Southwest Mountaineering, Rafting & Canyoneering

This is a three-week multi-expedition including mountaineering in the La Sal Mountains, canyon backpacking and canyoneering in or around Canyonlands National Park and rafting on the Colorado or the San Juan River. This is one of Outward Bound’s premier courses and is perfect for fit motivated teens or adults looking for skills for lifelong success.

The La Sal Mountains are located in southeastern Utah, right outside the sporting Mecca of Moab. This range was originally named when the Spanish came through in the early 1500’s mistaking the snow for salt. The La Sals are known for their groves of aspen, scrub oak and incredible views into Canyon lands National Park and the Four Corners area. Peaks in the La Sals range from ten thousand to just under thirteen thousand feet, with hidden lakes dotting the landscape.

The canyon country around Canyonlands National Park was originally explored in 1869 by John Wesley Powell while he was making his famous first descent of the Green and Colorado Rivers. At the time, it was the largest uncharted area in the United States. Now, as then, this area is desolate, mysterious and beautiful. It is made up of fascinating geological formations: sandstone and slickrock canyons which are sculpted into a labyrinth of alcoves, rock bridges, pinnacles, buttes, box canyons, ledges and arches.

The rivers of Southeastern Utah are remote and exciting. After its confluence with the Green River in the heart of Canyonlands, the Colorado River becomes one of the swiftest rivers on the continent. It has twenty-five to thirty rapids that rate with those of the Grand Canyon in power and difficulty. In the nearby canyons, fantastic rock shapes carved by the whimsical forces of nature await hikers who venture off-river. The San Juan River is a major tributary of the Colorado River and flows through the deeply incised sandstone slick rock country of the Colorado Plateau in many tight "goosenecks." The San Juan is well known for archeological sites of ancient Indians: Fremont and Anasazi. Along with challenging rapids, the San Juan offers the fun boating phenomenon of "sand waves." Weather and condition permitting, a mixed fleet of rafts and sit-on-top kayaks will be used on the San Juan.

The Outward Bound Difference
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 Wilderness 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
This course combines the thrill of whitewater rafting, the excitement of mountaineering, and the mysteries of the canyons. You learn both the basics and the fine points of navigation and route finding, minimum-impact camping and safe travel in the mountains, canyons, and on the river. Expert instruction is provided by our staff. They are not just guides but trained Outward Bound instructors, who share with you their knowledge.

During the initial phase of your course (either on the river or in the mountains), your instructor introduces you to the most important elements of wilderness lifestyle: environmental stewardship, outdoor cooking, safety and first aid. During this “training phase,” you also learn about your muscles, your endurance, your strength of character, and your sense of humor. Your physical comfort, know-how, and self-confidence improve. By the “transfer” or re-supply, you will likely realize that there is far more ability in you and the other members of your patrol than you initially thought.

On the river, your instructors introduce you to basics of river travel and living. You and your companions work to become a team paddling a raft or sit-on-top kayaks, coordinating your positioning and spacing and even your strokes to help and protect each other as you go. Stops are made at historic or geologic points of interest, for lunches and occasional side canyon hikes.

In the mountains and the canyons, a substantial amount of backpacking takes you over a considerable distance, challenging your physical capabilities as well as giving you a chance to learn desert and mountain camping, navigation and route finding techniques. You climb over high passes, descend into lush, vegetated valleys and attempt several summits, learning to rely on and help each other. You backpack, climb and rappel through the sandstone and slick rock terrain and stop along the way to explore ruins and interesting geology. Your instructors teach you the history of the ancient inhabitants and the geological formations. This section of the course is a challenge quite different from your time on the river - your strength, endurance and effort are put to the test as you explore a beautiful Southwestern landscape on foot.

What is Canyoneering?
Utah's canyon country is known for Utah's canyon country is known for its maze of terraced canyons that present formidable drops and obstacles to hikers. 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 on line 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, Mountaineering, peak attempt, rafting, rock climbing, solo, service, final challenge

Additional Information:
Application Fee
Transportation Fee

Dates	Days	Age	Location	Tuition	Course	Enroll
09/08/08 to 09/30/08	23	18+	Southwest - Utah	$3595.00	UOO859