Intermediate Canyon Skills Course

Anyone may submit an application at any time. PRIORITY registration for this course goes to Mazamas members until January 1, 2025, and Mazamas members who are approved will be invited to register on a rolling basis. After January 1, remaining spots may be filled by anyone who has applied and been approved.

Note to Mazamas:

1. Your Mazamas membership benefits apply in The Mountaineers. Please create a guest account on The Mountaineers website and email the leader to pay the member rate for the course.
2. If you have not taken the Mountaineers Basic Canyoning course, you will need to complete the equivalency assessment in addition to the entrance assessment. This is just one additional assessment, and you will receive eLearning which has everything you need to prepare. If you do not pass the equivalency or entrance assessments, you will not be able to take the course. We will either refund you or roll your course fees forward to a future course.
3. Completion of this course will award you both the Basic Canyoning and Intermediate Canyoning badges, and you will be able to sign up for any Mountaineers canyon trip!

This course  focuses on technical skills that build upon those learned in the Waterfall Canyoning Course, and are also applicable to those in a leadership role on a canyon trip. Course content includes intermediate-level personal movement, rigging, rescue techniques, anchors, group management and efficiency, and problem solving. 

Students who enter this course are expected to have enough canyon experience and enough proficiency with basic canyon skills that they can begin to understand more nuanced skills. While you will learn specific techniques, our hope is that graduates will leave this course with an ability to think critically about their rigging and movement decisions, and have a depth of understanding of their gear that allows them to make safe and efficient decisions. Graduates will be invited to attend free practice sessions throughout the year, and we hope that graduates will leave with an appreciation for speed and proficiency of execution, and will commit to ongoing practice.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

By the end of this course, students should be able to:

• Understand the rigging hierarchy
• Understand how pulley systems work, and begin to be able to quickly assemble and adjust mechanical advantage based on the situation
• Quickly convert and release a fixed system
• Perform a pick-off quickly and efficiently
• Rig simple twin systems that are suitable to the situation, and execute a rescue on these systems
• Move safely and efficiently on a double-rope system
• Rig guided rappels that anticipate rescue

This course covers a lot of material in a short timeframe. Students will need to practice these techniques on their own both in and out of canyon  after the course to be able to effectively use what you learn when you need it.  

PRE-REQUISITE TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE

EXPERIENCE

Students must have descended 8 unique aquatic canyons, and have had a total of 12 canyon descents. 

Students must either:

• Have graduated from The Mountaineers Basic Waterfall Canyoning Course -OR-
• Complete Basic Equivalency (application and assessment is incorporated in Intermediate application and entrance assessment)

PRE-REQUISITES

In late November/early December, a short eLearning will be sent out to students. This will have some skills and concepts that will prepare you to learn in the course, as well as videos of the technical assessments. The eLearning is due no later than 11:59pm on Sunday, January 26th. Plan to spend 3-5 hours on the eLearning.

ASSESSMENT

Purpose: Those capable of passing this assessment have the proficiency in a variety of essential skills needed to be able to effectively learn Intermediate Canyon Skills. Without this baseline, students will struggle in the course.

Assessment Objectives:  Students 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.

1. Single-Strand Timed Conversion Test - 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 when using ascenders. Methods of passing a knot such as passing the rope through a rappel device or using a VT prusik are not acceptable in this assessment. 
2. Timed Anchor Management Test (max time will be based on 1.4x instructor time)
   1. Rig a retrievable traverse line to access an unlinked bolted anchor
   2. Rig an MMO on unlinked bolts, setting the rope length to 0-1' above the ground
   3. Clean the anchor, rappel, and pull the rope

These pre-requisites are non-negotiable, and are designed to set everyone up for success. Those who meet these pre-requisites have the experience and proficiency with basic systems needed to be able to effectively learn in this course. Those who cannot meet these pre-requisites will not be allowed to take the course, and will either receive a refund or can roll their course fees forward to the next intermediate course.

Please contact the leader with questions. DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE THE IMPORTANCE OF PRACTICING.

We encourage you to connect with your fellow students to meet up and practice. Start practicing early so you can evaluate how much more practice you need. Many students, regardless of fitness level, have reduced their conversion test time from >10 minutes to <4 minutes as a result of multiple practice sessions. 

If you do not have the prerequisite badges but otherwise meet the stated prerequisites above, please contact the leader who can add you to the course.

AFTER THE COURSE

EXPERIENCE

The skills taught in this course are extremely perishable. You will need to practice them both in-canyon and out to become proficient and to retain muscle memory. Completion of this course will allow you to join Intermediate Canyon trips. Get as much mileage as you can in more technical advanced environments (Intermediate canyons) and attend as many practice sessions as you can. 

ASSISTANT LEADER

We hope you'll consider becoming an Assistant Leader for The Mountaineers! This is an important role that supports our Leaders with student mentorship and problem solving. To become an assistant Leader, you must have descended 15 unique aquatic canyons, be current in Wilderness First Aid, and pass the Assistant Leader Assessment, which is a test of your ability to demonstrate proficiency in most of the skills taught in the Intermediate Canyon Skills Course.