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At the bottom of Grimsel Canyon
It was dawn. I was outside pulling on a wetsuit, preparing to jump into the water. I wasn’t going diving. I was in Interlaken, Switzerland about to embark on my first canyoning adventure.
Canyoning (or canyoneering in the United States) is navigating canyons by rappelling, walking, jumping, and swimming. Descents are more technical than simply hiking, involving climbing gear, wetsuits, specially designed boots, and packs. Most canyons used for the sport are remote mountain gorges with flowing water.
This particular fall morning we met at the Alpin Raft office in Interlaken, loaded up our gear, and drove 30 minutes away to a remote canyon in the Swiss countryside. Having decided to try the intermediate route, we kicked off our trek with a 150-foot abseil off the side of a highway into the canyon below. Once in the canyon, with nothing but sheer rock face on either side, there is nothing to do but complete the descent.
A glacial stream feeds Grimsel Canyon so the water is frigid. Our guides were prepared with two layers of wetsuits, special boots, gloves, and helmets. The wetsuits actually trap water between them and allow your body heat to warm the water. Surprisingly very comfortable, we completed a series of natural waterslides, zip lines, and even an 8-meter jump in the natural pool below. Several hours later, we swam out into an open valley at the bottom of the canyon feeling as if we had conquered the mountain.
Canyoning is a popular sport worldwide. Many countries in Europe have established canyons as well as Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, and the United States. South Africa, Japan, and Hong Kong have variations of the sport; however, these typically involve traveling upstream.
Canyoning is not without it’s dangers. Particularly in glacial streams like Interlaken, you need to be aware of hypothermia. However, low body temperature can occur in any body of water so pay particular attention to the amount of cold-water gear you will need. When traversing canyons you also need to stay hydrated to avoid heat exhaustion. High water flow and flash floods can also present serious dangers. If you are planning to try canyoning for the first time, be sure to go with an experienced guide.
Despite the inherent dangers, or maybe because of them, canyoning is an adrenaline rush (actually, I feel pretty cool that I did it). Beyond that, it’s a great group activity and a lot of fun.
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