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Advanced Canyoneering
ACE L2

St. George, Utah

Advanced Canyoneering Course

Advanced Canyoneering is designed to take you beyond the basics and prepare you for the unique challenges of advanced canyons. Escape potholes, safely navigate multi-pitch rappels, ascend ropes, and much more. By the end of this course you will possess all the fundamental skills necessary to tackle more difficult and technical canyons. This course also lays the foundation for the Canyon Leader and Canyon Rescue courses.

What You Will Learn

Advanced Rappelling Techniques

Refine your rappelling skills with techniques like multi-pitch rappels, guided rappels, deviations, and redirects to navigate complex canyon terrain safely. Multi-pitch rappels involve setting intermediate anchor points to change ropes and complete long drops. Guided rappels control descent trajectory, helping to avoid water hazards. Deviations and redirects shift the rope path to bypass obstacles and keep the rope away from sharp edges or dangerous flow zones.

Ascending Methods

Learn essential ascending techniques for situations where climbing back up a rope is necessary. Methods include using mechanical ascenders in various configurations and using prusiks as a lightweight backup solution.

Traverse Lines

Traverse lines provide a secure handline or attachment point for traversing ledges, waterfalls, or high-exposure sections where a fall could be hazardous. These techniques are particularly valuable in wet canyons where slippery surfaces pose additional risks, making them an indispensable skill for those tackling more complex routes.

Pothole Escapes

Pothole escapes are a critical skill in advanced canyoneering, allowing you to exit deep water-filled or dry potholes that can trap unprepared adventurers. Learn a variety of techniques to prepare you for the highly variable conditions in pothole canyons.

Retrievable Anchor Systems

Descend safely while leaving no gear behind. These systems are particularly useful in areas where permanent anchors are not available or in environments where minimizing environmental impact is a priority.

Mechanical Advantage

Basic mechanical advantage systems are incredibly useful in advanced canyons for pothole escapes, tensioning guide ropes, and more. These systems use pulley setups to multiply force, making it easier to lift or pull a load with less effort.

Topics Covered

• Advanced Knots and Hitches

• Advanced Anchor Systems

• Traverse and Hand Lines

• Multi Pitch Rappels

• Guided Rappels

• Re-Directs and Deviations

• Ascending Methods and Transitions

• Converting from Rappelling to Ascending

• Pothole Escape Techniques

• Basic Mechanical Advantage

• Group Dynamics

Prerequisite Skills:

Build and inspect natural and artificial anchors, set and adjust friction on rappel, hands free lock off, personal tether use, soft starts, static blocks, contingency blocks, meat anchors, fireman belay.

These skills and more are taught inTechnical Canyoneering (ACE-L1)

Meet Your Instructor: T.J. Cottam

With over 22 years of canyoneering experience, T.J. is a seasoned expert in the field, dedicated to sharing the thrill of exploring nature's most breathtaking canyons. As an ACE L1-L4 Certified Instructor and ACE L5 Certified Guide, he combines extensive knowledge with a passion for safety and education.

In addition to his ACE credentials, T.J. has completed V7 Academy Level 1 and 2 training, enhancing his skills in advanced canyoneering techniques and rescue scenarios. Whether instructing novices or experienced adventurers, T.J. is committed to fostering a fun, challenging, and safe environment for all participants.

Join T.J. to experience the exhilarating beauty of canyoneering while learning from one of the best in the business!

What our Students are Saying

"I took an ACE course through Adventure Plus and it was awesome! Covered canyoneering from so many different aspects. Most importantly of all was safety and having fun. Met some great people and TJ was an awesome instructor who always had great advice and cool stories. Of course I took advantage of the discount they offered for students to grab a Critr and some other things."
- Sam L.

"Took a canyoneering class from TJ and really enjoyed it! It was a great variety of in-class and hands on learning. TJ is very knowledgeable and has lot of experience. He did well at teaching concepts and made the class very fun!"
- Whitney D.