Product Description
On-Rope Skills & Canyoneering Fundamentals (ACE-L1a)
Learn the first half of basic canyoneering techniques!
Prerequisite: None
This is a beginner to intermediate course which teaches the On-Rope Skills (Rappelling, Self Rescue) and the Fundamentals (Communication, Rating System, Gear, Safety) of the sport of canyoneering! This course 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). This day of training is designed to quickly get the beginner up-to-speed on basic rappelling, gear, lingo and safety; to give both the rookie and intermediate canyoneer new tools for his/her toolbox; and to help intermediate canyoneers refine their current skill set!
The topics and skills covered will include:
- Canyon Rating System
- Rules, Ethics, Style, Communication and Courtesy
- Specific Gear Choices, Requirements, Use and Care
- Belays
- Rappelling Techniques & On-Rope Skills
(Adding Friction Pre-rappel, Mid-rappel, Locking Off, etc.) - Specialized Rappelling Techniques
(Hard Starts, Soft Starts, Free-Hanging, Over-Hanging, etc.) - Safety Checking and Basic Self-Rescue
- And, within each of these broad subjects are a myriad of skills and tools.
Canyoneering and Canyoning are terms used to describe an adventure sport that combines hiking, wading, swimming, jumping, sliding, boulder-hopping, scrambling, rock-climbing, sometimes packrafting and always rappelling — often over waterfalls. Canyoneering is an emerging adventure sport in the US, and has grown significantly in popularity over the past decades. This sport has unique risks and requires a very specific set of technical skills to enjoy it safely. Rock-climbing, caving, mountaineering and swift water training teach related skills for your ‘toolbox’, but Canyoneering has become highly specialized, and much of the gear and many of the techniques of Canyoneering are distinctly different from those of the other sports creating the need for specialized training …and, that’s where we come in!
We’ll provide all the gear needed for this course (helmet, harness, carabiners, ropes, etc.). However, if you have your own gear, feel free to bring it. We’ll inspect it, and if passes, you can use it! All you need to bring is shoes with grippy soles, personal supplies (lunch, water, snacks, sunscreen, etc.), and an adventurous spirit.
The cost of this course is only $249 per person. (The course fee is non-refundable, but may be put toward a future class during the same calendar year if 30 days notice are given, cancelling your participation in this course.) Please read more course/company policies here.

