Every year it happens the same. After a couple months of my interests being elsewhere, my mind wanders to the desert and I catch canyon-fever just as spring is approaching.
Planyoneering is the best part of February and March by far. This is the time during which I set trip dates and recruit partners, select canyons for the coming season and start gathering beta, pick out a "main event" of the season and make maps.
For me the most enjoyable part of pre-season planning is finding and analyzing unpublished canyons via satellite imagery and other geo-data, then selecting the most promising one and plotting an approach route. The appeal of this comes from the unknown... any given slot could be a dud or it could contain the most beautiful, difficult or unique feature I've ever seen in a canyon.
The two biggest anxiety causing scenarios(other than flash flooding, which can't have it's risk reduced by preseason planning) for me are getting lost and getting "in over my head" in a canyon. Because of this, in Feb and March I spend a lot of time studying route-specific navigation and making maps as well as brushing up on rope work and other in-canyon technique.
Anyone else enjoy planning for canyoneering as much as me? What do you all do to get ready for the coming season?
-Sam