Intermediate Canyoning Equivalency

Intermediate Canyoning Equivalency

A process for experienced canyoneers to join The Mountaineers canyoning community.

next assessment

We typically offer an Intermediate Equivalency Assessment once a year between April-June. If you are interested in equivalency, please submit an application and send an email to the Canyoning Chair so we know you're interested!

The next assessment is the weekend of June 15-16, 2024. If you cannot make those dates, we might  be able to offer one May 15-16. If you absolutely cannot make the June dates, please email the chair.

Introduction

We welcome canyoneers to our community who learned to canyon elsewhere. Whether to join our trips, help teach our courses, or serve as a volunteer Canyon Leader, we encourage experienced canyoneers to check out our equivalency process. 

A benefit of joining Mountaineers trips is confidence in leader training as well as the training level of your entire team. Our goal is to have a transparent and low-barrier equivalency process, while ensuring the level of proficiency we expect of our participants and leaders. 

LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR STANDARDS

Intermediate Equivalency is a good choice for canyoneers who are trained in releasable rigging and have extensive training and experience in aquatic canyons. Those seeking Intermediate Equivalency should have a high level of proficiency in small party self- and team-rescue as well. Those who successfully complete Intermediate Equivalency will be granted the Intermediate Canyon badge, which will allow them to join all Basic and Intermediate Canyon trips.

PRE-REQUISITE EXPERIENCE

  • Basic Waterfall Course or Equivalency
    • Follow the link  for Basic Equivalency. If you intend to to both Basic & Intermediate Equivalency, you can fill out only the Intermediate Equivalency Application, as the requirements are greater than for Basic. You will need to take an evening Basic Equivalency Assessment before Intermediate Equivalency unless other arrangements are made.
  • 20 unique aquatic canyons
  • 25 canyon descents
  • 2 Mounties Canyoning trips that are not part of a course (note that these do not have to be completed before the technical assessment, but they are a requirement to receive the badge)
  • Wilderness First Aid Training
  • Aquatic Requirements: Formal river-based whitewater training or canyon-specific whitewater training within the past 5 years -OR- Equivalent experience and referral from a Mountaineers Canyon Leader
  • Completion of online course and assessment
  • Technical assessment
  • Referral from a Mountaineers Canyon Leader


REQUIREMENTS  

  1. Complete the application
  2. Pass the Intermediate Technical Assessment (including the Intermediate Qualifier assessments)
  3. Show proof of Wilderness First Aid
  4. Go on two Mountaineers Canyoning Trips (If you haven’t already)

Intermediate Qualifier Assessment Objectives:

Candidates must be able to demonstrate proficiency in the following skills. Proficiency means you are a 4 out of 5 on the Mastery Hierarchy (1=failure, 2=insufficient, 3=sufficient, 4=proficient, 5=mastery). Proficiency = fluid execution, a clear understanding of concepts, quick self-correction, depth of knowledge, and includes application and supporting concepts.

Participants will have a total of four (4) attempts to pass the two assessments. To pass, all must be completed without any major safety errors, and with a maximum of two minor safety errors.

  1. Timed Assessment - Single-Strand Timed Conversion - Using a frog system with mechanical ascenders: ascend, pass a knot, convert to rappel, descend, pass a knot, rappel to ground, disconnect from the rope (5 min or less). Two points of contact must be maintained with the rope at all times. Methods of passing a knot such as passing the knot through a rappel device or using a VT prusik are not acceptable in this assessment. Note for individuals seeking Basic Equivalency only, this is not timed.
  2. Timed Assessment - Anchor Rigging (max time will be based on 1.4x instructor demonstration time) This assessment must be completed without any major safety errors, and with a maximum of two minor safety errors.  Note for individuals seeking Basic Equivalency only, this is not timed.
  1. Time starts when the traverse line rope touches the first bolt. Rig a retrievable traverse line from two unlinked bolts to access an unlinked bolted anchor
  2. Rig the unlinked bolts with an alpine draw. Rig releasable with an MMO, setting the rope length to 0-1' above the ground
  3. Clean the traverse line and anchor, rappel, and retrieve rope (time stops when the end of the rope hits the ground)

Intermediate equivalency Assessment Objectives

Students must be able to demonstrate, at minimum, sufficiency in the skills being assessed, without any input from assessors.

Sufficiency = 3 on the Mastery Hierarchy:  (1=failure, 2=insufficient, 3=sufficient, 4=proficient, 5=mastery). 

These skills are not expected to be done quickly or perfectly, but rather showcase that students are able to demonstrate the required technical skills, without any major safety errors. Sufficiency means a student is at a suitable level of skill for independence.

Guidelines

Candidates may use any piece of equipment on their harness to complete the techniques being assessed. Additional equipment will be provided by the assessors if necessary for specific techniques.

How to Pass Each Assessment

  1. Complete the task independently without any major safety errors (errors that have a high probability of leading to serious injury or death), and with 2 or fewer minor errors (errors that are not best practice because they could lead to serious injury or death)
  2. In the event that you commit a critical safety error, you will be asked to meet 1x1 with a different assessor at the end of the day (after assessments are complete), and correctly demonstrate the skill where you committed the error, and explain to the assessor the error you made, and why it’s a critical safety error. If you cannot do this, you will need to take the entire assessment again another day.
  3. In the event that you commit 3 or more major errors in a single assessment, you will need to re-take the entire assessment at the end of the day (after assessments are complete). If you do not pass, you’ll need to take the assessment again another day.

INDIRECT RESCUE: ROPE CUTTING (TIMED)

As the anchor manager, cut the primary rope and lower a teammate with a rescue rope. Students must approach the system with their harnesses racked as they would be normally. Time starts as soon as the student clips their lanyard into the anchor. Any safe method is acceptable (1 min. 30 sec. or under) Maximum 3 attempts.

PERSONAL MOVEMENT - QUICK-RELEASE ASCENDING SYSTEM

Ascend and convert to descent using a VT and Italian 8 on a single rope system

SAFETY MANAGEMENT

Provide a belay from the top, and then from the bottom, to protect a rappeller

GUIDED RAPPEL TEST

Rig, manage & clean a guided rappel

  • Rig using an Italian 8
  • Use a conveyor belt system to lower a stuck rappeller

NATURAL ANCHORS 

Build a series of natural anchors, including building and managing a cairn anchor

  • Redundant Basket Hitch around a rock pinch
  • Single strand around a tree
  • Build & manage a cairn anchor

CONVERT STATIC RIGGING TO A LOWER

CONVERT RELEASABLE RIGGING TO A HAUL

PICK-OFFS

Use a VT Prusik as a pickoff strap

CORE SHOT MANAGEMENT

As the anchor manager, respond to a teammate communicating that there’s a core shot, manage the anchor for the remainder of the team, and manage abrasion as the last person down.

  • Tie two ropes together with EDK or other safe method
  • Creep the rope with ropes tied together
  • Isolate  a core shot with a safe clip-in point
  • De-rig and descend double strand to mitigate abrasion
  • Passing a knot double strand on descent
  • Manage ropes to keep them from twisting

RIG & MANAGE A REBELAY

Rig a rebelay, and anchor-manage at the rebelay

TWIN SYSTEMS

Rig and retrieve both twin static and twin releasable systems

  • Special rigging plates (eg. Totem, double-8, etc…) are not acceptable for this assessment

LOWER JOINED ROPES PAST  AN ANCHOR

While lowering a teammate, safely transfer two ropes joined together past the anchor to continue lowering.