I Jumped off a Cliff and it Changed my Life

Yahoo Travel

I don’t love the sun, I’m not a hiker and I hadn’t trained for this. So what the heck was I doing in the 100-degree weather canyoneering in Utah?

I hate to admit it, but before I left New York City, I wasn’t even entirely sure what canyoneering meant. According to the Internet, canyoneering is a mix of climbing, rappelling, swimming, and other physically demanding activities used to get from one point to another. It can be hard, but experienced guides adjust the level of adventure to skill level (mine: beginner).

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Lean back and trust your guide. (Photo: Ko Im)

I landed in Las Vegas and hopped into an aptly named Canyon GMC pickup truck and drove a few hours away to the southwestern point of Utah, home of Yankee Doodle Canyon.

I put on lots of sunblock, filled up a dry pack with water, and carried some courage as I put on my rented harness, holey gloves, and Moon Boot-looking sneakers.

After some preliminary instructions to always follow instructions and a warning about rattlesnakes (if you encounter one, move away very quickly), a few new friends and I headed into Dixie National Forest to the land of the unknown with our guides, the guys from Paragon Adventures. I trusted that Todd Goss knew what he was doing, so I didn’t feel scared. Once we arrived at the canyon, he clipped me in and offered his shoulder and knee to step on while navigating through cracks and crevices. Step by step, one by one, we all made it down an 80-foot drop, swam through muddy water, and slipped down with our bottoms against the red walls of the earth. It was hot in the desert, but so cool to get to a quiet place where no car can take you. Utah’s canyons, gently shaped by the constant movement of wind and water, make for amazing pictures.

Related: This Amazing Utah Canyon Hike Comes With a Rescue Dog

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A canyon to conquer. (Photo: Ko Im)

Looking back, I think the hardest part for me was taking the long, jagged walk back up with wet clothes, careful not to twist my ankle on the rocks. There’s no one to hold your hand — you pull your own weight. We eventually got back up to where our pickups were parked and slowly drove the windy road down, eager to wash off but feeling accomplished.

Related: When the Skiing Stops, Park City Heats Up: Your Guide to a Summer Utah Adventure

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The author, with another notch on her bucket-list belt. (Photo: Ko Im)

I ended up with some bumps and scratches but, more important, crossed off an activity that wasn’t on my so-called bucket list. Accomplishment, even if not an intended life goal, feels good.

I gained a new sense of courage. I felt braver, stronger and ready to face whatever lay ahead.

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