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3 Day Canyoneering School

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3 Day School - Canyoneering - Sport Chalet Adventures

Activity Level

Beginner
Total beginner and can meet the standards below. Class Time: 2-4 hours per day Distances: Can walk/ hike/ paddle 3 miles in a 2-4 hour time period on the surface and elevation types listed below Surfaces: Flat, even "on trail" or calm water paddling Water Exposure: None unless it's raining Altitude: Course location may be at elevations up to 7,000 ft Elevation Change: Little to none Equipment Used: Hiking shoes, hydration and day / fanny pack
Active
New to outdoor adventure but participates in a regular exercise program 2-3 times per week which includes cardiovascular and active movement training. Very few committing areas where paddling, rappelling or climbing may be required. Class Time: 4-6 hours per day (possible camping) Distances: Hike/ paddle up to 5 miles in a 4-6 hour time period on the surface and elevation types listed below Surfaces: Steep, even "on trail" hiking. Some beginner climbing or rappelling on steep rock faces and or water falls or calm water or class I currents if paddling Water Exposure: Shallow wading or stream crossing Altitude: up to 8,000 ft Elevation Change: up to 2,000 ft per day Equipment Used: Kayaks, hiking shoes, hydration, small pack, harnesses, ropes and helmets
Moderate
Some outdoor experience and regular fitness program 3-4 times per week which includes cardiovascular and active movement training. Several committing areas where paddling, rappelling or climbing will be required. Class Time: 6-8 hours per day Distances: Hike/ paddle up to 8 miles in a 6-8 hour time period on the surfaces and elevations listed below some camping living in the back country Surfaces: Steep uneven "on and off trail" hiking with some scrambling using hands for pulling and balance. Some beginner to intermediate climbing or rappelling on steep rock faces and or water falls. Some waves or class II currents if paddling Water Exposure: Waist deep wading and or multiple shallow stream crossings with a pack on Elevation Change: up to 3,000 ft/day Altitude: up to 10,000 ft Equipment Used: Kayaks, hiking / climbing shoes, hydration, small pack, harnesses, ropes and helmets, fall protection gear and advanced layers, simple rope systems for climbing and rappelling
Vigorous
Some outdoor experience and regular fitness program 4-5 times per week which includes cardiovascular and active movement training. Very committing program with no options for early egress but certain obstacle evasion points along the course. Class Time: 8-10 hours per day Distances: Hike/ paddle up to 12 miles most days and live in the back country Surfaces: Very steep uneven "on and off trail" hiking with a lot of scrambling using hands for pulling and balance. Intermediate to advanced climbing or rappelling on steep rock faces and or water falls. Abundance of waves or strong Class III currents if paddling Water Exposure: Must be able to swim under supervision in Class I current with a backpack Elevation Change: up to 4,000 ft/day Altitude: up to 14,000 ft. A doctor's release may be required Equipment Used: Hiking and climbing shoes, hydration, small pack, harnesses, ropes and helmets, fall protection gear and advanced layers, PFD, advanced rope systems for climbing and rappelling
Strenuous
Very experienced with outdoor adventure and regular fitness program 5-6 times per week which includes cardiovascular and active movement training. Very committing program with no options for early egress or obstacle evasion at any point. Class Time: 10-14 hours per day Distances: Hike/ paddle 12+ miles per day on the surfaces and elevations listed below and be able to live in the back country Surfaces: Very steep uneven "on and off trail" hiking with a lot of scrambling using hands for pulling and balance. Intermediate to advanced climbing or rappelling on steep rock faces and or water falls. Abundance of waves or strong Class IV currents if paddling Elevation Change: up to 4,000 ft/day Water Exposure: Constant, deep pools, fast current swimming up to class II possibly unsupervised for brief moments. Altitude: may exceed 14,000 ft A doctor's release may be required

Adventure Details

3 Day Canyoneering School (Activity Level - )

Our most popular course covers the first three levels of our canyoneering program over an intensive three days of canyon descents. Our WCCM-certified instructors mix humor with technical skills to create a fun learning environment. We maintain a low instructor to student ratio to ensure everyone has a chance to learn all the skills. Expect to get wet, cold, and tired while descending the canyon routes. When students emerge from this course, they have a newfound appreciation for teamwork and the skillsets to aid them on future canyon descents around the world.

3 Day Canyoneering School Schedule and Itinerary

Price: $405 - $495

Days: 3

Locations: Los Angeles, Seattle, Phoenix, Mexico, Zion, and the Sierra

2009 Canyoneering Schedule
Gear Checklist
Meet The Instructors

DAY 1:

You'll meet your instructor at a group meeting spot where final paperwork is signed and gear is checked out. We'll carpool from here to our canyon choice of the day. A moderate hike (1-3 miles) will take us to the drop in point for the canyon.

A talk on personal protective equipment, the basic technical gear, the West Coast Layering Method, the TERM's of a canyon, and rope will prepare us for our first rappel. The rest of the day will blur by as you learn to set your own ropes, put yourself on rappel, set your friction, and make your way safely down the waterfall. We'll finish the canyon at sundown and make our way to a local dinner destination (not included in the course price).

DAY 2:

We start our day with a ground school at our canyon location discussing all the various forms of anchors in the sport. These include natural anchors such as webbing around trees & rocks, knot chocks, deadman, and pickets. We'll also look at fixed anchors and how to safely inspect a bolt in the rock.

Considerable time will be spent discussing and building anchors safe enough to leave for others to use. We will discuss the local anchor ethics and how it differs from canyon to canyon. After completing the ground school, we'll venture into the canyon and spend the rest of the day building innovative, safe anchors at each drop before finishing again at sundown.

DAY 3:

A morning vertical ground school introduces us to the concept of self-rescue. We teach you what to do if your rope is stuck, or if your rope is too short, or if your rope has been damaged. Learning self-rescue is an integral part to becoming a competent canyoneer.

After lunch, we'll head into a canyon where under the direction of our instructors, elements of your descent will begin to go wrong. You'll have to work together as a team of students to find solutions and safely find your way through the canyon. As night begins to fall, we slow everything down to ensure each participant is staying strong and personal needs are being met. We emerge hours later as a team.

Note on Itinerary:

Although we do our very best to adhere to the schedule listed above, this itinerary is subject to change for numerous reasons beyond our control, including weather and trail conditions.

Important Information about Air Travel:

Contact Sport Chalet Adventures prior to purchasing your airline tickets to confirm the trip has the minimum number of participants required to operate.

Price Includes:

Professional instruction; tent accommodations; campsites in Zion, Washington, and Arizona, technical canyoneering equipment, ATS Canyoneering Textbook, DVD, Leave No Trace ethics card, and sample rope/webbing (see gear list for details).

Not Included:

Transportation from your hometown to the group meeting point; lodging or campsites in the Sierra, Mexico, or Los Angeles course, insurance of any kind; all meals, gratuities and items of a personal nature. Note: alcoholic beverages are not allowed at the course.

Closest Airport(s):

Burbank Airport (BUR) - Los Angeles, California
Phoenix Airport (PHX) - Phoenix, Arizona
Sea-Tac Airport (SEA) - Seattle, Washington
St. George Airport (SGU) - St. George, Utah (Zion School)
Tampico Airport (TAM) - Tampico, Mexico
Fresno Airport (FAT) - Fresno, California (Sierra School)

Transfers:

If you require a transfer from the closest airport, just let us know and we'll arrange transportation for a small surcharge (typically $50-$100).

Qualifications:

Participants must be prepared to hike several miles each day with elevation gain/loss of several thousand feet while wearing a backpack over uneven terrain. Students must complete pre-course homework by learning a list of required knots and hitches. It is recommended that students do not have work the day after the course ends.

Weather:

Temperatures can range from 50 - 80° F during the day to 40 - 60° F at night depending on course location and time of year. Upon registration, a seasonal and location specific gear recommendation list will be sent electronically. Course participants should arrive prepared for all possibilities by following the gear recommendations. This is a base version of our to-bring list. Items may be added depending on the course level and location.

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