I read your article with great interest and decided, as far as I'm concerned, if anyone I know wants to go canyoning, I'll wait for them at the end of the adventure in a local coffee house or saloon!
So, a half hour walk to the start of the first canyon, three hours in the first canyon, five hours in the second, whatever walking out you had to do, plus the driving to and from the trailheads. That is a LONG day even if you were only strolling on flat ground! Good on you for doing it!
These are fantastic photos. Great perspective. How sweet, the fellow hikers. Oh my God, I could never go in a hole, under water, and endure my helmet hitting the top of the rock. I would freak and think I'd die. 😶
I love to travel, but I doubt I will get to Australia. It's delightful to experience all your adventures vicariously through your writing. Thanks much.
I love canyons! There are some fantastic canyons, wet and dry, in Escalante Utah I visit regularly. But canyoneering is no joke. If requires so many different types of movement and covers terrain that can change. I’ve had a few dodgy moments myself.🤪
Definitely go for the canyons if you do. And the food at Outfitters and the coffee across the street (surprisingly because the coffee's at a gear store, and a great one at that). There's not a lot else there. ;) Oh, and my canyoneering buddy finally invested in a place he's loved for two decades and now has an Airbnb there. So hit me up if you go and want a recommendation.
Have you always been adventurous? Like, just in leaving the US and deciding to be vagabonds....how did you know it would be ok? I've dreamed of travel and less responsibility, freedom to travel more than 2 weeks at a time, to be spontaneous and go when and where the best flight will take me...but as the time draws nearer (retirement) I wonder if I am a chasing rainbows? No pun intended. How do I learn the logistics, the trains, the planes, where to stay and how to make sure we stay within our decent sized budget? I'm the engine and my husband is the Caboose, following where I lead. Melodie & Bob ready to explore the world before it all comes crashing down.
Hi Melodie. Great questions! Have I always been adventurous? I was a very cautious boy and teenager, and in some ways I've remained a cautious adult. But when I was eighteen I finished high school in Australia and that gave me a love of travel. I think that desire to travel helped me become more adventurous.
As for chasing rainbows, if it makes you feel better, there are loads of folks in their sixties and seventies out there nomading just like we are. I think if you're on Facebook, you should join Senior Nomads and Go With Less. There you can read tons of posts about all kinds of travel questions and connect with other folks. They are closed groups, so you have to join. They are very moderated and as a result very friendly places to spend time.
Joining there is one way to learn the logistics. But after you study up for a while, the best way to learn is by doing. Trust me when I say that when we started out we knew almost nothing. I mean seriously, nothing. We didn't belong to any groups that could help us and we very much had to figure it out as we went along.
But I promise that if we can do it, I'm certain you can as well.
BTW, you have another resource -- US! We're always here and happy to answer questions. And if you have anything specific, we might even had already written an article about it. Just let me know.
WOW! JUST WOW! A bid nod and tip of the hat to you, Michael. This was harrowing.
My only slot canyon adventure took Jeff and I to Little Wild Horse Canyon, a nine-mile loop in Southern Utah. With Jeff's help, I was able to scale a rocky wall about twenty feet high. As we walked on, about a mile or so, the canyon narrowed to the point where our feet wedged at angles to tread the trail while supporting ourselves by pressing hands against the sides of the canyon. While in the middle of this squeeze, another pair of hikers wanted to pass us. I can't believe we managed that. They marched on, filling the canyon with their echoing voices as we pushed after them. We were carrying lots of extra weight too, but it was all in our girth. No fancy abseiling, jumping, or anything with us. As the canyon narrowed even more, I swear I felt a tremor. (I've lived in CA too long.) "Um, Jeff, how 'bout we turn around and go back?" He didn't argue. On our return, we came to the rocky wall where a school group was jumping around the cliff face like mountain goats. Their instructor told them to stop and face his camera with big smiles because he wanted to take good pictures of them for their obituaries.
I understand abseiling, and climbing down, but what exactly did you have to do to “jump”?? Like a running jump landing on your face, or just barely making it, clinging to the cliff edge?
These are very narrow canyons descending pretty steeply. Because of that there tend to be a lot of waterfalls flowing over ledges into pools that are anywhere from just a couple of feet up to fifteen feet lower down. The jumping comes in when you jump from the top of a waterfall into the pool below.
Dear Michael:
I read your article with great interest and decided, as far as I'm concerned, if anyone I know wants to go canyoning, I'll wait for them at the end of the adventure in a local coffee house or saloon!
Same here
😂😂😂 Well, I hope you enjoyed it vicariously!
So, a half hour walk to the start of the first canyon, three hours in the first canyon, five hours in the second, whatever walking out you had to do, plus the driving to and from the trailheads. That is a LONG day even if you were only strolling on flat ground! Good on you for doing it!
It was a long day! But totally worth it!
These are fantastic photos. Great perspective. How sweet, the fellow hikers. Oh my God, I could never go in a hole, under water, and endure my helmet hitting the top of the rock. I would freak and think I'd die. 😶
Thanks! Yeah, swimming underwater wasn't my favorite part. 😂
I love to travel, but I doubt I will get to Australia. It's delightful to experience all your adventures vicariously through your writing. Thanks much.
Thank you! And thanks so much for coming along!
You're nuts! But sure happy you survived to enjoy your canyoning adventure. Ah, to be young and fit once again!
That's the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me! 😂😂😂
Thank you for sharing this adventure. I thoroughly enjoyed living vicariously through your excellent depictions of the journey.
Thanks!
You're a brave man to do the underwater part, Michael! I've done canyoning before but that part's a bit scary for me. What an experience though.
Brave? Stupid? Maybe brupid?
Nah, just stupid! LOL LOL
Wow, what an adventure. Loved reading this. Thank you for doing it, surviving it, and sharing it. Now I don’t have to consider it! 😳
Happy to oblige!
I love canyons! There are some fantastic canyons, wet and dry, in Escalante Utah I visit regularly. But canyoneering is no joke. If requires so many different types of movement and covers terrain that can change. I’ve had a few dodgy moments myself.🤪
I much enjoyed your account! Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for reading and I've heard great things about Escalante. Would love to visit one day myself!
Definitely go for the canyons if you do. And the food at Outfitters and the coffee across the street (surprisingly because the coffee's at a gear store, and a great one at that). There's not a lot else there. ;) Oh, and my canyoneering buddy finally invested in a place he's loved for two decades and now has an Airbnb there. So hit me up if you go and want a recommendation.
Will do!
Have you always been adventurous? Like, just in leaving the US and deciding to be vagabonds....how did you know it would be ok? I've dreamed of travel and less responsibility, freedom to travel more than 2 weeks at a time, to be spontaneous and go when and where the best flight will take me...but as the time draws nearer (retirement) I wonder if I am a chasing rainbows? No pun intended. How do I learn the logistics, the trains, the planes, where to stay and how to make sure we stay within our decent sized budget? I'm the engine and my husband is the Caboose, following where I lead. Melodie & Bob ready to explore the world before it all comes crashing down.
Hi Melodie. Great questions! Have I always been adventurous? I was a very cautious boy and teenager, and in some ways I've remained a cautious adult. But when I was eighteen I finished high school in Australia and that gave me a love of travel. I think that desire to travel helped me become more adventurous.
As for chasing rainbows, if it makes you feel better, there are loads of folks in their sixties and seventies out there nomading just like we are. I think if you're on Facebook, you should join Senior Nomads and Go With Less. There you can read tons of posts about all kinds of travel questions and connect with other folks. They are closed groups, so you have to join. They are very moderated and as a result very friendly places to spend time.
Joining there is one way to learn the logistics. But after you study up for a while, the best way to learn is by doing. Trust me when I say that when we started out we knew almost nothing. I mean seriously, nothing. We didn't belong to any groups that could help us and we very much had to figure it out as we went along.
But I promise that if we can do it, I'm certain you can as well.
BTW, you have another resource -- US! We're always here and happy to answer questions. And if you have anything specific, we might even had already written an article about it. Just let me know.
Cheer!
WOW! JUST WOW! A bid nod and tip of the hat to you, Michael. This was harrowing.
My only slot canyon adventure took Jeff and I to Little Wild Horse Canyon, a nine-mile loop in Southern Utah. With Jeff's help, I was able to scale a rocky wall about twenty feet high. As we walked on, about a mile or so, the canyon narrowed to the point where our feet wedged at angles to tread the trail while supporting ourselves by pressing hands against the sides of the canyon. While in the middle of this squeeze, another pair of hikers wanted to pass us. I can't believe we managed that. They marched on, filling the canyon with their echoing voices as we pushed after them. We were carrying lots of extra weight too, but it was all in our girth. No fancy abseiling, jumping, or anything with us. As the canyon narrowed even more, I swear I felt a tremor. (I've lived in CA too long.) "Um, Jeff, how 'bout we turn around and go back?" He didn't argue. On our return, we came to the rocky wall where a school group was jumping around the cliff face like mountain goats. Their instructor told them to stop and face his camera with big smiles because he wanted to take good pictures of them for their obituaries.
For their obituaries?!?! 😂😂😂😂
This teacher probably learned that hyperbole works better with teenagers than straight scare tactics.
I understand abseiling, and climbing down, but what exactly did you have to do to “jump”?? Like a running jump landing on your face, or just barely making it, clinging to the cliff edge?
These are very narrow canyons descending pretty steeply. Because of that there tend to be a lot of waterfalls flowing over ledges into pools that are anywhere from just a couple of feet up to fifteen feet lower down. The jumping comes in when you jump from the top of a waterfall into the pool below.
Ah. Nope.