Seattle Canyoning Committee
Launched in 2019, the Seattle Canyoning Committee aims to meet the growing need in the PNW for training and leadership in technical descents of aquatic canyons. Learn about Canyon Trips.
While Canyon Leaders may host occasional trips to the desert southwest, our focus is on the aquatic canyons in the Pacific Northwest.
Check out some of our recent blog posts and trip reports!
courses
Technical Canyoning Course
An intensive multi-day course that gives you everything you need to participate in Basic canyon trips. We partner with V7 Academy, an online canyoning education provider, which allows students to study concepts on their own time, and maximize in-person time with practice. This course is designed for beginners, experienced climbers, and desert canyoneers alike, and has no pre-requisites other than general fitness and ability to swim. The course teaches a variety of movement techniques on rope, which are different from, but related to climbing techniques. Students also learn anchoring and rigging techniques, assessment of whitewater and decision making in a whitewater environment, as well as emergency preparation. Most importantly - it's your gateway into a fun and welcoming canyoning community!
Registration for 2023 is now open!
intermediate canyon skills course
The Intermediate Canyon Skills Course gives students the skills to plan and execute a trip with a focus on risk management. The course includes trip planning tools, more advanced rope movement, and a variety of rigging and rescue skills. Students must have descended a minimum of 8 unique aquatic canyons and a total of 12 canyon descents, and pass a personal movement and anchor management test before taking this course. The next course will be offered the first weekend of February, 2024.
canyon trip planning seminar
This interactive, self-directed online seminar is designed to give those who have experience as a competent teammate (not a passenger) in aquatic canyons the tools needed to effectively plan for a canyon trip. The focus of this seminar is on Pacific Northwest Canyons, but much of the information can be applied nationally or globally.
It focuses on using Ropewiki and Caltopo as tools for planning, as these are the primary tools used in the Pacific Northwest. It also includes templates that leaders can use to communicate to their participants and emergency contacts.
Practice Sessions
Throughout the year, we offer practice sessions to keep your skills fresh - especially those skills you hope never to use, but will need to be proficient if the time comes. Each of our practice sessions has a unique focus - some are for more advanced canyoners, while others are open to anyone and provide a great way to learn some basic skills and get to know the community.
Equivalency
We welcome canyoneers to our community who learned to canyon elsewhere. Whether to join our trips, to take our Intermediate Course, or to volunteer as a Leader or Instructor, we encourage experienced canyoneers to check out our equivalency process.
A benefit of joining Mountaineers trips is confidence in leader training as well as the training level of your entire team. Our goal is to have a transparent and low-barrier equivalency process, while ensuring the level of proficiency we expect of our participants.
leadership & Instructing
Our Canyon Leaders and Instructors are all volunteers who have been mentored by others in the community and are excited to pay it forward. All of our Leaders first serve as Assistant Leaders, and complete both technical assessments and mentored leads before leading groups in-canyon. Not only does leading and instructing benefit our community, it provides new growth opportunities for the leader. We have a strong community of Canyon Leaders, who dedicate time every year to personal growth in more challenging canyons together, making them stronger leaders, and more connected as a community of leaders.
Interested in joining as an Assistant Leader or Instructor? Please complete our short application. Thank you for your interest!