And so I give you a glimpse of what happens when you do something completely different, like canyoneering – you find yourself with a day full of insights and experiences that comes from doing amazing activities in a landscape (in this case Zion Canyon) that is truly unique with great and knowledgeable people. For reference, canyoneering is associated with technical descents that require (rappels) and rope work, down-climbing, and technical jumps. It is frequently done in remote and rugged settings and often is done in narrow gorges with numerous drops, beautifully sculpted walls, and sometimes spectacular waterfalls. We also get to use a lot of cool gear like climbing hardware, static ropes, helmets and specially designed shoes, packs, and rope bags (what could be more fun?)
The part of the story that is interesting, at least in the context of THPL, is that, we set out with a different plan, we changed the normal routine; we explored a location that we never would have had the opportunity to see and experience. The landscape / beauty of a slot canyon is beyond anything I had seen – the rock is so vibrant, with color and movement in it that brings it to life in a way that is hard to describe. And it all comes together when you start to rappel down one of the many rock walls and you feel the energy and the beauty of your surroundings. Enveloped by nature and high on adrenaline and life it strikes me yet again, that to live THPL requires that you get out, go places, do different activities, challenge yourself and most of all take it all in when you get there. Yea, that’s it – it is that simple - find your next challenge and go do it. Time to really live up to the promise of THPL. BTW –there is a wow at the end when you do so.
Loving life while rappelling.
Ciao
Joe