A few years ago I ripped my Achilles tendon on a freak fall in a creek after a hard but fun canyoneering day. I walked out 2 miles not knowing what I did to myself. After the first surgery in my life, I knew it would take time to get into canyons again. Hands down my best friend is my brother. We just click and love anything outdoors and together. I missed those amazing canyons and could not wait to get my Achilles back into shape. It takes a long time! Well I just got back from Utah and Colorado with my brother and we had a blast! No problems with my tendon. I guess I tested it out rather vigorously! I took it easy at first and the harder and longer canyons were saved for the last to evaluate if I could do it or not. No problems! If you have your safety and family in mind, canyoneering is relatively safe. The more you practice, the safer it becomes. I did not rip my tendon while roping. Just a strange slip in a slippery creek. My brother is teaching me the safe tricks of canyoneering and I trust him. He has his family in mind all the time and wants to make it back to them safe and unharmed. When canyoneering you climb up a mountain and drop in at the top of a canyon. You repel down each drop until you shoot out the bottom and you walk back to the car. You rig the rope to be able to pull it down after each repel. You carry a backup rope in case something happens to the first one: a bad cut in the rope or you get it wedged and can’t pull it. But we have yet to lose a rope. If you are careful, your rope lasts a long time. You check the weather forecast and do not go into these canyons if it may rain. Truly the most dangerous thing we do is drive to the canyon location. Driving is way more dangerous than repelling on ropes! Thanks Scott for being such a cool brother and friend!
This is cool. I have a friend who I grew up in NYC with that lives in Colorado that climbs and teaches. He keeps telling me to try, but Im scared of heights. He laughs because I a firefighter/paramedic in Fort Lauderdale and have to climb tall ladders all the time. I am also a Wedding Photographer and love your work. Your a great study and seem like the kind of guy I could be great friends with. Maybe well meet at WPPI this 2018!
You are still amazing, David! You remind me of Nick Berezenko (famous Arizona Highways Magazine photographer) and his 10 day trip down West Clear Creek – solo!!!! Lots of cliffs, pools, etc., loaded up with 4×5 equipment. By the way, he is now on oxygen. Too many cigarettes.
When you left I built Payson’s first TV station (KPSN TV) – then sold it to Gannet Corp. Then I built Arizona’s 1st Low Power FM station (KRIM-FM), then a cable access channel, then a communication site at 7,000, then I designed and built my own home. Yeah, and I still take photos! At 81 I have slowed way down. Good to see you are still doing so well. You were a huge asset to Payson. Hated to see you go!
I now live in the Knolls outside of Payson. Life is good.
Hey sorry I did not reply. This is a new site and I forget to check it. Nice to hear from you man. Yes I still travel a lot. But also I am tryihg to find ways to stay in the States and Canada more to do outdoor stuff. Travel is my love and it has been mainly overseas. Yet now I want to hike and enjoy more drives and camping. I plan in 2018 to come to Payson to show my daughter around. Maybe we could meet up?
Yeah I started to learn a little from Nick. When I really realized there was no money in nature photography weddings did the trick. Then teaching. And yes he smoked a ton it seemed to me.
Keep in touch