COLORADO CANYONS

The sport of canyoneering (aka canyoning) developed most prominently in France, although people have been actively descending canyons in the US for several decades.  The most famous areas in the US are in Utah and Arizona (i.e. the slot canyons of the Southwest).  As these areas grew in popularity and some became crowded, several people started looking for new areas to open up.  Particularly promising locations were found in Colorado, Oregon, and Washington.  For every mountain peak there are many canyons, but only where the water has cut narrow steep gorges does one find ideal conditions.  Some examples are shown here.

Most Colorado Canyons have flowing water.  Some have enormous currents crashing through extreme narrows and are too dangerous to try and descend.  Those that can be safely done involve exciting rappels through waterfalls and hikes down pretty gorges with aspen trees and cottonwoods on the walls.

Photography is difficult because of the water.  Good drybags are essential, as well as a towel to wipe off equipment and dessicant to try and cut down on fogging lenses.  A waterproof housing would be useful, but for stereo photography with specialized equipment there are no practical solutions.