Most accidents that occur during canyoning activities are related to lack of planning, inadequate preparation or pure recklessness. Safety therefore depends largely on the individual. It's very important that, if you lack experience, you contact companies specialised in this discipline.
CANYONING SAFETY
When selecting a canyon, we must be honest about our own training and capabilities. Each canyon has its technical difficulty, length, water flow and current condition. The group's experience, physical abilities and training level should also be taken into account. It's important that you check the existing canyoning difficulty levels and identify which best matches your capabilities.
Regulations regarding group size must be respected. Small groups are always preferable, but it's recommended to have at least three members.
When planning an activity, consult manuals, guides and websites like this one where you'll find plenty of advice for practising this sport. Expand and update your information as much as possible to get a complete picture of the canyon. It doesn't hurt to speak with locals (guides, companies, tourist offices, local athletes, etc.) who can provide more current information about the canyon's condition.
Weather conditions will also influence your decision, as some canyons become more difficult during rainfall or isolated storms. Higher water flow might block passages and trap us. Storms upstream are particularly important. Landslides can change the canyon's course, meaning progression might not be as expected. It's therefore essential to know the canyon's current condition if we want to avoid unexpected dangers.
In summary, when choosing a canyon you should consider these points:
- Whether it's equipped or not. This is crucial for deciding what equipment to bring. The safest option is to visit a canyon equipped with chemical anchors.
- Your physical and technical capabilities and those of your group.
- The timing and technical difficulty of the descent.
- The weather conditions both in the canyon and throughout the watershed.
- The canyon's current condition.
Don't forget that in all planning, you must consider the canyon's escape routes and return paths.
And remember to inform others about your plans and schedule!
