STANDARD COMPETENCIES:

 

 1. Understand and demonstrate low impact canyoneering practices

 2. Practice Leave No Trace ethics

 3. Navigate the general topography of canyons, watersheds, and local weather patterns

 4. Recognize risk factors associated with canyon travel and plan safe contingencies

 5. Practice flash flood protocols, including shelter, escape routes, and safe swimming techniques

 6. Recognize common injuries associated with canyoneering and demonstrate care of injuries and how to prevent them

 7. Research and identify the land use agreements of the area of travel, and demonstrate knowledge of the public land use agencies of the canyon country

 8. Understand the ACA Canyon Rating System

 9. Demonstrate knowledge and care of all equipment

 10. Demonstrate key knot tying techniques: figure eight knot, ring bend, prusik loop and other assorted knots and hitches

 11. Demonstrate knowledge of how to move safely on 3rd, 4th, and 5th class terrain

 12. Practice and demonstrate safe belaying techniques with a climber or rappeller

 13. Understand anchor systems

 14. Demonstrate safe climbing or rappel awareness at the site

 TOPICAL OUTLINE:

 

 I. Review Canyoneering safety and the basics of canyon travel

 a. Hazards

 b. Conditions

 c. Canyoneering Ethics and Land Use

 d. ACA Canyon Rating System

 e. Mode of travel, environmental impact

 f. Teamwork

 g. Equipment

 h. Discuss locations of the trip

 i. Practice knots and tie in techniques

 j. Practice belay techniques

 II. Ropes, equipment, and anchors

 a. Rope care, storage, use, coils and retrieval

 b. Knots, bends, friction hitches

 c. Belay techniques, partner, self

 d. Anchoring systems, DEAR principle, multi-point, natural, artificial anchors, anchor evaluation

 e. Rigging the rope system

 III. Travel, climbing, hand lines, rappelling

 a. Move on 3rd, 4th, and 5th class terrain

 b. Set up and use hand lines

 c. Climb a top rope route

 d. Belay another person on a climb

 e. Demonstrate a controlled rappel, with brake hand, control and a AMGA approved rappel device

 f. Lock off with a leg wrap

 g. Self belaying with a prusik loop

 h. Swim with gear

 i. Hazards in a travel area

 IV. Navigation, map reading, and route planning

 a. Identify features on a topographic map, including terrain features, contour lines, watersheds, pitch or grade of slope, high ground and escape routes

 b. Weather forecasts, pressure systems, and weather associated with flash flood risks – warning signs of flash floods

 c. Plan the route, escape, safety and egress of a canyon excursion