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Two Day Course: Desert To PNW Skill Transfer

For experienced desert canyoneers to learn required skills for PNW canyons.

Canyoneering Course
Swiftwater for Desert Canyoneers
Rappelling In Flow
Desert Canyoneers Skills Transfer

Intermediate:

Desert to PNW Skills Transfer Course

Location

To Be Announced!
Potential Locations are; Gifford Pinchot National Forest and Mt. Baker Snoqualmie National Forest.

Age Limit

12 and older.

availability

Open Availability: June 10th - September 28th 2024
Course Offered: June 29-30th and July 22nd - 23rd

Length

2 Days. This course includes two 8 hour days of canyoneering

Experience required

This course is designed for experienced desert canyoneers with big goals to take on some of the challenging canyons of the Pacific Northwest.

Fitness required

Must be able to complete back to back full days of moderate physical activity.

Price

$395 per person with all personal gear.
Rental fees are extra and must be planned in advance.

Group Size

3-6 participants

Before You book

Please ensure that you and your party meet the participant pre-reqs.

Book June 24th-25th Course
Book June 12th-13th Course: 3 spots available
Book July 22nd-23rd Course
Book Here Open Availability

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The Desert To PNW Skill Transfer Experience:

The Wild Sky Adventure Guides’ 2-Day Desert to PNW Skill Transfer Course is designed for seasoned desert canyoneers with big goals to take on some of the challenging canyons of the Pacific Northwest.

Led by professionally certified canyoning instructors, this intensive course focuses on the nuanced distinctions in rigging, movement, and leadership between the slot canyons of the desert Southwest and swiftwater Pacific Northwest canyons.

During two challenging days of canyoning, Wild Sky instructors will evaluate participants skillset and help them adapt their skills to the lush and challenging canyons of the Pacific Northwest. 

From mastering new rigging techniques to adapting leadership skills to swiftwater scenarios, this course is a gateway to unlocking the full potential of your canyoneering abilities in the diverse and exhilarating PNW terrain. 

Experience in descending desert Southwest canyons. 

Experience and Comfort with:

      • Rigging Rappel  Systems
      • Hooking up  to rappel without supervision
      • Swimming 50' with and without a pack
      • Comfort and ease tying knots, handling carabiners.
      • General familiarity with canyoning  equipment and gear.
      • Basic understanding of hauling techniques and ability to  build 3:1 haul system.

NOTE: This is not a beginners course. Participants  will be expected to be comfortable and familiar with rigging rappel systems, hooking up to rappel, and rappelling without supervision.

The Wild Sky Adventure Guides' 2-Day Desert to PNW Skill Transfer Course is thoughtfully structured to cover essential aspects of transitioning from desert to Pacific Northwest canyoneering.

Participants will delve into considerations for moving effectively in swiftwater environments, honing their skills in rigging releasable systems that are critical for the quick rescue times demanded by PNW canyons.

The course places a strong emphasis on understanding the nuances of risk management specific to flowing water canyons, exploring the differences in harness setup, anchor management responsibilities, and safe progression techniques.

Participants will also gain insights into recognizing potential water hazards and develop a heightened awareness of the unique challenges presented by PNW canyons.

We will practice basic emergency techniques such as emergency lowering and rappelling into a knot while in flow. 

This comprehensive curriculum ensures that canyoneers leave the course well-equipped to navigate and lead confidently in the diverse and exhilarating terrain of the Pacific Northwest.

 
 

The meetup is scheduled for 8 am at the designated point shared by your Wild Sky Adventure Guides instructor team.

This marks the beginning of a day filled with outdoor adventure, pushing comfort zones, and learning ,then practicing, important new skills.

Upon arrival, your instructor will conduct a comprehensive safety briefing, emphasizing the importance of adhering to  ACA (American Canoe Association) and ICA (International Canyoning Academy) guidelines to ensure a safer and more enjoyable learning experience.

Following this, the focus shifts to individual and group gear inspection. Your instructor must ensure that everyone is well-equipped with the proper  gear to participate in the training. It is important that everyone has the proper equipment to stay warm. 

Anticipation and excitement fill the air, setting the tone for a day of camaraderie and shared outdoor adventure. The meetup not only serves as a practical starting point for our activities but also fosters a sense of community and preparedness among the participants.

 
We don't want to spoil the suprise, but Dingford Creek is recognized as one of the best whitewater canyons in the USA. The canyon features a lot of jumps, slides, tensioned ziplines, and rappels up to 30 meters. Keep an eye open for The Chunderdome and The Dragon Chute!

Client Reviews:

We had an awesome time with Sam and Wild Sky Adventure Guides. Both guides were friendly, knowledgeable, and professional. As a group of experienced canyoneers, they were able to tailor the trip to our skill set and provide a day worth remembering. They even sent us pics at the end. I would highly recommend them to anyone in the area.

Jake W Experienced Desert Canyoneer

We found these guys online and wanted to have a fun adventure. It was awesome!!! We are used to canyoneering in Utah and the Washington canyoning is totally different. We rappelled, cliff jumped and slide into different pools. We learned about the dangers and simulated how to navigate possible dangerous scenarios safely. I found myself with a big smile most of the day. If you are unsure to book, do it!! Great experience!!!

Ben W Experienced Desert Canyoneer.

Sam and Austin were great. I came into this with a fair amount of previous experience having done many technical canyons in southern Utah. I joined this trip to see how wet canyons with moving water was done and learn skills specific to this environment. Sam made sure to show me how he does things and was even open to me showing him a method I use. (Making sure it was done safely.) Also, the wetsuit and other gear was in good shape and of high quality. Very professional from pre-trip info and while out adventuring!

Tony J Experienced Desert Canyoneer

Wild Sky guides in the Snoqualmie Corridor of I-90 between North Bend and Snoqualmie Pass.

Upon booking you will receive a confirmation email detailing all the important details for getting ready for the trip, and 48 hours leading up to the trip your guide will be in touch with you to confirm meet up location and time so that there is no confusion the morning of your adventure. 

A trip with Wild Sky is an all inclusive experience. Our lead guides have been trained to the highest standards of internationally recognized certifications. They are trained Wilderness First Responders who always carry an extensive First Aid Kit and emergency communication equipment. 

When you book a trip with us we will provide you with all the gear needed to move through the canyon. We will fit you with an industry leading quick-dry wetsuit from Seland, a harness with attached carabiners and rappel device, a helmet, a backpack and a dry bucket to store your food. 

The most important thing that you can bring on a Wild Sky adventure is a Positive Attitude and a readiness to exert yourself physically for the day. 

Canyon appropriate clothes includes lightweight, non-cotton, long pants, a non-cotton shirt, and a pair of durable shoes with good grip (vibram soles preferable) that you don't mind getting wet! 

To keep your attitude positive and your body moving you are going to want to bring enough food and at least 2 liters of water to keep you on the move for the duration of your adventure. 

The Wild Sky Swiftwater  Canyoning Adventure has the option of picking up a maximum of 4 clients in North Bend.

All transportation needs must  be communicated at the time  of booking. 

Pick up options in the Seattle area are available for an extra charge depending on location. 

 
At Wild Sky we understand that life is messy and things can change. We have designed our cancellation policy to be fair to our valued customers, but allows us to provide some certainty in our guide schedule. Cancellation Policy: More than 7 days before trip begins: Full Refund. Less than 7 days: Wild Sky Credit.

Please bring an extra pair of glasses or contacts with you on your trip. Leave them in your dry bucket so that you have them if you lose yours in the canyon. Please bring glasses straps to secure your glasses in the canyon. 

Prior experience canyoneering is not necessary for any of our adventure challenges.

The Canyon Adventure Challenge and the Weekend Escapes! were designed with beginners in mind!

The High Adventure Challenge is also appropriate for beginners, but the challenge requires more resiliency and  physical fitness than the other trips. Honestly evaluate yourself and every member of the trip before signing up for this challenge if you have never been canyoneering before. 

Seattle area Wild Sky Challenges meet up outside of North Bend at 8:30 AM. 

We have designed our challenges to last around 6 - 8 hours, so expect to finish around 2:30 - 4:30 PM. 

Tips are not mandatory, but are very much appreciated by your guides.

Guiding is considered a service industry profession. Most people tip around the same percentage as they would tip at a restaurant. 

The Canyon environment is an inherently dangerous environment. 

At Wild Sky we follow a philosophy of risk management developed by ICA - The International Canyoning Academy to minimize, mitigate, or avoid danger in the canyon. 

All of our guides carry a SAFER document that ensures we follow the correct protocols and communicate safety information to you. 

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