Technical Canyoneering Course (ACE L1)        Learn to Canyoneer!

This is a beginner to intermediate course which teaches the skills necessary to safely descend canyons as part of a group (being a competent participant and the knowledge to recognize and implement safe canyon practices). This course is designed to quickly get the beginner up-to-speed on basics, to give both the rookie and intermediate canyoneer new tools for their toolbox, and to help intermediate cayoneers refine their current skill set!

Advanced Canyoneering Course (ACE L2)   

The Advanced Canyoneering Course (ACE L2) is designed to provide students with the tools needed to jump to the next level of technical skill and become competent and safe canyoneers in ALL classes of canyons and touches on techniques and skills for Canyon Leader (ACE L3) and Canyon Rescue (ACE L4). The practical experience that you gain during this course will give you the knowledge and confidence to tackle advanced canyon obstacles and many unexpected situations. This extremely popular course was designed primarily to meet the needs of recreational canyoneers, but also forms the training foundation for those planning to seek certification as a Professional Canyon Guide (ACE L5).

Canyon Leader Course (ACE L3)  

Improve your skills and expand your toolbox!

The Canyon Leader Course (ACE L3) is designed to provide skills training and practice necessary for organizing and leading canyon trips.  This course adds vitals tools to your toolbox and advances your level of skills training through technical instruction and experiential practice.  While these tools are a vital component for any active canyoneer, they are imperative for anyone leading rookies, kids, family or friends into a canyon.  This course includes a Wilderness First Aid (WFA) Certification requirement, which can be completed through our partner organization or on your own.

Canyon Rescue Course (ACE L4)     

The Canyon Rescue Course (ACE L4) teaches the skills necessary to perform immediate, in-canyon self-rescues, partner rescues, and how to assist with group emergencies … all with your groups’ normal rack-and-pack (the minimal gear you should carry on your harnesses and in your packs.)

This course not only teaches you the skills and methods necessary to execute a variety of rescue procedures, but it provides the impetus for critical thinking through an emergency.

With the technical skills presented in this course, you could prevent the need for calling in an expensive Search and Rescue team, avoid putting rescuers at risk, avoid spending the night in a canyon, and continue a canyon descent with a non-critically injured teammate.

ONE DAY – On-Rope Skills & Canyoneering Fundamentals (ACE-L1a)  

Learn the first half of basic canyoneering techniques!  

This beginner to intermediate course teaches On-Rope Skills (Rappelling, Self-Rescue) and Fundamentals (Communication, Rating System, Gear, Safety) of the sport of canyoneering!  It is the first day of the two-day Technical Canyoneering Course (ACE-L1) and covers HALF of the comprehensive skills necessary to safely descend canyons as part of a group (being a competent participant and the knowledge to recognize and implement safe canyon practices).

Learn to Rappel     

Have fun and learn how to safely descend a rope! The Learn to Rappel class is a great introduction to rappelling.  This half-day class is a beginner course which teaches On-Rope Skills and the Fundamentals (Communication, Gear, Safety) of rappelling!

This class is appropriate for all ages at any skill level and could be used as a steppingstone to the sport of canyoneering, climbing or caving. We’ll spend half a day learning, practicing, scrambling and rappelling. Just bring water and some snacks (and sunscreen).

Gear for this class will be provided. However, if you own gear that you want to use – bring it and we’ll inspect it and discuss it.

Rappel and Gear Workshop     

The Rappel and Gear Workshop is designed for those who already know how to rappel.  Spend half a day rappelling on different canyoneering ropes with different descenders. We’ll have a variety of them for you to use and try. We’ll also give tips on rappelling techniques.  Feel free to ask us any gear or technique questions as well.  We’ll also have a variety of packs and rope bags to show, discuss, and try out.

We’ll provide a variety of gear for this workshop, but feel free to use your own and also bring any gear you have questions about.  We’re happy to show you how to use your own descender and to try to answer any/all gear questions.

Swiftwater Canyoneering – Kern County, CA   

This course will be challenging … and empowering!

Canyons with strong current, water volume and hydraulics pose dangers that dry canyons (Class ‘A’) and low-flow, or standing-water canyons (Class ‘B’) do not.  This course provides skills, knowledge and experiential training FOR exactly that type of environment, IN exactly that type of environment.  We’ve taken the relevant skills from a Swiftwater Rescue Course and combined them with the relevant skills for Canyoneering in Class ‘C’ canyons and have produced this hybrid Swiftwater Canyoneering Course!

This is the only course of its kind being taught in America!  Tuition includes camping, elaborate handouts, and a Certificate of Completion!  It will begin at 7am each day and will finish around 3:00pm on Friday and Saturday, and at 5:00pm on Sunday.

ACE Guide Assessment (Certification) (ACE L5)    

Association for Canyoneering Education (ACE)

Our Mission: To set an American Standard to which professional canyon guides and instructors can be held; to present a clear path to certification for professional canyon guides; to host professional canyon guide assessments; to develop standardized technical canyoneering curricula; and to develop relationships between land managers, guide services, and training providers.

ACE will provide:

• Certification for professional canyon guides
• Standardized curricula for canyoneering instructors
• Safety forums and tools for the canyoneering community

Please follow the link for details on the process to become a certified guide, and the benefits that accompany certification.  Even if guiding isn’t in your future, the Assessment is great proof of your competence in the canyon environment.  While this program is new, it is a strong one, and one which has drawn on the successes and learned from the failures of a variety of programs, both in the sport of canyoneering, and many others.