Between a Rock and a Wet Place (cont.)

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Outside Magazine September 2001

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Between a Rock and a Wet Place (cont.)
Access and Resources
Despite the dramatic accidents—New Jersey man half-alive after flash flood rips clothes from body; two Australians found hanging like icicles midway down rope—canyoneering is not absurdly dangerous. It's a sport of many manageable risks. A typical day presents the predictable hazards common to rock climbing, hiking, and water play—falling rocks and falling bodies; lightning strikes, dehydration, scorpion and snake bites; hypothermia, drowning, head injuries—not the singular "Is my bungee cord attached?" sort of danger that characterizes truly extreme sports. Your best bet: Start with a basic skills course, or take a short, guided trip with a reputable, safety-conscious outfitter. You won't go wrong with any of the offerings below.

American Canyoneering Association
Founded in 1999 with help from its more established European counterpart, the Commission Europeene de Canyon, the Phoenix-based American Canyoneering Association offers a comprehensive series of classes designed to take you from clueless boob to certified guide (though you can, of course, stop at bumbling novice if you like). The author participated in the beginner/intermediate course and learned rappelling, ascending, and swiftwater-swimming skills, along with basic canyoneering etiquette. Classes in advanced canyoneering and canyon rescue are also offered. Three-day classes run $225 for ACA members, $270 for non-members. Call 480-902-3120 or visit www.canyoneering.net for the ACA's fall schedule.

Zion Adventures
Dozens of canyons wind through Utah's Zion National Park, the American labyrinth. Problem is, regulations forbid commercial guiding and instruction within its boundaries. You'll be ready to tackle the park's canyons on your own if you complete Zion Adventures's three-day beginner course ($495) or their five-day intermediate course ($695), which covers whitewater swimming techniques, both held in nearby Springdale, Utah. The Zion Adventures crew will happily share route info, and rent everything from drysuits and canyoneering shoes to ropes and camping equipment. For details, call 435-772-1001 or check out www.zionadventures.com.

Desert Highlights
If you're not ready to commit to a multiday canyoneering course, consider an introductory trip offered by Desert Highlights, a small Moab, Utah-based company run by nine-year canyoneering veteran Matt Moore. Virtually every day between March and October (less often in winter), Moore guides two to six people through cool canyons just outside of town. On the challenging, eight-hour Medieval Chamber route ($120 per person), you'll rappel over a 100-foot bluff, descend into a narrow sandstone shaft (the route's namesake chamber), then drop 100 feet from a natural arch into a blissful grotto. There's no whitewater swimming involved, so canyoneering purists might not consider it "technical," but that's not the point. It's simply a taste of what's to come. To schedule this or other one-day trips (all priced $80-$160) call 800-747-1342 or visit www.deserthighlights.com.

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