By definition, canyoning is navigating your way down a fast flowing mountain stream using abseiling, sliding, climbing, and jumping techniques. In the United States, it is also known as canyoneering and does not always involve water. Desert-like, arid areas like Arizona and Utah have canyoneering trips into dry canyons instead (though they may have pools of water at the bottom, too).
The first time we went canyoning was in Costa Rica. I was terribly afraid of heights, and the idea of rappelling down a waterfall filled me with dread. But the Mambo Combo tour with Desafio Adventures had the best reviews of activities in the Arenal Volcano area on Trip Advisor, and I didn’t want to miss out. (You can see the dubious look on my face in this picture as I was about to descend the first waterfall. John, meanwhile, was comfortable the whole time. Just look at him–what a natural!) Of course this ended up being one of the highlights of the entire trip.
Fast forward 8 years later, and we were ready to go canyoning again, this time on the island of São Miguel in the Azores with our two friends. We booked a half day trip with Fun Activities at Parque Natural da Ribeira dos Caldeirões. First they suited us up with wetsuits, and then we hiked/scrambled a short distance to the top of the canyon. It was at this point that I realized the rest of our group were young women in their early 20’s. I am not typically a person who gives any thought to my age whatsoever, but as I looked at our party through their eyes, I couldn’t help but see us as the middle-aged people we had become. Indeed, I was the youngest at 47, and my friend Kristin had just turned 50.
“F that,” I thought to myself. I spent the rest of the excursion doubling down on my fitness level and a fearlessness I didn’t know I possessed. In Costa Rica, canyoning was mostly climbing over rocks and abseiling, but here the main adrenaline rush was jumping off rocks. At the first opportunity, I went with the medium height, but after that I chose the higher alternatives, surprising both myself and my husband. The final (optional) jump was the highest of all – 7 meters. It looked high; I acknowledged it was terrifying; and then I jumped in with hardly any hesitation.
If I could plan that trip over again, I would go canyoning multiple times. As it was, I returned home and immediately searched up other locations to go canyoning around the world: Lake Garda, Italy, the Blue Mountains of Australia, Kawasan Falls in the Philippines–they’re all on my list now.
I keep thinking back to that final jump as I am poised to embark on a new chapter. It’s easy to fall into analysis paralysis. But what if I acknowledge I’m terrified and jump anyway?
And why not? I’m still young.
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