This page is meant to contain nothing but useful content gained from real-life experiences canyoneering. Regardless of how experienced you might be EVERYONE has something to contribute. Hopefull this page will be used by all. I'd like to keep this list short, concise and useful.
Ropework
- Rapelling ropes should be 8mm or larger in diameter. Smaller than this leads to easy core-shots.
- Learn how to biner-block and use it
- Rope silos truly are all they are cracked up to be. Buy one, and learn how to use it.
- NEVER throw a rope down to a partner unless it's in a rope bag that floats
Team
- 1-person could be very fast, but is also VERY dangerous
- 2-people is also very fast and quite a bit safer
- 3-people is ideal. If you get this system working right, it can be insanely fast AND very safe.
- Leader is always setting the raps, mostly biner-blocked
- Middle man is continually shuffling the ropes (in their rope-bags) forward from the caboose (last person clearning) up to the leader.
- The last person (or caboose) really sets the speed of the group. If he/she can pull, re-pack the silo, and pass forward quickly, the group can motor.
- If this caboose can't keep up with how quickly the leader is setting ropes, the caboose becomes the limiting part of the group.
- The middle peron and caboose should always stay close together. It is the middle person's job to make sure that the final person is always able to make the raps, pull the rope without getting stuck, and is not injured.
- Also, having three people opens the door to more creating solutions for getting in and out of siautions.
- 4-people is workable, but MUCH slower
- Rap stations become clustered
- On the flip side, should someone get hurt, it'd be helpful to have 3 healthy people to aide in getting the group out.
Timing
- Obviously don't go when flash flood danger exists
- A day or two after a rain storm might be great as potholes will be filled
- A 100F day in Zion will make the conditions in a slot canyon great, but will also make any long uphill approach suck! Plan to hike when the sun's NOT shining, unless you like to suffer or your getting ready for Badwater, in which case something is wrong with you to begin with.
Gear
- Use the newest gera possible, canyoneering is HELL on gear.
- Dry-suits are excellent until you get a hole, coat high abrasion areas with__(Brian Cabe fill in)____.
- Use _____ on the gaskets of your drysuit to increase the life.
- Always bring a Happy Hooker as it has endless uses. Unless you know that you can get out of the canyon without any gear.
- Use and EDK for joining knots as it "rolls over" rock easier than any other knot and is also less apt to become damaged by rock as it is being pulled.
- La Sportiva makes footwear that is excellent for cayoneering. They may canyoneering specific shoes, but many people find that their approach/mountain-running shoes work great as well:
The groups footware used on a 7 hr 43 minute (West Rim to Temple of Sinewava) descent of Imlay