Canyoneering
Canyoneering is a mixture of rappeling, backpacking, and climbing at times. There are various skills that people learn and use in order to descend canyons safely.
Canyon Classification/Ratings
Technical Classification
Every canyon has a number rating. These numbers range anywhere from 1 to 4. Like in climbing the higher the number, the harder the canyon is.
- CLASS 1 - Canyon Hiking Non-technical. No rope is required. See the route description for difficulties.
- CLASS 2 - Basic Canyoneering Scrambling, easy climbing or downclimbing. A rope may be handy for handlines, belays, lowering packs and emergency use. Exit or retreat possible upcanyon without fixed ropes.
- CLASS 3 - Intermediate Canyoneering Rappels or technical climbing and/or downclimbing. A rope is required for belays and single-pitch rappels. Retreat upcanyon would require fixing ropes.
- CLASS 4 - Advanced Canyoneering Aid climbing, multi-pitch rappels and/or complex rope work (such as re-belays, tyrollean traverse, or guided rappels) may be required. Might also require difficult pothole escapes, serious squeezing, extensive high-risk downclimbing, or have difficult-to-establish natural anchors. Rappels longer than 200 feet will usually earn a canyon a Class 4 rating.