Canyoneering: Beginning to Advanced Techniques

Journeying through a canyon can be an exhilarating experience--but it can be dangerous, too. Canyoneering is an introduction to this relatively new form of outdoor recreation that combines elements of hiking, backpacking, climbing, spelunking, and even swimming. The author is careful to point out that any of the skills discussed here can be further studied in more subject-specific texts; for instance, while there is a basic chapter on navigating in canyons, novices are encouraged to refer to in-depth guides about map and compass work--getting lost in a hot desert canyon with limited food and water can have rapid and tragic consequences. Initial chapters include some basics that will be familiar to anyone who is active in the outdoors (trip planning, equipment, navigation, weather, and first aid). Part 2 delves into the fun stuff--the skills you'll need to negotiate tricky terrain, from rappelling down waterfalls to crossing plunge pools with a heavy pack. Short, sometimes amusingly self-deprecating sidebars flesh out the instruction with real-life examples from the author's own expeditions.

Those with some canyon experience already under their belts will probably want to look elsewhere for more advanced and detailed material, but Canyoneering is an excellent primer for the beginner.