UBERFest: Death Valley 2024

Wednesday, December 18 – Sunday, December 22

Pre-registration for this event is now closed. Participants have been notified by email if they have been selected by the lottery system.

This event is now by invitation only. Anyone not selected by lottery will be placed on a wait list and notified as space becomes available.

Welcome to the 2024 Death Valley UBERFest, a gathering of canyoneers from near and far who wish to explore the canyons and natural beauty of Death Valley National Park. There are significant changes to the way this Fest is being organized, including a pre-registration process, so please read all of the event information.

What’s the purpose of an UBERFest?  The obvious answer to that question is to have fun descending beautiful canyons, but those of you who have attended these events in the past know that there’s so much more going on. This festival will include workshops, a Park Ranger talk, a full meal on Saturday night, and much more. UBER Adventures hosts these festivals and plans activities with the following objectives in mind:

1. Education and Skill Development: Provide opportunities for participants to learn and enhance their canyoneering and leadership skills.
2. Environmental Stewardship: Foster a sense of responsibility for the preservation of the natural environment where canyoneering takes place. Promote Leave No Trace principles and sustainable practices.
3. Community Building: Create a sense of community among canyoneers, allowing participants to network, share experiences, and build connections with like-minded individuals.
4. Safety Awareness: Emphasize the importance of safety in canyoneering.
5. Inclusivity: Foster an inclusive and diverse environment, encouraging people of all ages, backgrounds, and skill levels to participate in the festival.
6. Fun and Recreation: Provide a platform for participants to enjoy the thrill of canyoneering in a festive and supportive atmosphere.
7. Partnerships: Collaborate with outdoor organizations, governmental agencies, and others to enhance the overall success and impact of the festival.

THE EVENT

As canyoneering is an inherently dangerous activity, this event is only open to those with professional canyoneering training or significant canyoneering experience. Priority registration will be given to those who have completed an UBER Adventures course within the last 3 years or who volunteer and are accepted to lead canyons during the event. If you have never taken an UBER Adventures course or have never attended an UBERFest before, you must call and speak to me directly for permission to attend before registering.

• The event is limited to 60 participants.
• We will be using a pre-registration process for this event. Participants will be selected by random lottery if pre-registration exceeds 60 people.
• Pre-registration will be open until October 18th.
• When pre-registration closes, participants chosen by lottery will be notified by email and will be provided a unique code to register for the event. To register for the event, you will have one week to respond to the email notification. If you have not registered within 1 week, I will assume you do not plan to attend and will release the space to the next individuals on the list.
• Once you have registered, you will receive a link to the event spreadsheet with all of the details of the event.

COST: There are 2 registration options. If you would like to stay at the tent-only group site at Furnace Creek Campground, the fee is $45. If you plan to arrange your own accommodations, the fee is $35.  (NOTE: Registration fees are non-refundable and non-transferable.) Also, remember that this is a National Park, so you will need a National Parks Pass (one for each car entering the park) or you will have to pay the park entry fee.

CANYONEERING IN DEATH VALLEY NATIONAL PARK

UBER Adventures has obtained a Special Recreational Use Permit from Death Valley National Park for this festival to ensure a successful event for everyone. This means that the event will be more structured than in the past in order to abide by campground and park rules and regulations. To participate in this event, you must read and agree to follow all campground and park rules and regulations by signing a participant agreement. Anyone who violates campground or park rules will be removed from all group activities for the remainder of the festival and may be banned from future events.

THE CANYONS: There are a number of different mountain ranges in Death Valley with a variety of canyons to fit all skill levels. AND – permits are not required to descend canyons here. Bolting is not allowed in the park, so this is the perfect place to hone your natural anchor building skills. Bring your A-game!

CANYON GROUPS: We will have canyon roster / sign-up sheets at the group campsite.

PARTICIPANT RESPONSIBILITIES: You are responsible for making informed decisions about the canyon trips you choose to join, both ahead of time and on the day of the trip. You are responsible for supplying your own personal canyon gear and familiarizing yourself with the canyon beta. You should be prepared to be an active team member of each group you join (no passengers). You are responsible for contributing to a welcoming and respectful space throughout the event. This includes respecting camp rules, treating the campground with respect, and following Leave No Trace principles and practices. The following behaviors are prohibited and will result in the removal of the individual who committed the behavior from the remaining canyon rosters of the event: sexual or other forms of harassment, the use of illegal drugs or other substances, and the use of alcohol or marijuana while in canyon.

TRANSPORTATION: You are responsible for providing your own transportation to and from the event as well as getting to the canyons. All canyons are accessible via passenger vehicles. Please try to carpool to the event as parking space is somewhat limited. Two-three people to a car would be reasonable when you consider camping gear, coolers, canyoneering gear and shuttling to the canyons.

WEATHER: The average high/low for this time of year is 65°/38°, making it the perfect time to explore these canyons!

BETA: Start thinking about which canyons you’d like to descend and/or lead. 
Ropewiki: Death Valley National Park – ropewiki
BluuGnome: BluuGnome.com – Canyoneering Route Descriptions for Death Valley National Park, California.

THE CAMPGROUND (BASECAMP)

THE GROUP CAMPSITE:  I’ve reserved group site #2 at Furnace Creek Campground for a maximum of 40 people. The group campground is for tent camping only with limited vehicle parking. The campground accommodations include water, flush toilets, picnic tables, and fire pits/grills. We can accommodate up to 40 people, but only 10 cars at the site!

The Group Campsite will also lend itself for all group activities including gathering for ridesharing, meals, the potluck, games and especially, CAMARADERIE!  Because we will always want to get a super early start for our canyons and morning shuttles, our evenings at the group campsite will end early so people can get their sleep.

The campground also has RV spaces and individual tent sites available. If you want to go that route, you may be able to reserve one on your own. Individual reservations at Furnace Creek are now open. Stovepipe Wells (first come, first serve), Texas Springs, Sunset, and Slabby Acres (free) are other camping options. Or you can splurge and stay at more luxurious accommodations nearby. If this is your choice, you’ll be responsible for making (and paying for) your own arrangements.

CAMPGROUND RULES: The following regulations must be strictly followed:

• Quiet Hours: 10:00 pm – 7:00 am
• Generator Hours: 7:00 am – 7:00 pm (Do not leave generators running unattended.)
• Food/Trash: Unattended food, garbage or cooking equipment must be sealed in a vehicle or solid container.
• Campfires: No wood gathering. Fires only in NPS grates as provided. Fires must not be left smoldering or unattended. No trash in fire grate.
• Driving: Observe speed limits and one-way signs in the campground.
• Additional services such as showers, pool, and laundry facilities are available for a fee nearby at privately owned Furnace Creek Ranch

CAMPING GEAR and FOOD: You are responsible for providing your own camping gear/supplies and food – – except – we will absolutely do a POTLUCK on Saturday evening between 5:00-9:00 pm.  Bring something delicious to share. This might also be the time for us to have movie night and an awesome campfire (weather permitting), so bring some firewood! In addition, there are a variety of shops and restaurants nearby.