Arizona Rock & Canyon Adventures

This course is an ideal introduction for those who have never touched a rope and want to begin canyoneering, as well as for those looking to refresh and solidify their understanding of core concepts. Strong fundamentals are the foundation of safe, responsible travel in canyon environments and this course is designed to build that foundation intentionally.

Throughout the day, you will learn to identify and understand essential canyoneering concepts including trip planning, equipment selection and care, rappelling, rigging, canyon movement, and general safety practices. The goal of this course is for you to leave with a clear grasp of the fundamentals so you can confidently contribute as a team member while traveling in canyon with experienced leaders and mentors.

Please bring all of your typical canyoneering gear if you have any. We can provide any equipment you are missing at no additional cost. Plan to be outside for the entire day and bring what you need to stay comfortable, including plenty of water. Come with an appetite for learning and let us know in advance if you will need to borrow gear.
This is a long, hands-on day. Be prepared to work, practice, and engage fully. Every skill is taught through a progression of discussion, demonstration, and repetition. We believe this approach creates the strongest learning and retention.

We will spend the full day together covering core concepts, with some time in a classroom-style setting and the majority of the day outdoors applying newly learned skills in a practical environment.

Basic skills covered in this course include logistics and overall safety, Leave No Trace ethics, rope and equipment care, and thoughtful gear selection. Students will learn foundational knots, an introduction to anchors and rigging, including both SRT and DRT systems, as well as essential movement and safety skills such as spotting, belaying self and others, hand lines, and rappelling. The course also introduces core self rescue principles, giving participants a solid understanding of how to move responsibly, support a team, and operate safely in canyon environments.

A minimum of three students is required for the class to run. A full refund will be issued if the class does not meet minimum enrollment. You can find out more about us at www.azrockandcanyon.com

Learn to Ascend in Canyoneering
4-Hour Skills Clinic

This hands-on clinic is designed for canyoneers who want to build practical rope ascending skills in a controlled environment. Ascending is an important skill for self-rescue, problem solving, and managing unexpected situations in canyon terrain.
In this 4-hour class, students will learn how to set up and use an ascending system, move efficiently up a fixed rope, and safely pass a knot while both ascending and descending. The focus is on clear systems, good body mechanics, and repeated practice so students leave with a stronger understanding of the skill and greater confidence using it.
This is not a beginner rope class for someone who has never rappelled before. Participants should already have basic rappelling experience and be comfortable wearing a harness, using personal gear, and operating in a supervised rope environment.

What you will learn:

• Components of a basic ascending system
• Proper setup and safety checks
• Efficient body position and movement on rope
• Passing a knot while ascending
• Passing a knot while descending
• Common mistakes and problem solving considerations

Who this is for:
This class is appropriate for canyoneers with prior rappelling experience who want to expand their technical rope skills and become more capable team members in canyon environments.

What to bring:
Bring your standard personal canyoneering gear, including harness, helmet, rappel device, carabiners, tether, and appropriate footwear. If you need to borrow gear, please reach out in advance.

What to expect:
This is a focused, hands-on session with direct coaching and repeated practice. The goal is not just to see the skills, but to perform them enough times to begin building real familiarity and efficiency.

Minimum group size is three participants. If the minimum is not met, the class will be canceled and all registrations will receive a full refund.

Class meets Tuesday and Thursday evenings (my house) and all day Saturday at the Tom's Thumb Trailhead in Scottsdale. Registering for this day is for the entire course.

This course is the perfect primer for those who have never touched a rope looking to begin canyoneering along with those wanting to refresh their understanding of the many core concepts. The basics are a critical starting point for every responsible individual entering the canyons.

Throughout the course you will learn to identify and understand core concepts of trip planning, equipment, rappelling, rigging, canyon movement, overall general safety and much more. The goal of this course is to have you leave understanding the core concepts of canyoneering, so you can become a contributing team member while in canyon with competent leaders and mentors.

Please bring all your typical canyoneering gear, if you have any. We can provided what you don't have at no cost. Please bring whatever you need to stay comfortable all day as we will be outside the entire day. Please bring plenty of water and an appetite for learning. Let us know if you need to borrow any gear.

It will be a long day and very hands on so please come prepared to work. We will be practicing all the skills we teach. We typically talk about the skill, demo it and then have you do it. We find this is the best way to learn.

We will spend 2 days together going over core concepts with some time spent in a classroom type environment and the bulk of the time outdoors putting the freshly acquired skills to use.

Basic skills covered:
LOGISTICS & SAFETY
LEAVE NO TRACE ETHICS
ROPE & EQUIPMENT CARE
GEAR SELECTION
BASIC KNOTS
INTRO TO ANCHORS
INTRO TO RIGGING
SRT AND DRT RIGGING
SPOTTING
BELAYING SELF AND OTHERS
HAND LINES
RAPPELLING
SELF RESCUE

YOU MUST BE A CURRENT AMC MEMBER TO ATTEND

This course is an ideal introduction for those who have never touched a rope and want to begin canyoneering, as well as for those looking to refresh and solidify their understanding of core concepts. Strong fundamentals are the foundation of safe, responsible travel in canyon environments and this course is designed to build that foundation intentionally.

Throughout the day, you will learn to identify and understand essential canyoneering concepts including trip planning, equipment selection and care, rappelling, rigging, canyon movement, and general safety practices. The goal of this course is for you to leave with a clear grasp of the fundamentals so you can confidently contribute as a team member while traveling in canyon with experienced leaders and mentors.

Please bring all of your typical canyoneering gear if you have any. We can provide any equipment you are missing at no additional cost. Plan to be outside for the entire day and bring what you need to stay comfortable, including plenty of water. Come with an appetite for learning and let us know in advance if you will need to borrow gear.
This is a long, hands-on day. Be prepared to work, practice, and engage fully. Every skill is taught through a progression of discussion, demonstration, and repetition. We believe this approach creates the strongest learning and retention.

We will spend the full day together covering core concepts, with some time in a classroom-style setting and the majority of the day outdoors applying newly learned skills in a practical environment.

Basic skills covered in this course include logistics and overall safety, Leave No Trace ethics, rope and equipment care, and thoughtful gear selection. Students will learn foundational knots, an introduction to anchors and rigging, including both SRT and DRT systems, as well as essential movement and safety skills such as spotting, belaying self and others, hand lines, and rappelling. The course also introduces core self rescue principles, giving participants a solid understanding of how to move responsibly, support a team, and operate safely in canyon environments.

A minimum of three students is required for the class to run. A full refund will be issued if the class does not meet minimum enrollment. You can find out more about us at www.azrockandcanyon.com