Canyoning in Switzerland

One minute we are having lunch , next minute we are heading out on our bicycles to the adventure sports company to go Canyoning.We didn't even know what Canyoning was until 5 minutes AFTER we signed the consent forms!  Canyoning was a thrill of a lifetime. I say lifetime because I’m sure I won’t do it again. It is scary as hell, but once you have taken the leap, immersed yourself in water and jumped like you were a little kid, it will leave an indelible mark on you forever, making it completely worth it.

FACT : Canyoning is traveling through canyons  by  walking, scrambling, climbing, jumping, abseiling (rappelling), and/or swimming. Canyons that are ideal for canyoning are often cut into the bedrock stone, forming narrow gorges with numerous drops, beautifully sculpted walls, and sometimes spectacular waterfalls.

The hard part is getting yourself to commit to it. The actual traversal through hard rocks, cold water and drops/falls is not so hard. In the course of the trail, canyons can be very easy or extremely difficult. The guides recommend  options depending on the adventure quotient of the group members. Overall the emphasis was on aesthetics and fun rather than pure difficulty. The atmosphere is very motivating and encouraging. The clear water meanders through rocks and you have to become one with the water to actually get through it . At some places when the drop is smooth, we can slide like we do in water parks slides. In other places where the fall is deep and forceful, we have to jump . In the extreme cases of great depths we can rappel down.The water comes from melting glaciers and is pretty darn cold.

For me, the fear set in only gradually . First we met our guides Phil and Stef who put us at ease. We were instructed on what was in store while a video ran in the background of the waiting area with glimpses of what we were about to do.  That seemed ok. Then we got into our costume  which included helmets, wetsuits, specially designed shoes and life jackets. I was a little nervous. We got into a van and started going up a hill to the place where we would be doing our canyoning. More nerves kicked in. Got to the point and got off our van and went into the rocky area. By then, I scared out of my wits.

It is an awesome adventure sport and an even more awesome experience. Despite not knowing how to swim, I had a great  time doing it.  The best part is the view of the point that you are about to jump from and then turning back and seeing that  point after having jumped.You look up at the views which leave you dumbfounded. It is most exciting right before and after the jump/slide. That’s because during the jump your mind goes blank. The views are stunning. You are in the wild and trying to become one with the water.

Another nice thing I liked about the sport is the fact that I let go. I put all my trust indirectly in God and directly on Jay, my route guide and lifejacket. I knew all I had to do was wait for the lifejacket to bring me up and then for Phil/Stef to pull me up and of course for Jay to ensure those two things happen. If not for Jake by my side, I wouldn’t have done it. If he hadn’t pushed me to do it, I wouldn’t have done it. It was the best 120£ spent in my life and the most enriching experience ever,

Just overcome your fears and jump.

Outdoor Interlaken is the company which took us kayaking.
See how the professionals do it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dckf-M3fDFM