Desert Voyagers

Topics Covered

• Knot craft
• Rope rappels
• Anchors
• Rigging releasable
• Canyon ratings
• Lowering
• Hauling
• Additional tips and tricks

Intro to Canyoneering is a 2.5-day class that covers basic skills necessary to safely navigate canyons throughout the state. Participants learn and get hands on practice with techniques and equipment that the sport demands. The skills a student learns will prepare them for the Intermediate Canyoneering class and basic safety requirements needed out in the field. We also suggest this class for wilderness first responders, SAR, and those looking to improve their rope skills and experience.

Friday Evening to Sunday Afternoon Friday 6:00 PM at the Office
The weekend begins as a meet and greet with both people and equipment in mind. Come ready to talk, share, and learn some basic canyoneering skills before leaving for the real thing.

Saturday 8:00 AM in the field
Time to decend! Continuing from the Friday night session, you will explore more basic skills, learn about anchors, and begin some on-rope skills. There will be a break for lunch and the day will end around 5pm.

Sunday 8:00 AM in the field
Back at it! Today will be one filled with more rope skills, self rescue techniques, and climbing scenarios. There will be a break for lunch and the day will end around 5pm. Typical Schedule Of a Class

Topics Covered

• Advanced knot craft
• Rope rappels
• Anchor building
• Complex rigging
• Knot passing
• Canyon assesment
• Lowering
• Hauling
• Additional tips and tricks

Intermediate Canyoneering is a 2.5-day class that covers more advanced techniques and self reliance for venturing beyond the beginner canyons. By the end of the class, the typical student will be better equiped to solve more complicated canyoneering challenges and tackle higher rated canyons. Suitable for all those looking to improve their skills and travel safely thrughout the canyon, SAR teams also gain a lot of skills from this class to help in their rescue efforts.

Friday Evening to Sunday Afternoon Friday 6:00 PM at the Office
The weekend begins as a meet and greet with both people and equipment in mind. Come ready to talk, share, and learn some more knot skills before leaving for the real thing.

Saturday 8:00 AM in the field
Time to descend! Continuing from the Friday night session, you will explore more canyoneering skills, build anchors, and continue your on-rope skills. There will be a break for lunch and the day will end around 5pm.

Sunday 8:00 AM in the field
Back at it! Today will be one filled with more rope skills, self rescue techniques, and emergency scenarios. There will be a break for lunch and the day will end around 5pm. Typical Schedule Of a Class

Topics Practiced

• Knot craft
• Rope rappels
• Anchors
• Rigging releasable
• Knot passing
• Lowering
• Hauling
• Additional tips and tricks

Canyon Skills Practice Trips are one day trips to canyons throughout Tonto National Forest. On the trip, you will see a beautiful canyon while running a trip as if you were on your own but with the safety of an instructor right there with you. The instructors will point out additional skill refinements, but you will be hands on running your first canyon "by yourself" in effect. Nothing we have found builds skill like actually doing it, so come practice with us!

Typically Saturdays all day. Saturday 8:00 AM in the field
Time practice! You will start off the morning at the top of a canyon with your instructors and a couple of additional students and begin your decent. Taking turns, everyone will build anchors, run ropes, rappel, pass knots, and work on all the skills Intro and Intermediate classes taught you. By the end of the day, you will have completed your first full canyon and be ready for more! Typical Schedule Of a Class