CANYONING
Canyoning in Italy: Guide to Canyoning (what it is, how to do it, equipment and accessories)
Canyoning, also known in Italian as torrentismo, is an outdoor discipline that combines mountaineering with water sports. Unlike river activities such as rafting or kayaking, canyoning does not involve the use of rafts or canoes, but involves walking, swimming, and abseiling down mountain streams which, through thousands of years of erosion, have carved out narrow rocky gorges, known as ‘forre’ or ‘canyons’.
Canyoning is practiced in small groups accompanied by expert guides.
Canyoning is an activity that arouses emotions and triggers adrenaline in a context that is always protected by the experience of the guides. That is why the choice of the center where this discipline is practiced must be based on criteria of preparation and safety.
Canyoning is practiced in gorges, natural rocky ravines carved out over time by water erosion, characterized by waterfalls, natural slides, crystal clear pools, and narrow passages between rocks. For lovers of water and mountains, the experience of abseiling down a waterfall, diving into clear pools and sliding through narrow water corridors is a source of curiosity and excitement.
In addition to the adventurous aspect, canyoning allows you to immerse yourself in nature, discovering some of the most spectacular and unspoiled places, far from the beaten track.
Although it requires a bit of a spirit of adventure and confidence in the water, canyoning is accessible to anyone who wants to try it with the right precautions, choosing the appropriate routes recommended by experienced guides.
The descent of a canyon almost always begins with an approach on foot. You walk along mountain paths to reach the entrance to the gorge. You descend to the bed of the stream along natural slides smoothed by water in the rock (toboga), until you reach the pool of water below, the destination of the first section.
Once you are in the heart of the stream, you progress by alternating between different techniques, including diving, abseiling, and swimming. When the depth allows, you can jump from rocks and small waterfalls in complete safety (always assess the landing point first). As an alternative to diving, or if the height is excessive, you can use a rope to descend, securing yourself to an anchored rope to get to the bottom of the obstacle.
There are also pools and corridors to swim through, either carried along by the current or swimming if the water is calm. Between one obstacle and another, you walk along the stream on slippery stones and boulders, and there are also short stretches where you have to climb or maneuver between the boulders to continue.
This variety of situations, including diving, sliding, swimming, abseiling, and climbing, makes canyoning a very varied and dynamic sport.
One of the aspects that distinguishes canyoning from other river sports is the use of
mountaineering techniques to overcome differences in height and vertical obstacles.
Canyoning is an activity managed with very precise techniques that guarantee the safety of the maneuvers.
The guides teach participants the correct position to adopt while abseiling in order to descend in a controlled manner.
When faced with a waterfall or drop that is too high to tackle with a dive, participants lower themselves safely using the rope. The most experienced member of the group, or the guide, prepares a solid anchor by securing the rope to the rock and decides on the best trajectory for the descent that the others will have to follow.
Abseiling (controlled descent), with the rope folded in half and passed through the anchor so that it can be retrieved once everyone has descended, is a fundamental maneuver requiring precise movements.
In turn, each person attaches themselves to the rope using their descender connected to their harness and lowers themselves down the rock face, controlling the speed of descent with their hands (the descender allows the rope to slide, braking it and adjusting the speed of descent).
Each participant is secured to the rope and, at difficult points, the guide himself lowers the less experienced participants with an additional safety rope.
Canyoning is an activity that can be practiced on routes of varying difficulty, suitable for different levels of experience. Not all streams and gorges are suitable for everyone. Some routes require greater technical skill and are not suitable for beginners.
Beginners can start on easy gorges, where the descents do not exceed 10-15 meters and the dives are low and always avoidable. The simplest canyons are ideal for beginners, with low obstacles, optional dives, and the possibility of bypassing the most challenging passages.
As you gain experience, you can then move on to medium-level canyons with higher waterfalls and more technical passages, until you reach, for those who wish, the most difficult canyons, which feature waterfalls over 50 meters high, significant water flows, and complex passages.
It is always up to the guides to choose routes that are appropriate for the level of the participants. There is an international canyoning classification scale, based on parameters of aquatic and vertical difficulty, and you can rely on the experience of qualified instructors to assess whether a stream is suitable for your level.
In any case, canyoning is suitable for all ages: there are easy routes that are also suitable for children, accompanied by guides.
The duration of a canyoning trip can vary depending on the route chosen, the length of the section to be covered, and the level of the group.
On average, a classic canyoning route takes 2-4 hours inside the gorge, plus the time it takes to walk to the entrance and return at the end.
Activities can also cover half a day if the canyon requires 3-4 hours in total. Other longer itineraries also include a picnic or a break, for a full- day outing.
As for the more challenging or unusual routes, the duration can increase with real canyoning “marathons” for experts, with routes that require 6-8 continuous hours in the gorge.
Some exploratory expeditions or complete descents of remote canyons may even include overnight camping, in which case the stream is descended in two days, sleeping in the environment (an experience reserved for very experienced and autonomous canyoneers).
One factor to consider is that the duration of a descent can also vary depending on the number of participants and how well they work together. Large or inexperienced groups take longer to perform maneuvers (abseiling, assisting with jumps, etc.), while small, well- trained groups move more quickly.
When booking a canyoning excursion, the guides will provide information on the expected duration and degree of difficulty.
Careful preparation of equipment is essential for safe and comfortable canyoning.
Unlike other river sports, canyoning does not involve the use of rafts or kayaks. The entire route is covered using your body and with the aid of ropes and individual equipment.
You wear a neoprene wetsuit, helmet, life jacket, and non-slip hiking boots. It is also important to wear neoprene boots and gloves to keep your feet and hands warm during the descent. A waterproof backpack is used to carry ropes, carabiners, pulleys, and everything else you need for the activity.
Below we will take a detailed look at what you need and how to choose the right equipment, from protective clothing to technical accessories.
In many cases, those approaching this sport for the first time can rent or obtain equipment from the organizing center, but it is useful to know the characteristics of each item to be aware of what you are using.
To practice canyoning, you are equipped with a harness suitable for the type of activity.
Many canyoners initially use diving wetsuits, but there are specific wetsuits for canyoning consisting of sleeveless overalls for the legs and a separate hooded jacket for the torso.
The overlapping neoprene on the chest and back provides a double layer on the torso, which helps to retain heat. The two-piece design facilitates movement compared to a full suit of the same thickness.
Canyoning wetsuits may also have protective reinforcements on the elbows, knees, and seat.
The thickness of the neoprene can vary depending on the climate and water temperature, typically ranging from 3 to 7 mm.
Some models also feature extra padding on the seat (especially if you are not using the harness back protector).
The advice is to make sure that the wetsuit fits snugly but does not restrict movement. A wetsuit that is too tight limits mobility, and one that is too loose lets in too much cold water.
To practice canyoning safely, you need certain accessories that are part of mountaineering equipment (harness, lanyard, carabiners, descender, ropes), the safety kit for tackling a medium-difficulty canyon.
Helmet
The helmet, similar to a mountaineering or caving helmet, must be worn by all participants.
Life jacket
Life jackets (or buoyancy aids) are not always mandatory in classic canyoning because the wetsuit itself provides a certain amount of buoyancy. However, life jackets are recommended for beginners or in streams with long stretches of water.
The life jacket provides extra buoyancy to make swimming in the pools or lakes of the canyon easier and less tiring. It also adds an extra layer of warmth and offers protection for the back.
Canyoning harness
The canyoning harness is also essential. It is similar to climbing harnesses but designed for use in water. It is a harness with straps that wrap around the waist and thighs, with sturdy PVC protection on the bottom (like a rigid “diaper”) to protect the backside and wetsuit from wear and tear when sitting on rocks or sliding.
The canyoning harness has reinforced attachment points for connecting carabiners and descenders. In fact, the harness usually comes with a set of lanyards: two short ropes (one long and one short) with safety carabiners, attached to the harness, which are used during maneuvers (for example, to hook onto anchors while waiting to descend).
The carabiner with screw gate and the figure-eight descender for rope descents are attached to the main ring of the harness. It is good practice to always use screw gate carabiners (lockable) to prevent accidental opening, especially in aquatic environments.
Shoes play a very important role in canyoning. It is important to consider that your feet will be immersed in water for hours and you will be walking on wet, slippery, and uneven ground.
For occasional use, non-specific shoes can also be used (for example, a pair of sturdy sneakers or hiking boots).
The important thing is that they meet certain basic requirements in terms of grip and protection. Rock sandals or lightweight neoprene shoes, which are sometimes marketed as “canyoning shoes,” should be avoided at all costs, as they do not offer adequate support or grip and are likely to slip off or break immediately.
Old and worn-out hiking shoes are also not recommended because prolonged contact with water can cause the glue to dry out and the soles to come off at the first dip.
After your first few experiences, if you are passionate about canyoning, it is worth investing in specific canyoning shoes with certain characteristics:
Since you will be walking and swimming in these shoes, it is important that they are lightweight and comfortable. Lightweight materials reduce fatigue, and a comfortable fit (considering that you will also be wearing neoprene socks) prevents blisters and pain during activity.
Before each outing, remember to wear neoprene socks inside your shoes to keep your feet warm. If your shoes are very tight, it may be helpful to remove the insoles to compensate for the thickness of the neoprene socks and avoid compressing your feet too much. After your outing, always rinse your shoes with fresh water and let them dry in the shade to make them last longer.
Canyoning also requires a range of technical accessories borrowed from mountaineering and caving, adapted to the aquatic environment. First and foremost is the rope.
Specific static or semi-static ropes are used for canyoning, made of nylon or water-repellent synthetic materials, with diameters of around 9-10 mm and low elasticity (to facilitate controlled descents and resist water).
The length of the rope depends on the characteristics of the stream. It should usually be at least twice the height of the highest waterfall you will encounter, because, as mentioned, descents are made with a double rope.
Generally, for common routes, guides carry 40, 60, or 80-meter ropes (folded in half, they become 20, 30, or 40-meter ropes).
It is good practice to always carry an emergency rope with you.
Other essential equipment includes carabiners and descenders. The carabiners used in canyoning are made of metal (steel or light alloy) and equipped with a safety screw gate. They are used to connect the harness to the rope via the descender, and for many other maneuvers (anchoring, recovery, belaying).
Each person has at least two main screwgate carabiners (on the lanyards), plus a few additional service carabiners. The descender is the braking device used for rope descents.
In basic kits, it is most often an 8-shaped device (a metal alloy tool shaped like an 8) through which the rope is passed so that it can slide.
Alternatively, there are specific descenders for canyoning that allow for multiple braking configurations and facilitate maneuvers in the water.
The group must also have an emergency kit carried by a guide or the most experienced member, which includes pulleys, additional ropes, lanyards, spare descenders, materials for setting up emergency abseils, a knife (to cut ropes or slings if necessary), and a first aid kit.
Advanced practitioners also carry a whistle (useful for acoustic signals in the noise of the stream), some maillon rapides (small screw connectors), and perhaps a waterproof remote control if using action cameras on their helmets.
During organized outings, most of this technical equipment is provided by the guides. A novice participant will receive a helmet, a harness complete with lanyard, carabiners, and descender, and a wetsuit.
During a canyon descent, at least one member of the group (usually the guide) will carry a canyoning backpack to transport shared equipment and emergency items.
Canyoning backpacks, designed for aquatic environments, are made of sturdy, waterproof materials (PVC or coated Cordura-like fabric) and feature numerous drainage holes that allow water to drain quickly when the backpack is submerged.
The backpack does not “float” when full of water but empties immediately when pulled out of the pools.
Inside the waterproof backpack there is space for:
In addition to technical equipment, you can carry some useful personal items in your waterproof backpack. Many canyoneers include a smaller waterproof bag containing, for example, car keys, a cell phone, a water bottle, and some energy snacks.
Given the nature of the activity, it is best to minimize valuable or non- waterproof items. Anything you bring with you may get wet if not properly protected. However, a medium-sized canyoning backpack (40 liters) is sufficient to carry the necessary equipment for a group of 4-5 people on a day trip.
If the group is large or the route is longer, several backpacks can be distributed among the participants.
Those approaching canyoning for the first time may wonder whether it is necessary to buy all the equipment or whether it is better to rent it. The answer depends on how often you intend to practice this sport.
Initially, for beginners, the best solution is to rely on guides and outdoor centers that provide all the equipment.
When you book a canyoning trip with a specialized center, the price almost always includes a helmet, neoprene wetsuit, harness with lanyard, carabiners, descender, and often even shoes (some centers provide them).
Participants should only bring basic personal clothing: swimwear, possibly a thermal shirt to wear under the wetsuit, a pair of hiking/gym shoes that can get wet, and a towel and change of clothes for after the activity.
To try it out for the first few times, there is no need to immediately invest hundreds of euros in equipment. Rental (or rather, the use of equipment provided by the guides) is the ideal option for beginners and those who practice canyoning occasionally.
The situation is different for those who, after a few guided outings, become so passionate about canyoning that they want to practice it regularly. In this case, it may make sense to gradually start buying your own personal equipment.
Throughout Italy, there are reference centers you can contact to organize your outing in complete safety.
We invite curious beginners and experts alike to experience and enjoy canyoning with us at the Rafting Republic Center in Aymavilles, in the Aosta Valley.
