My husband and I took the technical canyoneering course from Christopher to learn more about anchoring, knot tying, varying canyoneering techniques, and have fun. The course is 3 days long and each day was 10-13 hours long. Christopher was great to really listen to what our goals/expectations were and customise the teaching to our skills and abilities. We’d come home really tired every day but excited with what we’d seen and learned. It was a fantastic course and I’d like to return next year for more!
Professional and knowledgeable guidance
Team equipment provided
Stunning canyons and epic views
If you are a passionate canyoneer and are ready to take your anchor building skills to the next level, our Advanced Anchor Course is perfect for you. This course will provide you with the requisite skills to solve advanced anchor problems characteristic of many wild and remote canyons. Our goal is to provide you with a robust and comprehensive toolkit so you can handle virtually any anchor challenge you encounter.
$479 per person | 2 days
Trip Details
Price
Tuition for the course is $479 per person
Departure time
8 AM
Meeting point
Hanksville, Utah.
Meeting location will be provided in your pre-trip information packet.
Availability
March 22-23, 2025; June 21-22, 2025; & October 11-12, 2025
Custom dates available for private groups. Contact us for additional information.
Duration
2 days
Group size
2-8 people
If you have more than 8 people in your group, contact us about doing a private course.
Experience level
You must have completed a 3-Day Introduction to Technical Canyoneering Course, or have equivalent canyoneering experience and be a confident swimmer to participate in this course.
Students aged 12-17 will be considered on a case by case basis.
Difficulty rating
4
Level 1
- Activity:
- Hiking: Easy hiking on well maintained trails
- Canyoneering: Easy hiking and scrambling using hands and feet for balance and support A rope may be used for handlines, belays, rappels and lowering packs
- Distances: Hike up to 2 miles
- Surfaces: Easy terrain
- Elevation Change: Little to none. Short sections of uphill travel.
Level 2
- Activity:
- Hiking: Easy to moderate hiking
- Canyoneering: Easy to moderate hiking and scrambling using hands and feet for balance and support. A rope may be used for handlines, belays, rappels and lowering packs.
- Distances: Hike up to 3 miles
- Surfaces: Flat or rolling terrain with some steep ascents/descents and uneven trails
- Elevation Change: Up to 600 ft/day
Level 3
- Activity:
- Hiking: Moderate, off-trail hiking on rugged trails
- Canyoneering: Moderate, sustained, climbing and scrambling using hands and feet. A rope is required for handlines, belays, rappels and lowering packs
- Distances: Hike up to 6 miles
- Surfaces: Rolling or mountainous terrain with some steep ascents/descents and uneven trails
- Elevation Change: Up to 1200 ft/day
Level 4
- Activity:
- Hiking: Difficult, off-trail hiking on rugged, technical terrain
- Canyoneering: Difficult, sustained, climbing and scrambling using hands and feet. A rope is required for handlines, belays, rappels and lowering packs.
- Distances: Hike up to 10 miles
- Surfaces: Rugged, exposed terrain with steep ascents/descents and uneven trails
- Elevation Change: Up to 3000 ft/day
Level 5
- Activity:
- Hiking: Very difficult, off-trail hiking on rugged, technical terrain
- Canyoneering: Very difficult, sustained, climbing and scrambling using hands and feet. A rope may be used for handlines, belays, rappels and lowering packs. May require advanced canyoneering techniques including guided rappels, multi-pitch rappels, complex ropework difficult pothole escapes, and advanced problem-solving and anchor building.
- Distances: Hike up to 14 miles
- Surfaces: Extremely rugged, exposed terrain with steep ascents/descents and uneven trails
- Elevation Change: Up to 4000 ft/day
Solitude rating
5
- Expect to be around other hikers and travelers most of the time.
- Expect to have some solitude, as much as an hour at a time without seeing other groups.
- Expect several hours of solitude at a time.
- Expect to see no more than one or two groups on your trip.
- Expect to see no other hikers or travelers on your trip.
Included
- Experienced and knowledgeable instructors
- Wilderness-based classroom
- Group campsite
- All team canyoneering equipment (i.e., ropes, webbing, and rigging)
- Course-specific handouts
- Federal land permit fees
- Safety equipment, including a team first-aid kit and satellite messenger
- A commitment to make the course as exciting, challenging, and informative as you’d like
Not included
- Lodging
- Meals
- Transportation
- Personal equipment
- Gratuities or tips for instructors and guides
What to bring
-
- Harness, helmet & rappel device
- Layered clothing
- Comfortable, high-friction footwear
- Medium backpack
- Sun Protection
- Water bottles or bladder
- Headlamp or flashlight
- A full packing list will be sent upon booking
What Lies Ahead of You
Learn 8 advanced anchor techniques to grow your canyoneering toolbox
Develop and refine or your rope skills
Review anchor construction fundamentals
Build camaraderie with other canyoneers
Course Focus
Course instruction will focus on the proper setup, execution and sequencing of the following anchor systems
Advanced Anchor Types
-Retrievable
- Sand Trap
- Water Trap
- Pot Shot Tower
-Releasable
- Fiddle Stick
- CEM Releasable Knot
- Pack Drag
-Specialized
- Directional Wart
- Dynamic Human/Meat Anchor
The course will also provide a review of anchor construction fundamentals including:
Physics
- Force
- Magnitude
- Direction
- Balance
- Reduction
- Static vs Dynamic
Friction
- Composition
- Geometry
- Optimization
- Equalization
- Redundancy
- Extension
- Strength (Bomber vs Marginal)
- Efficiency
Basic static anchors will be reviewed as necessary and appropriate during the course. These anchors include:
- Tree Wrap
- Boulder Wrap
- Pinch
- Knot Chock
- Rock Chock
- Deadman
- Cairn
- Bolted
An overview of the different ethics and prevailing practices among different regions and land agencies will also be presented.
Other Important Information
We offer multiple tours in the Utah wilderness. See where we guide!
If you’ve decided to stay a little longer, take a look at our list of Utah recommendations(opens in a new tab), including the nearest towns with the best accommodation and restaurants. If you have any further questions, please get in touch with us(opens in a new tab)!
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. This course is designed for those who have previous canyoneering experience. If you’re interested in learning the basics, why not start by joining us on our beginner’s course?
Wear clothes you can move in and don’t mind if they get “worn-in” by the canyons. We recommend wearing clothing that covers your knees and elbows. Layers are also key! For your feet, comfortable medium-weight hiking shoes or boots work best. You definitely need closed-toed shoes that you’ve worn before and broken in well.
Entrance fees are included in the price. Students are responsible for their own meals during the course. Remember to check out our packing list so you don’t forget anything important. Students will be sent a course gear list after registering.
Have more questions? Head to our FAQ page to read more!
Photo Gallery
My husband were able to spend a couple days with Chris gaining and practicing new skills that are necessary to safely navigate some of Utah’s canyons. Chris is knowledgable, methodical and sequential with his teaching. We are excited to come back next year to practice!! I love canyoneering!!
After having the most wonderful time on a previous trip with Get In The Wild a few years ago, I just had to go back for more. (You can read my previous review on TripAdvisor.) Yup, just what I thought it was going to be… more of the terrific, safe, and adventurous fun that I remembered, only just a little more technical and challenging on this route. My first-timer friends who came along with me can’t stop raving about it. Christopher Hagedorn is the quintessential guide. Patient, caring, ultra-safe. He doesn’t just take you along, he makes you part of his team. As an educator, he freely shares his endless knowledge of the activity, the area, and it’s history. And he packs you a darn good lunch too! Hoping to be back again in a couple of years, next time with my all my kids and grandkids. It’s just way too good not to share it.
