United States
£ GBP
The Alps rank high among the world's foremost destinations for canyoning. This book brings together all the most celebrated descents in the Alpine regions of northern Italy and Ticino in Switzerland, including classic limestone canyons and superb granite-gneiss water sculptures. Divided into five areas, the descents described in the guide present a huge variety of terrain, rock and styles of canyoning.
Route difficulty is split into seven grades, from easier canyons suited to beginners, through to the strongest aquatic and technical challenges, which demand experienced rope skills, physical fitness and a calm head for high water. The guide provides comprehensive background information on equipment, hazards and techniques, as well as details of Alpine geology and the history of canyon exploration. The book also features additional nearby routes in Austria, Slovenia and in the Valais Alps, as well as the climbing, via ferrata and walking options in the surrounding hills and mountains.
- Map of areas covered
- Preface
- Introduction
- Canyoning - a brief history
- Geology of the Alps (for canyoners)
- Weather and when to go
- Getting there
- Getting around
- Waymarking, access routes and maps
- The risks of canyoning
- Canyoning rope techniques
- Equipment and clothing
- Cameras and photography
- Canyon safety - precautions and pre-trip preparations
- Mountain rescue, local healthcare and insurance
- Canyon etiquette
- Using this guide
- Key facts
- Val d'Ossola
- Route 1 Massaschluct
- Route 2 Gondo
- Route 3 Rasiga Superiore
- Route 3a Rasiga Inferiore
- Route 4 Variola Superiore
- Route 5 Mondelli 2
- Route 5a Mondelli 1
- Route 6 Mondelli 3
- Route 7 Bianca
- Route 7a Segnara
- Route 8 Toce
- Route 9 Rio d'Alba
- Route 10 Antolina
- Route 11 Isorno Finale
- Route 12 Antoliva
- Route 13 Ogliana di Quarata
- Route 13a Menta Inferiore
- Route 14 Ogliana di Beura - Parte Finale
- Route 15 Marona
- Ticino
- Route 16 Serenello
- Route 17 Bignasco
- Route 18 Sponde
- Route 19 Giumaglio
- Route 20 Salto
- Route 21 Val di Gei Inferiore
- Route 22 Val Grande Inferiore
- Route 23 Loco Inferiore
- Route 24 Ticinetto Inferiore
- Route 25 Barougia
- Route 26 Malvaglia Inferiore
- Route 27 Combra
- Route 28 Pontirone Superiore
- Route 29 Pontirone Inferiore
- Route 30 Iragna Superiore
- Route 31 Iragna Inferiore
- Route 32 Lodrino Intermedio
- Route 33 Lodrino Inferiore
- Route 34 Osogna Intermedio
- Route 34a Osogna Superiore
- Route 35 Osogna Inferiore
- Route 36 Cresciano Superiore
- Route 37 Cresciano Inferiore
- Lake Como
- Route 38 Bodengo 2
- Route 38a Bodengo 1
- Route 39 Bodengo 3
- Route 40 Pilotera
- Route 41 Mengasca
- Route 42 Casenda
- Route 43 Bares
- Route 44 Borgo
- Route 45 Perlana Inferiore
- Route 46 Bondasca
- Route 46a Drugh Grand
- Route 47 Lesina
- Route 48 Ferro
- Route 49 Cormor
- Route 50 Valle di Scerscen
- Route 51 Val Brutta
- Route 52 Esino Inferiore
- Route 53 Boazzo
- The Belluno and Friuli Dolomites
- Route 54 Grigno
- Route 55 La Soffia
- Route 56 Forti
- Route 57 Pisson
- Route 58 Clusa Superiore
- Route 59 Clusa Inferiore
- Route 60 Mus Inferiore
- Route 60a Mus Superiore
- Route 61 Fogare Superiore
- Route 62 Fogare Inferiore
- Route 63 Maor
- Route 64 Maggiore
- Route 65 Tovanella
- Route 66 Zemola
- Route 67 Pezzeda
- Route 68 Ciorosolin
- Route 69 Torrente Chiadola
- Route 70 Ciolesan
- Route 71 Alba-Molassa
- Carnia and the Julian Alps
- Route 72 Lower Rutenbach
- Route 72a Upper Rutenbach
- Route 73 Frauenbach
- Route 74 Novarza
- Route 75 Lumiei
- Route 76 Rio Negro
- Route 77 Viellia
- Route 78 Picchionis
- Route 79 Chiantione
- Route 80 La Foce Inferiore
- Route 81 Cosa
- Route 82 Leale Inferiore
- Route 83 Lavarie
- Route 84 Tralba Inferiore
- Route 84a Alba
- Route 85 Simon Inferiore
- Route 85a Simon Superiore
- Route 86 Cuestis
- Route 87 Rio Nero Superiore
- Route 88 Rio Nero Inferiore
- Route 89 Brussine
- Route 90 Mlinarica
- Appendix A Canyon summary table
- Appendix B Further information and resources
- Appendix C Campsites
- Appendix D Tourist information offices
- Appendix E Glossary of technical terms
- Appendix F First descents
- Route Index
- Route Planner
Simon Flower grew up in Sheffield, where he spent much of his free time mountain biking and climbing in the Peak District. In 1998 he took up caving at university, before discovering canyoning a year later. Since then he has been canyoning enthusiastically (almost obsessively) all over Europe and beyond, and has claimed a handful of first descents along the way.
