Canyoning

Basic Canyoneering Techniques

Canyoneering is quite technical. Listed are a few essential techniques that you may wish to practice before you embark on any canyoneering journey.

Be Careful: Canyoneering can be dangerous if you don't know what you're doing. Do your homework before you embark into any canyon. These techniques listed may not be all you need to use in any given canyon.

Canyoneering Equipment

Drybags:

Drybags are an optional canyoneering item. It is important to understand first which canyon you are going to venture and make your decision on drybag necessity. Although often filled with water, a short canyon like the Key Hole or Pine Creek in Zions are so short that you can be back to civilization within several hours of starting the trip without taking a lot of gear that needs to stay dry. However canyons like Heaps or Imlay take a considerable more amount of time to get through and having dry clothing, first aid or other dry items may be required. More often than not it comes down to preference.

Packs:

Choose the pack for the canyon. Every canyon is different. Lightweight is always the way to go in canyoneering. Canyons like Imlay or Heaps will require a considerable more amount of gear than the Key Hole, so bring the pack you feel most comfortable taking. Be warned big bulky packs can be very difficult taking through a canyon especially where there is scrambling, swimming, etc.  Also the bigger the pack in the tougher it is to pack out.
Recommendation:
Imlay Canyon Gear
Grundens – 100% waterproof and durable!

Gloves:

Gloves are really only necessary when handling ropes and long rappels. There is nothing wrong with a good glove however for simple canyoneering. Your hands can get a bit torn up or pruney and protection can be a nice luxury. Whatever glove you go with I recommend one that is light weight and durable.
Recommendation:
Metolius Fingerless Glove
Chota Warm Water Glove
Chota ¾ Finger Glove

Shoes:

Choosing the right shoe is very important when canyoneering. Five Finger Toe sandals or open toe sandals is not recommended. Your feet can take quite a beating. A good sturdy boot or shoe is recommended. Plan to get your feet wet regardless of what you bring.

Rope:

A climbing nylon rope is not as good as a polyester static rope when canyoneering. The polyester absorbs less water and you’re not climbing so a dynamic rope is not needed. Extra rope is always nice just in case.
 

Hardware:

You don’t need bolting gear for many canyons, but once you venture into the canyons of a 3 rating or higher having extra gear for emergencies is nice to have. It is also recommended to have extra gear on any canyoneering adventure for emergencies. Remember canyons with a rating of 3 or more require rope work so be prepared. Also some canyons that are not visited as often with a 3 rating or higher require extra gear just in case.

Clothing:

Read up on the canyon you’ll be visiting. Canyons with extended water courses may require wetsuits or even a dry suit. Hypothermia is a real dangerous condition that can lead to death if you’re not careful. Dress for the weather. If it’s 114 degrees Fahrenheit on the surface you may realize cold weather gear is not needed,but do not underestimate how cold the water courses may be in a canyon and may need to pack a wetsuit. Many deaths have occurred because someone didn't realize how frigid water can be down in a canyon. Hats and scarves are great in hot weather climates.

Good place for gear: http://www.store.canyoneeringusa.com/

Canyoneering Terms and Definitions

Abseil  - Verb. The act by which a person descends a rope. Also known as Rappel.

Altitude sickness - Adjective. A medical condition. Symptoms may include: dehydration, headache, nausea, disorientation and is often experienced at high altitudes.

Anchor - Noun. A number of pieces of gear set up to support the weight of a belay or top rope.
Verb. To anchor one’s self to an anchor point.

Approach - Verb. The beginning of a rout or path to a vertical wall, canyon, or sloped surface.

Arm bar - Verb. Jamming an arm into a crack and locking it into place.

Ascend - Verb. To climb a rope.

Ascender - Noun. A device for ascending on a rope.

Belay - Verb. Using friction with a belay device or body to protect or secure someone ascending or descending a rope.

Belay device - Noun. A device used to create friction to a rope so someone may ascend or descend a rope they are attached to safely.

Belay off or Off Belay – Verb. Called out by belayer to confirm that the belay has been removed.

Belay on - Verb. Called out by belayer to confirm that the belay has been secured.

Biner - Noun. Short term for Carabiner.

Bolt - Noun. A metal anchor or point with a hole or loop permanently installed into the rock.

Bolt Chopping - Verb. The action to permanently remove one or more bolts.

Bouldering - Verb. The practice of climbing close to the ground.

Buttress - Noun. A prominent feature of a landmass that juts out from a rock or mountain.

Cairn - Noun. A stacks of rocks erected and placed in various parts of a trail used in navigation to lead person(s) to destination.
Verb. Cairned. When a trial is marked with erected stacks of stones

Carabiner - Noun. A ring device often containing spring-loaded gears used to connect objects.

Chimney - Verb. To climb a vertical wall using an opposing parallel wall.

Clean - Verb.  To remove equipment from a rout often leaving permanent anchors.

Clipping in – Verb. The act of attaching to belay lines or anchors for protection.

Downclimb - Verb. To descend by climbing or scrambling downward.

Dyno - Verb. To jump or leap to another point in a climb. A dynamic move to grab or hold to a point out of reach.

Exposure - Adjective. A degree of distance from a person on the side of a wall to the floor. Great amount of exposure mean a great deal of falling risk.

Figure Eight - Noun.  A belay device shaped like an "8".

Figure Eight Knot - Noun. A knot shaped like an “8”.

Hold - Noun. A place to grab, cling, grip, jam or press while climbing or downclimbing.

Jamming - Verb. Wedging your body or part or your body into a crack to aid in climbing or downclimbing.

Overhang - Noun. A section of rock that is angled beyond vertical.

Quickdraw - Noun. Equipment often using carabiners used to attach either ropes or persons to ropes together.

Quicklink - Noun. A metal device usually screw-type oval-shape stainless steel particularly used for attaching to anchors.

Rap - Noun. A shortended term for rappel. A descent of a vertical cliff or wall made by using a rope that is fixed to a higher point and attached to a harness around the body.

Rappel - Verb. The process of descend a rope using a friction device.

Scrambling – Verb. A type of climbing somewhere between hiking and graded rock climbing.

Stem - Verb. Climbing mostly horizontally using two faces on either side far enough to reach with both feet.

Traverse - Verb. Like Stemming but using the entire body to climb horizontally

Undercling – Noun. A hold which is gripped with the palm of the hand facing upwards.

Wash - Noun. A dry water way, creek or river bed. Usually dry for most of the year, usually flat and sandy. Ideal for flash flooding routes

Webbing - Noun. Hollow and flat nylon strip or material.