Canyoneering Skills Practice

Canyoneering Skills Practice

tentative dates depending on weather

(want to see day time temperatures =>40 degrees. Persistant cold and snow in western CO have prompted a change of dates from the end of January to end of February - still tentative.)

Before this event a few of us will get together to layout an outline of the weekend's activities with skills & learning objectives.

We want each participant to be able to know what to expect and have a scorecard of sorts to measure or assess your skills and progress throughout the 2 days.

Whttp://photos4.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/6/c/f/e/event_193107902.jpege will start with indoor activities on Saturday & Sunday mornings:

knots equipment show n tell etc followed by outdoor activity in latter mornings &/or afternoons.

This event is for those who already have some canyoneering &/or rock climbing experience.

If we do not already know you by your having done some canyons with 'us', we will ask that you not RSVP Yes without a conversation first about your experience and expectations.

http://photos1.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/6/e/1/6/event_193108182.jpegIt may be possible that we will incorporate a basic rappelling session but right now that is not in the plans for this weekend.

WSA will do a basic introduction to rappelling day at another time.

WHERE:

We have a limitless supply of cliffs and crags right near town so we will not have to drive or walk very far from Grand Junction for the practice.

BRING (items in orange you are expected to bring. Items in brown, suggested but not required. You will be expected to bring your own gear for this weekend.):

HELMET by the time you are taking this skills practice session we will hope everyone is wearing a dedicated climbing helmet (http://www.store.canyoneeringusa.com/index.php?option=com_rokecwid&Itemid=108&view=ecwid&ecwid_product_id=10899993#!/~/category/id=2490795&offset=0&sort=normal) (if all you have is a bike helmet, that will have to do)

Whistle (preferably plastic- not metal)

Harness (suggest that if not for your 1st, then by the 2nd harness you purchase that you might want to choose one with leg loops that unfasten (http://www.store.canyoneeringusa.com/index.php?option=com_rokecwid&Itemid=108&view=ecwid&ecwid_product_id=10899993#!/~/category/id=2490794&offset=0&sort=normal) so you can eventually buy a Scuttle Butt (http://imlaycanyongear.com/access.php) to protect your harness and pants from abrasion)

Rappel device (preferably more than 1 if you have them) (http://www.store.canyoneeringusa.com/index.php?option=com_rokecwid&Itemid=108&view=ecwid&ecwid_product_id=10899993#!/~/category/id=2490786&offset=0&sort=normal)

Carabiners (4 or more, locking) (http://www.store.canyoneeringusa.com/index.php?option=com_rokecwid&Itemid=108&view=ecwid&ecwid_product_id=10899993#!/~/category/id=2490785&offset=0&sort=normal)

Webbing (tubular, preferably in canyon-friendly colors of brown/orange, drab green or black) 1 or more pieces/person of 15', 30'

Prussik sling material (5mm or 6mm nylon rope/accessory cord). This will be used for actually making prussik slings and also for general knot tying practice cord.

Gloves of leather or fake leather http://photos3.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/6/e/7/a/event_193108282.jpeg

Rope (static canyoneering rope is best but we are also glad to use dynamic rock climbing ropes so we have more ropes in use at any one time)

Rope Protection (carpet scraps, beach towel, old fire or garden hose; anything to protect the ropes from abraison where they go over the edge of a cliff)

Mechanical Ascenders (preferably with handles) (http://www.store.canyoneeringusa.com/index.php?option=com_rokecwid&Itemid=108&view=ecwid&ecwid_product_id=10914048#!/~/category/id=2490791&offset=0&sort=normal)

ACCOMODATIONS in GJ:

If you are coming from out of town and want a place to stay with a local canyoneer please make note of that in your RSVP. GJ locals, please read those notes and offer places in your spare bedroom or couch for our visitors. Remember they may be at the other end of the rope sometime - treat them well !!!

---- A FEW http://photos1.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/d/a/3/d/event_22435869.jpegREFERENCE MATERIALS ----

PLEASE TAKE TIME TO READ (and print to bring along) SOME OF THESE

Canyoneering USA Tech Tips (http://www.canyoneeringusa.com/techtips/) these short readings speak for themselves - great info

Bogley.com (http://www.bogley.com) info source on all topics canyoneering. It is often 'opinion' so reader beware

Accident and adventure (http://climb-utah.com/tales.htm) read about some things done right and some things done not so right

Desert traveller ethics (http://climb-utah.com/ethics.htm) leave no trace in the canyons

Canyoning Wiki (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canyoning) has lots of info and lot of links to more

CONTACT:

Doug Van Etten

970-433-4312 DougVE@kw.com

http://photos2.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/6/f/9/2/event_193108562.jpeg

*** Acknowledgement of Risk ***

By RSVPing YES and participating in this activity you acknowledge that you have read the statements below and agree to abide by them while participating in this or any Western Slope Adventurers activity. Only those persons who have read this information and agree to its terms shall be viewed as participatants in this or any WSA activity. If you have RSVPed for a +1, you take responsibility to know that person has read and abides by this acknowledgement.

Hiking, backpacking, road or mountain biking, water sports, skiing, snowshoeing, climbing, rappelling, canyoneering and other adventure sports are fun, but are not without risk. You are responsible for your own safety and staying within your own comfort limits. All Western Slope Adventurers events are unguided events. By participating in a WSA event, you acknowledge that you have a personal duty and responsibility for your own safety.

Western Slope Adventurers MeetUps are organized to provide a venue for outdoor enthusiasts to meet and have fun while sharing in experiences and adventures.

Neither the WSA MeetUp nor any event organizer assess the personal, technical and/or safety skills of participants; nor do they assess any event location to determine current conditions.

By your participation, you acknowledge that you have a personal duty and responsibility to (a) assess your own skills, honestly and accurately, to determine your suitability as a participant for each event, (b) seek adequate information to assess the difficulty of each event to determine if it is within your fitness and skill level, (c) seek adequate information about the current conditions in each area and the weather to assess potential risks to you by participating, and (d) evaluate other prospective event participants and to use your own judgment to determine their suitability for the event and how their participation may affect you.

All participants are encouraged and expected to:

honestly assess your skills to ensure each activity is within your ability assess your prospective fellow event participants accept responsibility for your own safety and comfort do your share of any teamwork involved share your ideas for situation assessment before and during an event speak up if you're having a problem speak up if you question what's going on or something that is being done, no matter who's doing it have all of the clothing, equipment and any other special items needed for the activity inform the event organizer or other designated participant if you are using medication (prescribed or otherwise) or have any medical condition that may affect your full participation in the event on any biking, canyoneering; or, river event that is class II difficulty or higher, wear a helmet, no exceptions have fun