Best way to learn canyoneering

Laura

freespirittraveler
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Bill posted the most amazing shots of rappeling in Pine Creek in Zion on flickr-how do you learn canyoneering? Are there intro classes (like we have with rock climbing here in SoCal)? My boyfriend and I would really love to learn but not sure where to start, and we want to do it safely so we don't wind up a tragedy like what recently happened in the Subway. Suggestions anyone?
 
there are lots of guiding companies in zion that do 1-3 day courses. also, i believe ATS in SoCal used to do classes, but I'm not sure if they still do.
 
I have one of Bill's photos hanging on my wall as of last night. Love it!

Class is a great way to start and you are lucky, there is a pretty good group through Meetup that gets together on a regular basis to practice and do canyons in Southern California. http://www.meetup.com/ACA-Canyoneering/

If you take a class I recommend having some weekends right after the class set up for canyoneering right after you learn how so you can practice what you learned. I did my class back in May and then nothing until this month and forgot so much of what I learned.
 
G
Class is a great way to start and you are lucky, there is a pretty good group through Meetup that gets together on a regular basis to practice and do canyons in Southern California. http://www.meetup.com/ACA-Canyoneering/

If you take a class I recommend having some weekends right after the class set up for canyoneering right after you learn how so you can practice what you learned. I did my class back in May and then nothing until this month and forgot so much of what I learned.

Great suggestions, and I'm going to take all of them! I will be in Blanding next summer so can do that one, the meet-up group has a San Diego chapter and boyfriend and I have decided to take a Zion vacation next spring to start classes. Thanks so much, can't wait to start!!
 
You will be addicted in no time! When you come to Zion let me know. Maybe we can connect.
 
You will be addicted in no time! When you come to Zion let me know. Maybe we can connect.
Perhaps we should do some beginner-friendly backcountrypost canyoneering outings. I think we have enough skilled and willing people to lead some canyons...

Cool, I'm up for both! Right now I'm thinking late May for the canyoneering trip and planning to stay a week. Let's keep in touch on this and work out the details as the time gets closer.
 
Perhaps we should do some beginner-friendly backcountrypost canyoneering outings. I think we have enough skilled and willing people to lead some canyons...

that would be a nice addition to the other outings.

Anyway, I will definitely take a class next year, too.
When is the best time to take it? I thought of Spring break, but then again there will eventually a gap until I can use the learned skills again...
Maybe not, depends where in Utah I'll end in January.... :whistle:
 
depends where in Utah I'll end in January.... :whistle:

For the stuff you like to do Southern Utah is the bomb... just saying. I think you are leaning North and you will be spending every free minute headed South. :giggle:
 
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