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Intermediate: Swiftwater Canyoning Movement

Full day focusing on reading water, movement, and leadership.

Swiftwater Canyoning Movement Course
Seattle Mountaineers Canyoning Course Pacific Northwest Canyoneering Courses
Swiftwater Canyoning Movement Course
Intermediate Swiftwater Canyoning Movement Leadership
Intermediate Swiftwater Movement
Visitors Guide for PNW Canyoning
Introduction to PNW Canyoneering

One Day Course:Swiftwater Canyoning Movement

Location

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

availability

Open Availability for groups of 3x or more
June 10th - September 29th 2024
Planned Courses
June 15th and 16th

Length

Approximately 8hrs.
Start Times: 8:00am and 1:30pm

Experience required

The Intermediate Swiftwater Canyoning Movement Course is for those with the technical skills required to participate on and lead canyoning adventures in Class C canyons. See below for Course Prerequisites. You must be proficient in releasable rigging.

Fitness required

Must be able to be physically active all day. The course will be spent swimming, jumping, sliding, climbing around obstacles, and rappelling.

Price

$195 per person with all personal gear.
Rental fees are extra and must be planned in advance.

Group Size

Open Availability allows for individual bookings
All other bookings require 3-6 Participants.

Book Your Course Here!
June 15th Open Availability
June 16th Open Availability

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The Intermediate Swiftwater Canyoning Movement Course:

The Wild Sky Adventure Guides Intermediate Swiftwater Canyoning Movement Course is designed for people who want to understand and move more comfortably in swiftwater hydraulics. The course combines International Canyoning Academy (ICA) swiftwater principles and techniques with local PNW canyoning best practices to create an innovative Europe meets the US canyoning course. 

 

Minimum 12 unique aquatic canyons (at least 3 with deep pools that require swimming)

Experience and Comfort with:

      • Rigging Releasable Rope Systems
      • Dynamic rappelling
      • Swimming 50' with and without a pack
      • Slides up to 8'
      • Jumps up to 8'
      • Deepwater disconnect
      • Rappelling in moderate flow

 

NOTE: This is not a rigging course. Participants  will be expected to be comfortable and familiar with rigging and anchor management in moving water canyons. 

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 our comfort zone, 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.

 
 

The one-day intermediate swiftwater course boasts a  curriculum designed to elevate participants' skills and knowledge.

The day begins with a short dry session. Your instructor will go over quick-release rigging techniques for rappelling "in flow"

After rigging up we will venture into the canyon. the focus shifts to reading water hydraulics, we will  go over the different types of  hydraulics found in canyons, insights on what to observe, anticipate, and how to react effectively.

Next we will focus on "movement". We will practice important swiftwater techniques; such as slides, jumps, and rappels. Participants will gain hands-on experience in maneuvering through challenging hydraulics under the supervision of Wild Sky Adventure Guide Instructors.

The final segment of the curriculum centers around leadership and decision-making protocols, equipping participants with the tools to ensure safe progression in challenging swiftwater terrain. This holistic approach not only builds technical skills but also provides a theoretical and practical framework for students who seek to take on a leadership role in local PNW canyons. 

 
 

The course location is TBA and dependent on land manager permits. 

The canyon will be in Snoqualmie Pass or Gifford Pinchot National Forest. 

Intermediate Swiftwater Canyoning Movement Reviews:

WildSky partnered with our organization to run an intermediate swiftwater canyoning course, and it was outstanding. Sam worked hard to customize the course to our students’ needs and or organizational objectives. All of the students came away with a greater comfort in canyon whitewater and skills to manage themselves and their team. Can’t wait to learn more from Sam in the future!

Becca P Local Canyoning Instructor
Visitors Guide for PNW Canyoning

Back in July 2023, I got the chance to join a whitewater canyoning training led by Sam Keller from Wild Sky. I have to say, it was a brilliant experience. Sam is the kind of pro you'd want to have with you while canyoning. He's got this calm, reassuring leadership style that makes you feel comfortable right away, and it's clear he loves teaching and seeing people grow. He genuinely wants you to learn, have a good time, and, most importantly, stay safe. He lead the group to take on actually challenging actions that took our confidence in whitewater to a new level, all the while making sure safety was a top priority. I want to give a huge shout-out to Sam for his guidance, and I can confidently recommend Wild Sky for anyone looking to have a blast while canyoning.

Charlie T Course Participant

I participated in a whitewater canyoning training with Sam Keller of Wild Sky in July 2023. I only have good things to say. Sam is the kind of skilled professional that you WANT to canyon with. His leadership qualities put you at ease as soon as you meet him and it's evident that he loves what he does. He genuinely wants you to learn, have a good time, and most importantly, be safe. Sam also does an excellent job of assessing your skill level and learning style. In turn, he matches his level of instruction. He pushed me to problem solve situations that I would have otherwise looked to more experienced team members to solve. He did so in a supportive way that did not compromise safety. This built my confidence and has paid forward this canyoning season. Thanks Sam! I highly recommend Wild Sky!

Orli S Course Participant

I did a white water training day with Sam in Hager Canyon and it was one of the best training courses for Canyons I've done. I felt empowered and safe the entire day. I came away with more confidence to navigate recirculating water in pools, slide bigger slides safely and some new rescue skills. I highly recommend Sam and his company for anyone wanting to get into an Aquatic Canyon for the first time or the hundredth time! I had a Great Experience!!!

Loni U Course Participant
Swiftwater Canyoning Movement Course

At Wild Sky Adventure Guides, we understand that not everyone has a group of friends or family to go on an adventure with. That’s why we’re excited to offer a booking feature that connects individuals with other travellers so that you can book a guided trip together.

Connecting Solo Travellers:

Learn More Here

Wild Sky Instructors:

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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