NSS News - "Oct. 2014 - Canyon Caver" Edition

[jman]

If you are a caver, than you most likely have seen the latest issue - "Oct. 2014 A Special Canyoning/Canyoneering Issue".

Unfortunately, no digital version exists (unless you are a paying member for $27/year for the printed, monthly periodical), but I'll include a picture of the front and back page, and the table-contents so you can see what's inside.

After reading it thoroughly, it's all about the crossover from caving into canyoneering. The author details quite a few crossovers from both sports, and concludes that it's about the exploration (and preservation) in the end.

As you flip through the pages, it contains numerous photographs from canyons from all over the world. One thing that I particularly liked, was that it wasn't Utah ONLY! In fact, they mention little about the Colorado-plateau, which was refreshing for a change!

Continuning on, the article within contain: the start of the C.A.C and it's movement, the graffitti cleanup in Eaton Canyon, Canyon photography, a full first-descent review of the Gloomy Gorge in New Zealand, and a small write-up about the descent of Nepal canyon (I forget it's name, sorry). It mentions the canyon ratings, what gear to use, and of-course, advising cavers on how to canyoneer.

It's about 30 pages dedicated to canyoneering.

/END SALES PITCH







After reading the articles, I was daydreaming about canyons like the rest of yall...and an idea hit me. (And this is one of my "better ideas" (inside joke - you know who you are! )).

Since the C.A.C. is evolving into a bigger, canyoneer-ran entity, and concerned about the exponential growth of canyoneering and preservation of our canyons - what if they, err, WE....design and help with a canyon Periodical?

I know i'm not the first one to ever think of this idea - but just thinking out loud here.

They would be the formal group for us Canyoneers that we can rally behind (personal relationships, aside).

So here's what I'm thinking (ARE YOU LISTENING C.A.C.?!):

1) a two-tiered system. One is a digital edition and the other is a print edition. Digital to start, would be $5/year. Print would be $20 or so/year.

2) Released either quarterly and then as growth continues - monthly.

3) It would contain the latest news about the C.A.C. and canyoneering news around the world.

4) Availability in other languages.

5) The news articles could vary GREATLY every quarter (or monthly) and feature the newest gear (maybe have advertisements from canyoneering specific companies), trip reports, action reviews of accidents/near-misses/fatalities (hopefully not), feature pages on cryptobiotic soil, poison ivy, indigenous flora and fauna, first-published first descents, canyon photography, anchor rigging, knot tying, keeper-potholes, permit changes, canyon closures, rendezvous or large group-meetups, free and paid workshops across for the world, rescue and self-rescue, how to canyoneer alone, etc. They are basically endless feature articles that come to mind.

6) The best section and highly sought-after section would be the user submitted, "Canyon Photography" section. Basically, anyone who recreates in canyons can email or use a web-template (for example) on the C.A.C's website to submit THEIR canyon photos. It would detail the canyon name and general location and the submitter's name. IE - Heaps Cyn, Zion - Herbie Hancock. And those would be rotated every quarter (or month). Wouldn't it be cool to see YOUR photo or family photo in a printed (or digital) canyoneering magazine? Yup, I thought so!

7) And of course, like any other periodical, you would find the advertisements and instructor-lead companies that can take you through canyons. That way, one of your friends or coworkers who is ransacking your house while you are tied up for the moment or be "returning shortly" can take a browse. Who knows, you might make a new friend out of it?

8) A lot of canyoneers don't catch up on Bogley or Canyon Collective every day, let alone a week so perhaps this could be a way of staying up-to-date and "in the know" with the canyoneering community?

9) Why not? It would be just be a fun thing after-all! (and I'm now stealing Tom's catchphrase of "welcome to the obsession" - for that's what it truly is! Maybe that would be periodical's motto or catch tag)