Intermediate Whitewater Skills - Hager Creek

The Mountaineers is partnering with Sam Keller, ICA-certified guide, to offer a one-day whitewater clinic. This one-day clinic is 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

Pre-requisites

• Mountaineers Basic Canyon Course or Equivalent (email the leader to request permission if you do not have the required badge)
• Minimum 12 unique aquatic canyons (at least 3 with deep pools that require swimming)
• 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

Your Instructors

Sam Keller

Owner of Wild Sky Adventure Guides, Sam is an ICA certified Lead Guide who spends his winters guiding in Mallorca and his summers in Washington.

Becca Polglase

Current chair of The Mountaineers Seattle Canyoning Committee, Becca has ICOPro training as well as river swiftwater and canyon swiftwater training.  

Meet at the trailhead at 7:30am