Agreed. And you are part of the reason for the new stuff. Thanks. There are so many canyons out there I am not sure I will even hit all the "classics" or even the "trade routes" before I am too old. Perhaps this opinion comes from those that are nearer to the "golden age" who are saying the golden age of canyoneering is over cause it is nearing an end for them. Or perhaps it is because of the increasing popularity and lack of utter solitude that they are saying that. Perhaps it is because they think all the good stuff has been discovered? I don't know but I don't think the canyoneering golden age is over or close to it. To me this attitude is kind of like shutting down the patient office cause all the inventions have been invented. I have a feeling that there are plenty of "zero gravity" type canyons out there that will still be stumbled upon.

And for heaven sakes, canyons change. Conditions change. I thought I was bored of Pine Creek until I did it with a pretty good flow of post flash flood water. Then the canyon was new again and exciting. Maybe there will be a push to do swift water canyoneering during the runoff season much like the river rats rush to certain rivers in this dry state during runoff. I used to think canyoneering was only a summer sport 'till I went on freeze fest a couple of years back. I have a feeling that as we mix climbing techniques with canyoneering (including Ice Climbing) and continue to create new canyon specific techniques, the fun and adventure will continue for many years to come.

What can screw it up is to dummy down the canyons or if many more folks start getting killed. Just a couple of off the cuff thoughts.... Click here to enlarge