Intermediate Canyoning Courses

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Intermediate CAnyon skills course

This course  focuses on technical skills that build upon those learned in the Waterfall Canyoning Course, and are also applicable to those in a leadership role on a canyon trip. Course content includes intermediate-level personal movement, rigging, rescue techniques, anchors, group management and efficiency, and problem solving. 

Note that an application is required.

Students who enter this course are expected to have enough canyon experience and enough proficiency with basic canyon skills that they can begin to understand more nuanced skills. While you will learn specific techniques, our hope is that graduates will leave this course with an ability to think critically about their rigging and movement decisions, and have a depth of understanding of their gear that allows them to make safe and efficient decisions. Graduates will be invited to attend free practice sessions throughout the year, and we hope that graduates will leave with an appreciation for speed and proficiency of execution, and will commit to ongoing practice.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

By the end of this course, students should be able to:

• Understand the rigging hierarchy
• Understand how pulley systems work, and begin to be able to quickly assemble and adjust mechanical advantage based on the situation
• Quickly convert and release a fixed system
• Perform a pick-off quickly and efficiently
• Rig simple twin systems that are suitable to the situation, and execute a rescue on these systems
• Move safely and efficiently on a double-rope system
• Rig guided rappels that anticipate rescue

prerequisite eXPERIENCE

Students must have descended 8 unique aquatic canyons, and have had a total of 12 canyon descents. 

Students must either:

• Have graduated from The Mountaineers Basic Waterfall Canyoning Course -OR-
• Complete Basic Equivalency (application and assessment is incorporated in Intermediate application and entrance assessment)

intermediate whitwater course

A one-day clinic designed to give students the skills and practice to navigate many of the most common whitewater hazards in a canyon environment.

Most of the curriculum will focus on navigating recirculating hydraulics - both horizontal and vertical recirculations. Students will learn a variety of techniques for avoiding entrapment, escaping a hydraulic, and moving a team safely through a hydraulic hazard.

Additional skills may include: 

• Cut-away self-rescue 
• Direct rescue of a teammate
• Managing risk through efficient rope-length setting in a dynamic environment
• Techniques for personal movement and team management through concentrated chutes

prerequisite eXPERIENCE

• Mountaineers Basic Canyon Course or Equivalent (email the leader to request permission if you do not have the required badge)
• Minimum 8 unique aquatic canyons (at least 3 with deep pools that require swimming) and 12 aquatic descents
• Comfort with:
  • Dynamic rappelling
  • Swimming 50' with and without a pack
  • Slides up to 8'
  • Jumps up to 8'
  • Deepwater disconnect
  • Rappelling in moderate flow