Canyon Leader Course (ACE-L3) + WFA Certification – Los Angeles, CA

Canyon Leader Course (ACE-L3) Los Angeles, CA

+ Wilderness First Aid (WFA) Certification

Improve your skills and expand your toolbox!

Uber Adventures’ 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 provides strategic training for technical and group management challenges!

While this course is designed primarily to meet the needs of recreational canyoneers, it also serves as a bridge between the Advanced Canyoneering Course (ACE L2) and the Canyon Rescue Course (ACE L4). It also forms the training foundation for those planning to seek certification as a Professional Canyon Guide (ACE L5)!

Prerequisites: Since this course builds upon the skills and techniques presented in our Technical Canyoneering Course (ACE-L1) AND our Advanced Canyoneering Course (ACE-L2), we recommend that you’ve either taken both courses or have significant relevant personal experience before taking this class. (Please inquire if you’re unsure if this is the correct course for your current skill set).

In addition, canyon leaders should have a minimum of Wilderness First Aid (WFA) training and be able to recognize warning signs, initiate treatment, and decide on urgency of evacuation for common medical conditions. Current WFA certification is a required prerequisite for the Canyon Leader Course. If you do not currently have WFA certification, Uber Adventures has partnered with Survival Med to provide training at a discounted price. Please contact us for more information.

ACE-L3 Curriculum:

• Soft Skills for Leaders and Group Dynamics
• Group Gear Choices & Distribution, Pack Management
• Strand Isolation and Leapfrogging for speeding things up
• Static Courtesy Rappels to make hard-starts easier
• Dynamic Courtesy Rappels to make super-hard-starts safer and easier
• Lowering Systems for emergencies and speed
• Pre-Rigged Rappels and Rigging Kids for Rappel
• Static & Dynamic Edge Protection to increase rope life
• First Rappeller Belay options, Handlines and Sequencing
• Passing Knots on Ascend and Rappel
• Converting Static Block to Lowering System for assist or rescue
• Isolating In-Field Rope Damage (Core Shot)
• Constructing a Swiss Seat for rescue or gear failure
• Rappelling on a Munter for emergencies
• Advanced Friction Settings and Long Rappel Belay Options

Wilderness First Aid (WFA) Curriculum (provided by Survival Med)

• Patient Assessment System and Basic Life Support
  • Breathing, Circulatory and Nervous System Assessment
  • Spinal Stabilization
  • Basic CPR and Abdominal Thrusts
• Medical Emergencies
  • Allergies and Anaphylaxis
  • Respiratory and Cardiac Emergencies
  • Abdominal Pain
  • Diabetes
  • Stroke and Altered Mental States
• Environmental Injuries
  • Heat and Cold Related Illnesses and Injuries
  • Altitude Illnesses
  • Poison, Stings and Bites
  • Drowning and Cold-Water Immersion
• Traumatic Injuries
  • Shock
  • Musculoskeletal Injuries
  • Brain and Spinal Cord Injuries
  • Athletic Injuries
• Basic Expedition Medicine
  • Trip Planning
  • Weather Considerations
  • Hydration and Water Treatment
  • Wound Management
  • Evacuation Protocols

Required/Recommended Gear: Harness, Helmet, Rappel Device, Figure 8 for Rigging, Gloves, 5-6 HMS Screwgate Carabiners, 48″ Sling or Foot Loop, Personal Safety Tether/Lanyard, Prusik Loop, Mechanical Ascender(s), 20′ of Webbing, 20′ Cordelette or Canyon Cordelette (and appropriate shoes and pack).

Tuition: The Canyon Leader Course (ACE L3) is $395 per person and does not include WFA certification. If you require WFA certification, please contact us and we will provide you a discount code to obtain certification through Survival Med. Please read our course/company policies here.

Instructor:  Todd Kolberg