Canyoning

Last weekend we drove to Austria with a group of Nate's coworkers to go white-water rafting and canyoning. We left early Saturday morning and got to Landeck just in time for most of the group to head out for their white-water adventure. I stayed back with Elena so that Sara and Nate could enjoy the rafting. Apparently a good time was had by all, despite the fact that the water was low (more boring).

That night we built a bonfire, had s'mores and cherry pies, and enjoyed being as American as possible in Austria! The rafting guide liked the group so much that she stayed for the bonfire. I really couldn't tell if she enjoyed the s'mores. Probably too sweet! That's what most Germans seem to say about American desserts!


The next day the group, minus Sara and Elena, drove about 40 minutes to the site of a "medium" ranked canyon. I'll let you know that I was feeling terrified. Having just been wedged into a massively thick wetsuit, driven in a hot van, and then told a million ways how you must avoid death (why do they do these little "info" things anyways?!), I seriously thought I was going to hurl.


For those of you that don't know what canyoning is, you can click on the link above. But basically, you descend into a canyon (duh) and walk along the bottom, over wet rocks, jumping off cliffs, rappelling off the unjumpable ledges, sliding down natural water slides. All of this through sub-zero temperatured water coming down from the mountaintops. I kid you not. Why else would you need bulky wetsuits of death with thick, HEAVY, hiking boots?!!!


Hubby was in his element.


And me, well... I survived!


I have fears. We all have fears, right? Some of my fears include: heights, slippery rocks, and my body feeling "out of control". If you read my description of canyoning above, you should notice that these three fears were exaggerated during canyoning (one slide, in particular, was so long that I felt like I was being jet-propelled downward at lightening speed. Against advice of the guides I began flailing and did a somersault when I eventually hit the water. It hurt. And you can imagine what icy cold water feels like when it enters your body!). By the end of the trip most people were shaking with cold. Thanks to my layers of pregnancy fat, I wasn't overly cold, but having to climb up out of the canyon on tiny little metal stakes nearly did me in. DON'T LOOK DOWN!


All in all, I'm really glad I did it. I conquered a few of my fears all over again. And Nate and I really got to act as a "team". We truely felt like the victors when we finished. As always, we can go on a normal date and have a decent time, but when we do something "outdoorsy" together we fall in love all over again. Swoon!