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Canyoneering (Waterfall Rappelling) Podcast Show Notes with Joshua Lambus

Joshua Lambus is one of those people who is very magnetizing. He is Kona based and is a world-renowned photographer, check out his incredible photos! Josh is an experience lover whether it’s underwater with Tiger Sharks, falling through the sky, walking on a slackline high above the earth (high-lining), or waterfall rappelling, a part of canyoneering. In this episode, we are exploring the world of canyoneering (or canyoning depending on what part of the world you’re in).

What Is Canyoneering?

Canyoneering is more than waterfall rappelling. It is essentially figuring out how to get down a canyon by rappelling (or abseiling), scrambling, climbing, jumping, swimming or other. This is not a walk in a park, it requires many different skills to be able to navigate a canyon safely, and a beginner route could take all day.

What’s Great About Canyoneering?

Every experience is different and requires problem-solving in order to make it out. Josh, was first introduced to canyoneering when he was slacklining in high places (hi-lining), and originally thought canyoneering was a means to an end, meaning it was a way to slackline, however along that process, Josh fell in love with canyoneering.

Many times Josh and his friends do exploratory canyoneering. They look at various maps and enter an area that hasn’t been explored.

5 years ago, Josh and his friends went to a place that was a black dot on a map, where the shade and shadow met. They found themselves over 400 feet of exposure, which was exactly how much rope they brought (thankfully). They dropped down a 2-tiered waterfall, one 180 feet, and another 200 feet with a small section of ledge between the two. It was breathtaking and was one of Josh’s largest rappel.

One day Josh took his helicopter pilot friend to a small canyon, quick and easy (8 hours). There were massive boulders, tunnels, old train tracks, and his friend was blown away. The next time he took a flight, he saw the canyon from his helicopter, and it was a teeny tiny canyon and it was a canyon he had never seen before. It’s amazing how we pass by things every day and don’t realize the secrets the canyons hold until you’re in it.

What Does Canyoneering Feel Like?

The first time you get to a drop and look over that edge (like 100 ft, 150 ft), you first get that feeling of how am I going to do this. Many times people walk to the top of waterfalls, but that is as far as they go. But in canyoneering, you are stepping over that edge and the edge now becomes the beginning.

Once people start to go over the edge, their perspective starts to change as new possibilities are created. You go from seeing something as impossible to possible.

We are 2-dimensional beings, but once you get into Scuba Diving, Skydiving, or Rappelling, you add in a new perspective and a new dimension you can live in.

Sometimes you might be rappelling into a cave with a waterfall, then you might swim through a cave that pops out into a river. Josh never realized this experience was possible until he did it.

Goes to show, that you don’t know what you don’t know, and you may need to question yourself like Steph Davis, that the Edge is Just the Beginning.

The Edge Is Just the Beginning – Steph Davis

How Close Are You to Waterfalls?

You enter at some point into a canyon, you might be walking along banks, or swimming through a canyon, but there are times when the elevation stops abruptly, and many times, they need to rappel down a waterfall.

If they are lucky, they like to rappel down the side of a waterfall, but sometimes because of the way the way the canyon is carved, sometimes they rappel down the center of a waterfall. The thing is, if the rope falls through the water, then the rope could get stuck.

Dangers of Canyoneering:

• You are reliant on gear and gear can fail or get stuck
• You could make a wrong calculation and not be appropriately prepared
• Getting into a canyon without planning or research, that could put you in a sticky situation.

Skills Needed for Advanced Canyoneering

• Rope rigging knowledge
• Able to make anchors
• For Exploratory Canyoneering, being able to read topography maps and understand what the drops are going to look like
• Know how to swim
• Medically sound to do this

Skills Needed for a Beginner Canyoneering Course

• Able to pass a medical waiver
• Know how to swim

Average Cost of a Beginner Canyoneering Day

• $150 for a few hour tour
• $1000+ for a multi-day canyoneering beginner tour

They have a self-retrieval rope system set up, and they need twice as much rope as the drop they are going down in order to retrieve the rope.

How To Get Into Canyoneering

You need to understand ropes and how to use them, like anchor ropes and tying. It’s best to seek out experienced canyoneering guides. There are a few canyoneering certifications that can give you extra information. Check out the ACA Canyoneering Courses to learn more.

REI also offers a Learn to Rappell Course, you should check out. 

Or you can go to a place that offers a canyoneering experience for a beginner like the tours below.

Equipment Needed for Getting into Canyoneering:

• Ropes – Start at $200 and can go to $600, you get what you pay for
• Helmet – you should never go into a canyon without a helmet, it helps protect you from falling rock
• Wetsuit – You will be getting wet, and a wetsuit is highly recommended. Wetsuit thickness depends on the water temp
• Harness –
• Belay Device (Rappell Device)
• Tabbies – Neoprene shoe with a felt sole
• Gloves

Best Places to Go Canyoneering:

• Utah
• New Zealand (Josh’s bucket list place he wants to go to for canyoneering)
• Colorado
• Hawaii
• Arizona (Zion National Park)

Where to Go Canyoneering for Beginners

• The biggest company in Hawaii is Rappel Hawaii in Maui. It’s low impact and is tourist friendly. The trips offered here are great for beginners.
• Slack Hi – They offer 2-3 day adventure weekends in Hilo (on the Big Island). This is an ultimate adventure and a great way to try out a multi-day canyoneering trip. They also offer slacklining classes including Slackline 101, private training, and corporate events (and if your company is doing these, I would love to be invited!)

Related Episodes:

• Rappelling in a Glow Worm Cave in New Zealand (Black Water Rafting)

• Via Ferrata Climbing in the Dolomites