Workshops Description

Anchor 3

Ouray Canyon Safety Workshop

Topics will include:

Mountain/Alpine environment - Special challenges related to the alpine environment: weather, altitude, sun exposure etc.
The Canyons - Loose, slick, SHARP rock edges. Natural/bolt anchors. Down-climbing (slick rock). Specific hazards for certain canyons.
Crowding - This will likely be the highest number of people in Ouray canyons during one week. Safety issues associated with lots of people in the same canyon.
Water - Discussion of water levels and the risks associated with class C canyoning
Weather - Afternoon storms are often a part of the weather pattern around Ouray in the summer - start early and check weather before going into canyons
Flash flooding – USUALLY not as intense as other canyon locations, but the bigger problem is even a small amount of water increase can start moving rocks (i.e. dangerous at rappels). Certain canyons carry a much higher risk of flash flooding or have much more serious flashes when they do go
Hypothermia - This is a real risk as you WILL be wet and the water is COLD.

Anchor 4

Anchor 1

Traverse/Hand line

Introduction to the skills of setting up different traverse lines, fixed, retrievable, and with a partner. The course will be taught by Eric

In Ouray, traverse lines are used in many of the canyons for safety and to reduce rope abrasion

points. We will cover the many ways to set up and retrieve a traverse line, plus how to use a handline when one is set up.

Bring your harness for practice.

Swift Water Rescue

Introduction to the skills of setting up different releasable anchors for lowering, setting rope length in flowing water, and rescuing a partner floating down stream. The course will be taught by Eric

In Ouray, most of the canyons have flowing water and we need to know how to rescue some one quickly. We will cover different ways to lower someone to safety with the MMO and different figure 8 blocks.

Bring some rope, a figure 8, and some carabiners for practice.

Previously offered workshops

Basic First Aid Skills - The skills every canyoneer should possess

Introduction to the skills every canyoneer should possess. The course will be taught by Ruth Stewart a Ouray county EMT and canyoneer. The course will be taught from a "canyoneers" point of view and will cover basic first aid skills and what the canyoneer should consider carrying in their kit.

The basic plan for the class will be to do a little show and tell of what sorts of emergency supplies you typically carry in your pack, discuss the decision tree for self-rescue vs. needing a rescue team, talk a bit about some trauma things (since that the most likely type of emergency to have to deal with in a canyon), and do some hands on practice.

So if all of you would plan to bring your canyon kits, or at least anything you would consider emergency supplies, that would be great!

This is precisely the type of knowledge we all want our canyon partners to possess.

This workshop is free but a minimum of three (3) student registrants is required.