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

61 страница из 80

 Respect the environment. With a climate that differs markedly from the world above, canyons are unique ecosystems, populated by plants and animals seldom found elsewhere. Follow the old adage ‘Leave nothing but footprints’, and go quietly so as not to disturb the wildlife. Birds, for instance, are easily disturbed by groups of canyoners whooping and hollering their way down waterfalls.

Take care not to disturb the wildlife

A note on guided groups

Canyoning in the more popular areas of southern Europe generally entails meeting long lines of identically clad adventure tourists, usually waiting around at pitch-heads as others in the group get ceremoniously lowered over on a rope. Thankfully, owing to the length and more technical nature of the canyoning in the Alps, this situation seldom arises here. Guided groups do exist, but are fewer in number and generally smaller in size. Outside the peak holiday season in August you may well meet none at all.

If you do happen across a group, be courteous. Remember that the guides with them may have installed the nice shiny anchors that you’re using, and most will let you pass as soon as is safe. It is bad form to loiter behind in order to find out where all the good jumps and toboggans are!