Learn to canyoneer with the support of the PNW’s first swiftwater canyoneering guide service
Experience the Pacific Northwest’s most exciting new sport
Develop technical and leadership skills to safely descend swiftwater canyons

Our Introduction to Swiftwater Canyoneering course is the premier introductory course designed specifically for swiftwater canyons in the Pacific Northwest. Get in the Wild has been teaching wilderness educational courses in the Pacific Northwest for the past 25 years and is the first commercial guide service to offer canyoneering-specific courses and guided experiences at this world-class destination. Canyons with running water, waterfalls and hydraulics (Class C) pose unique risks that dry canyons (Class A) and standing water canyons (Class B) don’t. This course will provide you with a comprehensive set of skills, knowledge and techniques designed exclusively for Class C, swiftwater canyon systems. All skills will be taught and practiced in a swiftwater canyon environment.

$775 per person | 4 days

Why Choose Get In The Wild's Swiftwater Canyoneering Courses?

Course Details

Price

Tuition for the course is $775 per person


Departure time

8 AM


Meeting point

Meeting location will be provided in your pre-trip information packet.
We’ll meet outside of Seattle, Washington. Typically it’s a 30 to 60-minute drive, but we’ll let you know with plenty of time in advance.


Availability

July 21-24, 2022


Duration

4 days


Group size

2-8 people


Experience level

This course is designed specifically for beginner canyoneers and those with existing Class A and B experience who wish to learn swiftwater-specific skills and techniques.

This course does not teach you how to swim. You must be a good swimmer to take this course.


Difficulty rating

3

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

4-5

  1. Expect to be around other hikers and travelers most of the time.
  2. Expect to have some solitude, as much as an hour at a time without seeing other groups.
  3. Expect several hours of solitude at a time.
  4. Expect to see no more than one or two groups on your trip.
  5. 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, ascenders, full-wetsuit
  • Layered clothing
  • Comfortable, high-friction footwear
  • Medium backpack
  • Sun Protection
  • Water bottles or bladder
  • Headlamp or flashlight

A full packing list will be provided upon booking.

What Lies Ahead of You

Experience the excitement and thrills of swiftwater canyoneering
Learn and refine your skills in the canyons, not in a classroom
Grow as a leader and refine your decision making skills
Meet new adventures and experience the power of the team

What You'll Learn

This course is designed specifically for beginner canyoneers and those with existing Class A and B experience who wish to learn swiftwater-specific skills and techniques. This course does not teach you how to swim, so you must be a good swimmer to take this course. We promise to teach you fun new techniques that will either put you to the test or complement your current knowledge and help you improve quickly, allowing you to challenge yourself more and more. Check out the skills you’ll learn in the course:

  • Anchors, belays, and rappel techniques
  • Hydrology and hydraulics: flow rate and velocity, siphons/sieves, holes, rapids, laminars, eddies and entrapments
  • Jumping, sliding, and tobogganing
  • Ropework: knots, hitches, guided rappel, Tyrolean traverse and floating anchors
  • Swiftwater-specific gear and equipment
  • Trip planning techniques
  • Navigation and route finding
  • Personal and group safety
  • Hypothermia and submersion
  • Hazard recognition and avoidance
  • Group problem solving
  • Self-rescue techniques
  • Rules, ethics, style, communication and courtesy
Frequently Asked Questions

Absolutely not. If you’re a keen adventurer looking to discover the pleasure of canyoneering, this trip is for you.

Wear clothes you can move in and won’t tear easily. 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.

Have more questions? Head to our FAQ page to read more!

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