Total Canyoning

So a couple of weeks ago I got the new Kong Oka, Really slick bit of kit. The Oka goes head to head with Petzl’s Parana.

The first thing to point out about the Oka is how easy it is to lock off. For a photographer its a dream really, being so easy to look off in a number of different ways. I added the addition of a quick drew just in case the rope became unhitched (which would be hard to do.)

I’ve really only used the Oka for locking off, belaying and abseiling. It feels like a nice size to hold in your hands and unlike the Parana theres not as many pointy bits to snag on.

Four days ago me and two friend travels from Ballinlung, central Scotland, too Ullupool on the North West coast of Scotland. The 3 and a half hours driving through the stunning Scottish Highlands and we were ready for food and a wee drink (whiskey of course.) We decided to camp to get a good early start the next day.

Knowing this canyon had been used before we knew it was bolted, however it was unclear when the last descent had been. Flash floods and high water had more than likely ripped some bolts out. Our kit bag was packed with a 20 meter hand line, a 40 meter rope and a 50 meter rope. each of us was loaded with carabiners, figer 8′s, ascender devices and 1 Petzl hand bolting kit.

The walk in was easy, just a short 10 minute hike through Hearth and Ferns, the dissent sound of water was soon ringing in our ears. Access to the canyoning was easy. The banks either side slopped down for us to just walk in the water. There was some big jumps at the start, needing to check for logs and rock we decided to miss a couple out. We soon found our self’s surrounded by canyon walls, it seemed to creep up round us with the canyon becoming tighter. Water was starting to flow faster we were soon approaching our first abseil.

Water is the driver of nature -Leonardo da Vinci

Ok, so been off the radar for a month or two. Relocated from Chamonix, France too Perthshire, Scotland. Second season with Nae Limits outdoor adventure company. First trip of the season was a cold hard start, Frost and snow still on the hills, air temperature around 8C. Just a couple of shots from the canyon and the amazing group we took through.