Canyoneering

Technical Canyoneering/Canyon Leadership Course

Our Three-Day Technical Canyoneering/Canyon Leadership Course is the premier introductory course designed to give you the confidence you need to pursue the exciting sport of technical canyoneering.   The course includes beginning and intermediate level techniques, trip planning, problem solving, hazard recognition and avoidance and team building.  Completion of this course will provide you the skills you need to pursue canyons up to a Class 3B Rating and how to travel safely in a variety of wilderness environments.

Specific Skills You will learn Include

• Canyoneering Gear. (Selection, use and care)
• Trip Planning Techniques
• Navigation and Route Finding
• Canyon Rating System
• Knots and Hitches
• Hazard Recognition and Avoidance
• Crisis Management
• Climbing Techniques
• Partner Assist Techniques
• Using and Setting Natural and Fixed Anchors
• Natural Anchor Construction Techniques
• Rappelling and Belaying Techniques
• Ascending Fixed Lines
• Handlines and Tethers
• Pothole Escape Techniques
• Group Problem Solving
• Self-Rescue Techniques

Tuition for the course is $445 per person.

Note:  This course will be taught from a central canyoneering basecamp in the Dirty Devil/Robber’s Roost Wilderness that is accessible by vehicle.  Cost includes instruction, course handouts, and all team canyoneering equipment, i.e. ropes, webbing, and rigging.  Recommended gear that you should bring includes harness, helmet, rappel device, several locking carabineers, and appropriate footwear and clothing.   If you do not have your own gear let us know and we can provide helmets, harnesses and hardware for you to use.  Cost for the course does not include lodging, meals, transportation, personal equipment, and gratuities (tips) for instructors and guides.

Book Your Reservation Today! 

Pothole Escape Course

Keeper Potholes—just the thought of these awe-inspiring and intimidating obstacles creates excitement and trepidation in the most seasoned of canyoneers. Learning the essential tools and techniques to escape these deep, dark and intimidating obstacles is a requisite for all who venture into wild and remote canyons. Completion of this course will provide you with the fundamental skills and experience you need to escape keepers safely, confidently and efficiently.

Prerequisites:  You must have previous technical canyoneering experience and be a confident swimmer to participate in this course.

Specific Skills You will learn Include

• Getting Last Person at Risk (LAMAR) In
• Pack Drag
• Partner Capture
• Sand Trap Taco
• Sand Trap Tostada
• Water Trap
• Wanchor
• Pot Shot Tower
• Jumping Analysis: Depth and Floor
• Getting First person Out
• Beached Whale Solo
• Pack Toss Solo
• Partner Assist Standing
• Aquaman-Partner Assist Deep Water
• Pot Shots Multiple Lines
• Pot Shots Single Line
• Foot Loop and 1 Rope Grab
• Two Rope Grabs

Tuition for the course is $395 per person.

Note:  This course will be taught from a central canyoneering basecamp in the San Rafael Swell that is accessible by vehicle.  Cost includes instruction, course handouts, and all team canyoneering equipment, i.e. ropes, webbing, and rigging.  Recommended gear that you should bring includes harness, helmet, rappel device, wetsuit, several locking carabineers, ascending system and appropriate footwear and clothing.  Cost for the course does not include lodging, meals, transportation, personal equipment, and gratuities (tips) for instructors and guides.

Book Your Reservation Today! 

Advanced Anchors & Rigging Course

If you are a passionate canyoneer and are ready to take your anchor building skills to the next level, our Advanced Anchor Course is just for you. This course will provide you with the requisite skills to solve advanced anchor problems characteristic of many wild and remote canyons. Our goal is to provide you with a robust and comprehensive toolkit so you can handle virtually any anchor challenge you encounter.

Course instruction will focus on the proper setup, execution and sequencing of the following anchor systems:

• Advanced Anchor Types
  • Retrievable
    • Sand Trap
    • Water Trap
    • Pot Shot Tower
  • Releasable
    • Fiddle Stick
    • CEM Releasable Knot
    • Pack Drag
  • Specialized
    • Directional Wart
    • Dynamic Human/Meat Anchor

The course will also provide a review of anchor construction fundamentals including:

• Physics
  • Force
    • Magnitude
    • Direction
    • Balance
    • Reduction
    • Static vs Dynamic
  • Friction
    • Composition
    • Geometry
    • Optimization
  • Equalization
  • Redundancy
  • Extension
  • Strength (Bomber vs Marginal)
  • Efficiency

Basic static anchors will be reviewed as necessary and appropriate during the course. These anchors include:

• Tree Wrap
• Boulder Wrap
• Pinch
• Knot Chock
• Rock Chock
• Deadman
• Cairn
• Bolted

An overview of the different ethics and prevailing practices among different regions and land agencies will also be presented.

Tuition for the course is $395 per person.

Note:  This course will be taught from a central canyoneering basecamp in the Dirty Devil/Robbers Roost Wilderness that is accessible by vehicle.  Cost includes instruction, course handouts, and all team canyoneering equipment, i.e. ropes, webbing, and rigging.  Recommended gear that you should bring includes harness, helmet, rappel device, wetsuit, several locking carabineers, ascending system and appropriate footwear and clothing.  Cost for the course does not include lodging, meals, transportation, personal equipment, and gratuities (tips) for instructors and guides.

Book Your Reservation Today! 

Beginner:

This class is designed for beginners.  No previous experience is required. 

Requirements:

• Ability to carry a pack weighing 15-25 lbs.
• Good physical condition

Recommended foods include easy to digest complex carbohydrates (bagels, muffins, croissants, graham crackers) and simple carbohydrates (fresh fruit such as apples, apricots, cookies, or Fig Newtons).  You can supplement these items with veggies, nuts or whatever else looks good at the store.  Avoid highly acidic foods, extremely spicy foods or food with a high fat content which may be hard to digest. When packing and weighing your backpack, we suggest that you budget 2 to 3 pounds of food per day.  If you are bringing a food item that you haven’t tried before make sure to test it before your trip.  Below are some suggestions for the types of food that work well.  You can also review our Sample Menu Plan that provides some additional suggestions that we have found work well.

Breakfast

Single-serving packets of instant oatmeal are a good choice for breakfast.  As an alternative, you can also bring your favorite cold cereal or granola pre-packaged with evaporated milk.  Other good options include granola bars, donuts, muffins, pastries and fruit.  For hot drinks we suggest your favorite coffee, tea, hot-chocolate, or cider.

Lunch / Snacks

Sit-down breaks where you can eat snacks or lunches are generally taken every 60-90 minutes during a field outing.  Good lunch items include bagels or tortillas with cheese, peanut butter, hummus, salami, salmon, or tuna.  Good snack options include pizza, jerky, crackers, cheese, candy bars, energy bars, chips, cookies, trail mix, dried fruits, Gu and hard candies.  Drink mixes such as Gatorade, Powerade, Nuun and Accelerade are recommended for flavoring your water and providing necessary replacement of electrolytes and protein.

Dinner

Freeze-dried entrees are the preferred choice for our trips.  They are quick and easy to make and don’t require extensive preparation, cooking, or simmering.  We recommend that you try your favorite entrees in advance of your trip; it is best to be familiar with their taste and the effects they may have on your stomach.  In choosing your meals it is important to focus on entrees with high calories and low sodium.  Many freeze dried meals are very high in sodium content and keeping this to a minimum is preferred.  Most important, however, is to choose a variety of meals that you like to eat.  Link to Sample Menu Plan PDF.

"When packing the rucksack, weight is the enemy.     -Gaston Rebuffat"

We will send you a complete equipment list for your trip following receipt of your application and deposit.  Our lists are updated on an annual basis to make sure you receive the most complete and up to date recommendations possible.  Equipment technology can change rapidly and we incorporate these changes when appropriate into each of our lists.  We also utilize feedback from our clients and guides to ensure you receive the very best gear recommendations available.

Once you receive our gear list, we suggest that your review it carefully and check off any items that you currently own, or can borrow from family or friends.  If you are uncertain if a particular gear item is suitable, please contact us to get our recommendation.  We will work with you carefully to make sure you have every item that you need—and nothing that you don’t.

Note:  Each team member will be required to carry a portion of the team gear in addition to their personal gear.  Please take this into consideration when packing for your trip.

Utah

Technical Canyoneering / Canyon Leadership Course:  3 Days

2020 Dates:  April 17-19 & September 25-27
Cost:  $445 per person

Book Your Reservation Today!  

Pothole Escape Course:  2 Days

2020 Dates:  May 16-17 & September 12-13
Cost:  $395 per person

Book Your Reservation Today!  

Advanced Anchors & Rigging  Course:  2 Days

2020 Dates:  May 2-3 & October 10-11
Cost:  $395 per person

Book Your Reservation Today! 

Washington/Oregon

Introduction to Swiftwater Canyoneering Course:  4 Days

Washington - Seattle Vicinity

2020 Dates:  July 23-26
Cost:  $695 per person

Book Your Reservation Today!  

Oregon - Portland Vicinity

2020 Dates:  August 6-9
Cost:  $695 per person

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Advanced Swiftwater Canyoneering Course:  4 Days

Washington - Seattle Vicinity

2020 Dates:  August 20-23
Cost:  $695 per person

Book Your Reservation Today! 

General:

North American Wilderness Leadership School (NAWLS) is committed to providing you with an extraordinary wilderness adventure.  Our number one priority on all trips and courses is safety.  We never compromise safety and do everything possible to ensure you have the safest and most enjoyable trip possible.  Our experienced guides manage a variety of significant weather and route related hazards, but they cannot eliminate them.  They draw from their wealth of experience and training to make sure you have the safest trip possible.

Trip Plans & Itinerary:

NAWLS’s trip plans and itineraries are subject to change based on weather, terrain, route conditions and a variety of additional factors.  While we strive to maintain all listed plans and itineraries, we reserve the right to change plans as necessary to ensure that all guests receive the safest and highest quality trip possible.

Should any trip be cancelled due to weather, route conditions, or insufficient signups, a full trip refund will be provided.

Age Requirements:

To ensure the safest and highest quality trip for all participants, NAWLS adheres to the following age-specific requirements:

• Ages 4 & Under:  No participants age 4 & under.
• Ages 5 to 14:  May participate in all Family Adventure trips.  Must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.
• Ages 15-17:  May participate in all trips and courses.  Must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.
• Ages 18 & above:  No restrictions.

Note:  Under-aged participants on private trips and courses are assessed on an individual basis.

Guest Responsibilities:

Wilderness adventures require both individual commitment and team unification.  To ensure the strength and success of the team we ask that each participant:

• be physically and mentally fit and properly attired and equipped.
• be honest and accurate in describing their fitness, health, skills and equipment to their guides to ensure that everyone on their team has the opportunity for a safe, fun and successful wilderness adventure.

Payments:

A 50% deposit is required to secure your reservation. Payments may be made via personal U.S. check (preferred), or by Paypal.  Please note that Paypal payments require a 3% additional fee for U.S. residents and a 4% additional fee for international residents.  Send payments by check to North American Wilderness Leadership School, 13110 NE 177th Place, Woodinville, Washington 98072, or by Paypal to:  .  Full payment is due 30 days prior to the start of your trip.

Cancellation:

If you need to cancel your reservation please let us know as soon as possible.  Cancellation policies are as follows:

• 90 days or more prior to trip start date: full refund of deposit.
• 60-90 days prior to trip start date:  guest will be charged 50% of the deposit.
• 30-60 days prior to trip start date:  guest will be charged 100% of the deposit.
• 30 days or less prior to trip start date:  guest will be charged 100% of trip cost.

Note:  We highly encourage you to consider the purchase of travel insurance.  Typical policies provide coverage for trip cancellation, delay and medical expenses.  Travel insurance provides the best possible protection for travel related illness, injury, or delay.

As you prepare for your upcoming wilderness adventure, please feel free to contact us to with any questions including trip details, itinerary, qualifications, conditioning, equipment, etc.  Our experienced guides are happy to assist you with all of your pre-trip planning needs.  We are available Monday thru Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. PST at (818) 381-WILD (9453), or .