Southwest Canyoneering

This Extra Technical canyoneering course in Utah’s canyon country will deliver a higher level of skills instruction and will include more technical descents of some of the more challenging and beautiful canyons. It is perfect for students looking for technical skills, adventure and an experience in a beautiful amazing place unlike any other on earth.

The canyon lands of Utah were also originally explored by John Wesley Powell during his historic and daring river expedition in 1869 and were then the largest uncharted area in the United States. This area is still as desolate, mysterious and beautiful as it was back then. It is made up of fascinating geological formations: sandstone and slick rock canyons, sculpted into a labyrinth of alcoves, rock bridges, pinnacles, buttes, box canyons, ledges and arches. In areas such as this, there are many hidden and mysterious places; deep chasms two feet wide with walls several hundred feet on each side; cathedrals of aged red sandstone and hidden reflection pools. To find these places you need to learn how to navigate the terrain and how to leave the areas as pristine as possible. This Extra Technical canyoneering course will take you to these places and show you the skills you will need to discover the mysteries of the desert.

The Outward Bound Difference
At Outward Bound, you learn a tremendous amount about wilderness travel, safety and outdoor ethics, and yourself: how you adapt to change and deal with stress or challenge, how you work with others and realize your potential as a leader. In every segment of your course the focus is on technical, environmental and safety skills, but the emphasis is on developing as a person and as a group. The trust and camaraderie that develops between you is the key to your patrol’s success and half the meaning of your Outward Bound course. Through shared adventures you learn to accept and respect one another’s differences, minimizing each other’s shortcomings, while maximizing each other’s strengths. Some people have a natural aptitude for route-finding; others discover a knack for cooking tasty meals, or tying knots or mediating disputes. Each member of the patrol makes a valuable contribution to what becomes a smoothly functioning team capable of feats that would be unthinkable for an individual member. Through miles and miles of travel, through sunshine, thunder, wind and rain, you all become each other’s friends and heroes.

Successful completion of your course demands mastery of skills, trust, fitness, confidence, tenacity, leadership, initiative and compassion. The promotion of these qualities, and the discovery of what’s in you, is the purpose of Outward Bound

Course Description
While still focusing on the group dynamics and individual growth, this XT (which stands for “Extra Technical”) course is often more rigorous in its itinerary and does more technical activities, such as scrambling over rock and using ropes, compared to our other short courses. This course is held in areas where the canyons demand a high level of technical activity just to negotiate the terrain.

You backpack (with a 50-60 pound pack) four to ten miles a day through the challenging sandstone and slickrock terrain and stop along the way to explore sinuous side canyons and interesting geology. You learn minimum-impact camping skills, outdoor cooking, basic first-aid, map and compass use, and route finding.

To meet the demands of the extra-technical terrain, instructors begin teaching with the foundational skills necessary for safe and efficient travel such as basic movement over rock, packing a backpack, and spotting techniques for safety. The instructors then teach more advanced movement on rock (such as stemming and chimneying) and roped techniques such as rappelling, knot-tying, and rope handling. These skills, along with the basics, are then put to use on the steep slickrock crossings and technical descents that must be negotiated as you travel through more challenging terrain.

As the course progresses and your skills and experience increase, your instructors turn over more and more responsibility to your patrol. You take over decision-making on navigation, route-finding, distance to be covered, sharing of duties, campsite setup/cleanup and meal selection. This is your opportunity to make the course your own unique experience — setting up each day’s challenges, creating a pace that is “do-able” for everyone, becoming each other’s friends and confidantes, and having some fun.

What is Canyoneering?
Utah's canyon country is known for its maze of canyons – wide, terraced canyons that present formidable drops, and deep narrow "slot" canyons that years of water flowing off mesas have created over time. Using ropes, anchor systems, climbing techniques, and friction devices, you descend the canyon, section by section. Some sections of the descent require team effort to shuttle or lower packs. Sometimes you may need to squeeze by or scramble over boulders lodged in the canyon. It is generally a day long effort to descend a canyon, but it is an incredible experience that you will never want to forget!

To enroll in this course click the enroll button next to the course dates that work for you. To shop comparatively online visit our Advanced Course Finder or better yet call one of our expert Admission Advisers at 866-467-7651. Course tuitions listed below do not include our Application Fee or Transportation Fee.

Region: Utah

Activities: Canyon backpacking, canyoneering, rock climbing techniques, solo. May include service or final expedition

Additional Information:
Application Fee
Transportation Fee

Dates	Days	Age	Location	Tuition	Course	Enroll
09/19/08 to 09/28/08	10	18+	Southwest - Utah	$1650.00	UJO836
03/27/09 to 04/05/09	10	18+	Southwest - Utah	$1650.00	UJO934