This course exceeded my expectations in that I learned more than I had imagined I would. The structure was perfect and the instructors were knowledgeable and eager to help. We also had the added benefit of having a good group of students so it was fun as well as educational. I definitely recommend North Wash Outfitters if you’re looking to learn canyoneering skills.
Expert Guides
Moab Canyoneering Experience
Small Group Environment
Learn the Basics in Our Canyoneering Course in Moab, Utah
Our Moab Technical Canyoneering Basics course is the perfect fit for individuals who are either beginners or have some experience with the sport but lack formal training. This course aims to provide a safe approach to canyoneering by discussing the fundamental requirements and how to assess and mitigate risks associated with the sport.
We’ll start the course with an anchor module that covers anchor building and assessment. It discusses how to approach canyons with pre-built anchors and how to reconstruct and evaluate them if needed. From there, the course moves into rappelling and ascending, covering emergency situations and how to escape obstacles such as potholes.
The course includes a canyon descent where you will have the opportunity to put your new skills into practice, including canyoneering movements like downclimbing and stemming, as well as partner assists and meat anchors.
To ensure students receive personalized attention and have the opportunity to ask questions, the course is kept small and manageable. The course is conducted near Moab, providing students with a range of accommodation and meal options, so they can focus on learning without the added concerns of packing overnight gear and food.
Why Choose This Course
Discover fundamental canyoneering principles such as approaching the sport from a safe position and mitigating risks in Canyoneering to ensure a safe outing (and more!)
Enjoy a welcoming and diverse course environment for everyone from complete beginners to students with some canyoneering experience under their belt - there’s a place for everyone!
Get the confidence needed to rappel with the best of them through learning the ins and outs of all aspects of rappelling - in all possible situations
Become more comfortable in emergencies (before they happen!) by learning how to think like a pro in those situations
Put your knowledge to the ultimate test in several canyon descents to truly learn how a safe canyon descent is made
Click the tabs for more info
Course Details
Course Details
Price
$495 per person
Availability
March 16 – 18, 2023 **COURSE FILLED UP**
September 28 – 30, 2023 **COURSE CLOSED**
Duration
3 days
Group size
Maximum 10
Included
- Professional guide and instructors, decades of knowledge and experience teaching and training canyoneering and search and rescue
- All necessary ropes and anchor rigging material
- All necessary rescue gear to be introduced during the course
Not included
- Food and lodging
- Transportation to and from the training site
- Gratuity for Instructors
What to bring
Appropriate layered clothing and footwear to be in the elements all three days
Course staff
1-4 depending on class size
What You'll Learn
Safety briefing and risk assessment for canyoneering hazards
Canyon rating systems
Meteorology and flash floods
Canyoneering ethics
Canyoneering gear available and deeded
Anchors and anchor rigging for canyoneering
Rapelling
Rappel back ups and belay’s for safety in canyoneering
Friction setting and adjustment for various rappel devices
Ascending a rope
Ascending for self rescue and pothole escapes
Transitioning direction while on rope
Rope retrieval, care and packing
Group dynamics and gear collaboration for in canyon travel
Gear and preparedness inventory
In canyon practicals
FAQs
All courses are taught by our guiding staff. Some courses may require us to have an outside instructor come in such as Wilderness First Aid where we offer a certification in CPR by the American Heart Association.
Our scheduled courses are not appropriate for small children. We recommend a minimum age of 12. Students under age 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Sometimes the best thing to do with children is to schedule a private class where individual attention can be given to the particular age group.
Obviously weather prediction is a tricky thing to do, just watch your local weather report and see how often they get it right. Anything more than a week in advance is a guesstimate. We schedule courses based on historical averages of weather patterns.
Courses are scheduled March – June and September – October. We don’t schedule any courses in November – February due to colder temperatures, and July – August due to hotter temperatures. During the other months we hope that the weather is bearable. Starting about in the middle of June through the first part of October also brings our Monsoon season, although very rarely a problem where we teach the courses. During the warmer temperatures we try to spend more time in the canyons where we can get wet. During the cooler temperatures we try to get through the wet stuff as quickly as possible, but hope that you are also prepared for the temperatures. We have done courses in extreme heat, fairly cold weather, in rain and almost in snow. We hope that no matter what happens you will enjoy your time with us and learn from the material as we work with the weather mother nature gives us.
This being said, if you are willing to bear the weather you are welcome to book a private course any time we have available space.
Have more questions? Check out our FAQ page!
See What Our Customers Say About Us
A really awesome canyoneering course! North Wash Outfitters came recommended to me by some friends and I’m so glad I did it. I feel so much more comfortable with the skills and techniques I learned, the instructors are super knowledgeable and experienced. Great class, great experience, great people. I look forward to taking an advanced class when I’m ready
Jared is super knowledgeable and taught us a lot. I would definitely recommend and will do the advanced course through them as well. Also having multiple instructors was a big help they all had different things to teach us.
I have taken both the beginner and advanced class from Jared and his crew. Their knowledge and teaching methods are superior. They not only teach the techniques in a way that anyone can learn, but they are also patient and make sure you understand. Going through the trainings and the canyons with them you can tell that safety is definitely a value.
Jared is the man you want to learn canyoneering from. Without a doubt, you will not find a better instructor than him. His guides are also incredible at what they do and extremely knowledgeable. The progression of the course is absolutely perfect, going from learning the basics, to practicing what you’ve learned, to real life scenarios in the canyon.
