Canyoneering Course REVIEW

Canyoneering

Definition: Navigating a canyon using a mix of techniques, including hiking, scrambling, rappelling, swimming, and/or sliding. 

When we moved to Utah, rappelling was known to us only as something you see in the movies. Stealth ninjas coming down off of buidlings and perhaps some outdoor adventure scenes in a good show.

The more we got off of the figurative beaten path and met more people, we learned that canyoneering and rappelling are a sport in itself. We did a guided rappel excursion and also had friends take us through a canyon in Capital Reef National Park. It was exciting, terrifying, and intriguing.

As we have expanded our exploration radius, there is a whole other world out there for adventure options if you have the skill set of a canyoneer. After a taste of what it might be like, we knew we wanted to try more, and also recognized this was an activity that had critical levels of importance for learning how to do it safely. 

That is what led us to Altura Adventures. Kristin was highly recommended by the local gear store. She was responsive and prompt in her communications. We signed up for her Level I Canyoneering course, and we are sure glad we did!  

The course was phenomenal. Day One was outside at a “practice wall”. We learned knots, how to set anchors and blocks, safety considerations, and about the gear needed and recommended. We practiced our technique with short rappels and learned to belay. Day Two, we went to a canyon in the Virgin River Gorge and put our skills into action with four different rappels to get through the canyon. We also talked about down climbing and supporting others in your group. Both days were awesome!

Kristin was extremely knowledgeable, as was her fellow instructor, Wayne. The collective skill between them is a wealth of information for anyone eager to learn. We came away with so much new knowledge, and, best of all, feeling empowered and confident. What was especially appreciated was learning what not to do and also the emphasis on redundancies to put in place to be as safe as possible. If you have an absolute respect for the skills you are learning, you can have fun AND be safe. 

If you have ever thought about learning to canyoneer, now is the time! You will love the sense of accomplishment, the many things to learn, and a new community that will warmly welcome you.