Читать книгу Canyoning in the Alps. Graded routes in Northern Italy and Ticino, Austria, Slovenia and the Valais Alps онлайн

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Equipment and clothing

Although canyoning requires relatively little equipment, dedicated canyoning equipment is quite difficult to obtain outside the canyoning regions of mainland Europe. In the UK, although climbing shops suffice for many things, caving shops may be a better source for more canyon-specific items such as semi-static ropes, robust wetsuits and tackle-sacs. A list of UK caving shops that may be useful is included in Appendix B. They may also be able to order things if they don’t have them in store.

There is a greater selection of canyoning equipment available on the continent. A good place to start is www.expe.fr or www.resurgence.fr, both online shops in France. Canyoning equipment is also available from smaller shops locally. Details of known suppliers are given in each chapter.

Personal kit

Clothing

For the canyon Rivers in the Alps are cold. Some are glacial melt-water. A full wetsuit is therefore required, as close fitting as possible without being too restrictive of movement. Thickness is important, but a snug 3mm wetsuit with no air pockets is infinitely better than a baggy 5mm one. Surfing wetsuits are fine and readily available, but vulnerable to wear and tear. A tough pair of shorts (or a specialised harness – see below) will prolong the life of the seat, while neoprene pads (available from caving or skateboarding shops) are useful for knees and elbows. Caving oversuits can give excellent protection (and additional warmth), but at the expense of freedom of movement.