Canyoneering
Canyoneering, also known as Canyoning, is a fun nad exciting activity to see the hidden beauties of the world. Canyoneering is a mixture of rappeling, backpacking, climbing, and waterfalls at times. There are various skills that people learn and use in order to descend canyons safely.
Canyon Classification/Ratings
Technical Classification
Every canyon has a number rating. These numbers range anywhere from 1 to 4. Like in climbing the higher the number, the harder the canyon is.
- CLASS 1 - Canyon Hiking Non-technical. No rope is required. See the route description for difficulties.
- CLASS 2 - Basic Canyoneering Scrambling, easy climbing or downclimbing. A rope may be handy for handlines, belays, lowering packs and emergency use. Exit or retreat possible upcanyon without fixed ropes.
- CLASS 3 - Intermediate Canyoneering Rappels or technical climbing and/or downclimbing. A rope is required for belays and single-pitch rappels. Retreat upcanyon would require fixing ropes.
- CLASS 4 - Advanced Canyoneering Aid climbing, multi-pitch rappels and/or complex rope work (such as re-belays, tyrollean traverse, or guided rappels) may be required. Might also require difficult pothole escapes, serious squeezing, extensive high-risk downclimbing, or have difficult-to-establish natural anchors. Rappels longer than 200 feet will usually earn a canyon a Class 4 rating.
Water: Pools, Current, ETC.
Every canyon also has a water rating. This rating comes in 3 different letters to symbolize the amount of water that you could expect in the canyon.
*Note that water levels in canyons can change according to current or recent weather.
- "A" - Normally dry or with very little water. Wading to waist deep at most.
- "B" - Water with no current or light current. Still pools. Falls are normally dry or running at a trickle. Swimming expected.
- "C" - Water with strong current. Waterfalls. Wet canyon rope techniques required.
Grade: Time Required & Seriousness
The third part of a canyon rating is the time one might spend to complete the canyon. The time is represented by roman numerals. Typically the larger the roman numeral, the longer it will take to complete the canyon.
- I - Short. A couple of hours.
- II - Requires about a half day.
- III - Normally requires most of a day.
- IV - Expected to take a long day. Get up early, bring a headlamp. Possible bivy.
- V - More than one day. Normally done in two days.
- VI - Two full days or more.
Seriousness/Risk
An "R" or "X" in the rating suggests the canyon will involve risks over and above the many risk factors normally found in canyons. Some examples of additional risks are: difficult rappels, exposed climbing or traversing, extensive 4th- or 5th-class unroped climbing, difficult anchors, sections of loose or dangerous rock, difficult or committing route finding, prolonged water immersion or extensive swimming. Specific factors should be addressed in the route description.
- (No Rating) - Normal risk factors are present on this adventure.
- R-Risky - One or more extraordinary risk factors exist that complicate the descent. Solid technical skills and sound judgment required. Not appropriate for beginners, even with competent leadership.
- X-Extreme - Multiple risk factors exist that will complicate the descent. Errors in technique or judgment will likely result in serious injury or death. Descent should be attempted by expert canyoneers only. This is the least-well-established part of the rating system, and the most subjective. Use by beta-providers varies widely, to the point that this part of the rating means very little.
Quality
The quality rating is pretty much like a review people leave for local businesses. This helps people know if the canyon is worth doing or is fun and engaging. If people don't like a canyon or it wasn't fun then they leave a review of their experience. This number can be skewed depending on the experience of the canyoneers and weather conditions.