"Canyoning" Aug 29, 2005 Japanese version is available.

Canyoning is a sport like rafting in river. But no boat.
Last year I wanted to try it but it was impossible due to typhoon. Finally I tried it this summer.

Preparation

"How to take a photo in river?" This is the biggest problem.
My digital camera isn't waterproof. I don't have any waterproof plastic case for it. I can buy waterproof disposable camera but it can't take many photos.
"I found ziplock in kitchen so I can use it for my digital camera. Can I take it, mom?" I almost decided to use it but finally I found waterproof plastic bag for camara.
I bought it 2 days before the canyoning then I took a bath with it and brought it to bathtub to check if it can really work.

Pentax Optio S in the bag. Power ON state.
If I don't put some air in the bag, the lens can't extend to full length because of the limited space in the bag. And power will be shut down automatically.
It is very difficult to operate the camera in this bag. Almost impossible to play back photos or change settings through the bag. Photoflash don't work because it reflects on the vinyl surface of the bag. Inside of bag gets wedew drop because camera is heating when I'm using it long time. To avoid this problem, I had to sink this bag into river to cool it down.
Thickness of this camera on power ON state is about 46mm. This bag can contain this size at least.
Canyoning

To play canyoning, I applied for tour in advance.
There are many tour companies and each of them has different service. Even though they use same river, the point where we play canyoning or how to play it are not same. They depend on the company's right at the place and their policy for safety.

Some company gives us such an amazing style. They are trying to down the water fall with rope.

We applied for "One day canyoning tour" and visited to Tsukiyono-cho in Gunma prefecture.

We got to the tour company. But it was little cold at that time. We chickened out!
Remember to take a sun block. We got sunburned at such a cloudy day.

PLAY AT YOUR OWN RISK. I think I often fill up such a document recently...

He is a guide for canyoning. He is teaching us how to wear wet suit.
We don't need bring our own wet suit, glove, life jacket and helmet. They are all prepared by the company. But we had to pay for shoes. You can bring it by yourself. They are normal shoes but will get wet.
Sandals are very convenient after you get wet in river.

80% completed. Bring your swimwear inside of wet suit.

He took us to a river by car. Another group joined to us. We went there in 7 people.

We arrived at a bridge. We have to climb down to the river by rope.

We enjoyed climbing down but we almost forgot why we came here at that moment. Is this canyoning?
It spent much time to finish climbing down. There were 7 people...

Finally we can get into the river from this cliff. It's about 8m.

Before diving to river, guide gives us a lecture. He often stopped and explained how to do it in advance.

I didn't feel it's so high. Then I jumped in without any thought.

I sank down into river deeper than I expected.

I drunk water and choked over but I could float by life jacket. The water taste not like seawater or water in pool. It tastes like "river".

The river is going to be narrow and flow is strong.

Bottom of the river is very slippy. You don't need to walk. You can flow.

I was turned backward and flowed with a camera. I was leaving from them. I couldn't stop.

Then there was a waterfall. I was about to die with my lovely camera...

Then finished. That was all activities in the morning.

Lunch at riverside. We had wet suit but not cold.

We moved to other river. We had to climb mountain to get to canyoning point.

Foothold was very bad and the slope was steep. The guide said snake or bear could appear. Photoflash was reflected on the inside of the waterproof plastic bag.

We were moving quickly. I had no time to take pictures.
I had full equipments on my body so I didn't need to care about dirty mud or insects. I hate spider but I could through it away by globed hand! Now I'm strong.

"Hanageno Taki". This Japanese name means "Nose hair water fall".
Sometime we got out of forest and walk along riverside.

We were climbing mountain with equipments. It's too hot. Once we saw a river, we jumped into the cold water. Sweat and mud were washed off. So comfortable!

It was very slippy riverside.

Finally we got to start point.
2 people in a line are sliding together.

20m length slope. I couldn't stop laughing when I was sliding down. It was so funny feeling.

See the blue waterproof bag in my left hand. I took a photo anytime and anywhere.

We can walk behind a water fall.
Canyoning is...

Extraordinary experience and it has thrill. The river was much more beautiful, fantastic and exciting than I expected. It was very present. This is one of the best sports for someone who needs refreshment.
If you are not familiar with a river, this may be a very new experience for you.
If you were familiar with a river in your childhood, it brings back your old memories.
You'll be addicted to this vivid experience.

I found the magnificence of a river again after a long time.


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