What is Canyoning ?

Don't you know about Canyoning or as well as Barranquismo in Spanish, Canyoneering in USA. Simple said is Canyoning exploration usin some requiered techniques, such as: abseils (rappels) and ropework, technical climbing or down-climbing, technical jumps, and/or technical swims...

Canyons that are ideal for canyoning are often cut into the bedrock stone, forming narrow gorges with numerous drops, beautifully sculpted walls, and sometimes spectacular waterfalls. Most canyons are cut into limestone, sandstone, granite or basalt, though other rock types are found. Canyons can be very easy or extremely difficult, though emphasis in the sport is usually on aesthetics and fun rather than pure difficulty. A wide variety of canyoning routes are found throughout the world, and canyoning is enjoyed by people of all ages and skill levels. Canyoning gear includes climbing hardware, static or semi-static ropes, helmets, wetsuits, and specially designed shoes, packs, and rope bags. While canyoneers have used and adapted climbing, hiking, and river running gear for years, more and more specialized gear is invented and manufactured as canyoning popularity increases.

Canyoning Techniques

Descent of a Canyon. At the time of progressing along the course of a ravine are various techniques to be used by athletes to complete this route, the main ones would be: • Walking: It is recommended to walk outside the watercourse. [Citation needed] First of all to avoid excessive physical wear and secondly to protect the fauna and flora existing in the watercourse.
• Descent: descent of more or less steep areas, using feet and hands, not becoming fully vertical or small-span projections in which it is not necessary to use a rope and it is not possible to jump. Climbing or climbing: although in the descent of ravines the most common is to descend, sometimes it is necessary to make small climbs to continue with the advance or to access areas from which to continue the descent.
• Handrails: Horizontal progression aided by rope along a vertical wall to avoid an obstacle that would otherwise be difficult to overcome. For example deep-water kettles or areas with very strong water movements.
• Rappel: most common progression technique, consisting of descending a vertical wall with a rope and a descender anchored to the athlete's harness.
• Swimming: in areas where there is a minimum depth of water to swim instead of walking.
• Slide: descent in free, without the use of rope, by a stone ramp polished by water to reach a badina with water. It is advisable to make the slide completely lying down to avoid injuries. [Citation needed]
• Jumps: in the areas that allow the conditions of the channel. Save the unevenness in the channel or highlight by jumping into a pool with water. As a general rule, the first member of the group should not jump but descend the gap by rappelling to check that there are no obstacles that can cause injuries to the group members who want to save the difficulty by jumping. [citation needed]
• Zip line: guided descent with rope or cable to overcome an obstacle in the course
Information source