Jordan, Turkey, Britain, even the Sahara …
… wherever there are mountains, canyons and flowing water, you will find canyoneers seeking adventure.
Why Canyoneering?
When asked, canyoneers will cite a variety of reasons for being drawn to the sport, but they will always include fun and beauty. Canyoneering is definitely fun and will take you to some of the most spectacular places on earth. Other reasons cited will include:
- Mental Challenge
Solving the problems dealt by rock and water requires creativity. Overcome these problems with technology and hardware is possible, but it is more challenging and more fun to rely on wits and ingenuity. - Physical Challenge
Canyoneering can be physically demanding. A typical day may involve hiking, wading, swimming, rocking climbing and rappelling. Some people challenge themselves to stay dry and attempt to climb around every pool. Others challenge themselves to leave the rope in their pack and attempt to down-climb as many drops as possible. - Serenity
Many are drawn to the canyons in search of peace and tranquility. They tend to move at a slower pace, absorbing the sights and sounds that provide such a welcome contrast to the hustle and bustle of modern city life. - Adrenalin
Some are drawn to the activity for the rush of jumping, sliding and rappelling over waterfalls.
No matter why or how people choose to pursue it, canyoneering is addicting and certain to attract enthusiasts in ever-increasing numbers in the years to come.
Rock Climbing vs Canyoneering
Canyoneering draws participants from a number of other disciplines – hiking and backpacking, paddling, caving and rock climbing. Each brings with him or her a set of skills that have some application in canyoneering, including navigation, wilderness survival and first aid, water skills and rope skills.
The rope skills used by rock climbers provide a good foundation for canyoneering, but there are some fundamental differences between the two sports which must be understood, including:
- Water
The combination of rope and water can create serious risks. Rock climbers are taught to tie in securely to the end of the rope. That advice can be applied to canyoneering in dry canyons, but in aquatic canyons it is important to rig releasable systems. A canyoneer unable to free himself quickly from the end of the rope in a hydraulic at the base of a waterfall could easily drown. - Reverseability
Rock climbers go up first. What they can climb they can rappel. Canyoneering typically involves descending canyons. The rock is polished smooth by water and usually void of good foot- and hand-holds. Climbing back up may be impossible. Pulling a rope after a rappel will often commit a canyoneer to completing the entire canyon. - Anchors
Rock climbers typically use anchors that can be dismantled, which permits the use of expensive hardware. Canyoneers use anchors primarily for rappelling and leave them behind in the canyon. You won’t find canyoneering anchors constructed with $60 camming devices. - Human Anchors
Canyoneers have developed tactics and techniques that allow them to overcome obstacles simply and efficiently. This includes the use of human anchors, which may be employed to make a marginal fixed anchor useable or to send a person down to check to make sure a jump is safe. - Ropes
Rock climbers tend to use ropes in the 9.5 to 11 millimeter diameter range and typically rappel on two strands of rope. Canyoneers may rappel on ropes ranging from 8 to 11 millimeters, often times single strand and sometimes double. Therefore, it’s important for canyoneers to know multiple ways to rig a rappelling device to get the right amount of friction for each situation.
Whether you are coming from a rock climbing background, or from caving, hiking or paddling, the American Canyoneering Academy exists as a resource for you to learn and grow, to become a safe, efficient, self-reliant canyoneer.
