Canyoning is an outdoor adventure activity that typically involves bushwalking, swimming, wading, abseiling, and rock scrambling techniques in order to negotiate a diverse range of river and creek systems. As with all club activities, safety of participants is of paramount importance. Leaders comply with UBMBC documents: Guidelines for Canyoners, Guidelines for Walkers and Guidelines for Walk Leaders. As well as these Guidelines for Canyon Leaders

Processes for Trip Proposal and Acceptance

Trip leaders who have been approved by the subcommittees may submit canyoning trips to the UBMBC walks secretary. The activities page on the club website requires leaders to complete details of the trip. These include date, activity grade, leader, co-leader, contact details, number of participants and map. The trip is subject to approval by the walks secretary.

Once the trip is approved by the walks secretary, the leader may inform club members by email to Canyons_abseiling_ubmbc@googlegroups.com google group. Members who are approved to participate in the canyon may contact the leader to request participation. The leader will consider the composition of the group in deciding who joins the trip. The leader then informs participants, providing meeting details, travel arrangements and any additional information.

Before leading a canyon

1. Check if abseiling is allowed in the chosen area and if the canyon route crosses into private property.
2. Conduct a risk assessment as outlined in the UBMBC Risk Management Guidance document.
3. If necessary, conduct a reconnaissance trip.
4. Be familiar with the UBMBC Emergency Response Process document.
5. Be familiar with UBMBC Canyon Activity Grading document.
6. Canyoning groups will have a limit of 8 participants. A second group will not be formed on the same day.
7. Identify potential exit routes that could be used if there is an emergency.
8. Check that all canyoners have at least the minimum skill level required for the canyon activity.
9. Adhere to participant limits and guidelines as established by NPWS.
10. The group should consist of members with suitable skill and experience to run a trip safely. The safety ratio of experienced to less experienced should be taken into account. Identify the skills of individual members and designate roles to those who are suited to co-leader, last person down, second last person down, anchor/pitch manager, who will be at the front of the group, who is at the back of the group for the approach and exit.
11. Prior to approval check participants are financial members, have signed the canyon waiver and are approved for technical canyoning. Check participants for the skills and competency required to complete the activity.
12. The leader always has the discretion to approve or disapprove of any member joining a canyon activity if he/she has concerns about competency or suitability.
13. Consider what is the minimum number of participants required for the trip to be safely run. Cancel or change the trip if there are less than 3 participants.
14. Ensure that the group is carrying at least the minimum group equipment (see list below).
15. Ensure there is sufficient rope for the trip, including for the use of access lines for exposed edges or approaching anchors.
16. Check for park, road and area closures through NPWS, State or local government. National Parks, council area and roads NPWS Alerts webpage, bmcc, Live Traffic, RFS fires near me, etc.
17. Email trip information to the participants.
18. The day before the activity email late-returns-ubmbc@googlegroups.com with the participant names. If the activity is delayed, the committee is then able to answer enquiries. Make sure an emergency contact person (ideally a UBMBC committee member or canyoner) is aware of the route you are taking, details of the canyon activity and is available on the day/s of the activity. An updated email should be sent to late returns if there are any changes to the activity or participants.
19. Ensure trip intention and emergency contacts are updated through the AMSA website.
20. Provide trip details to your emergency contact/s.
21. Monitor the weather up to two weeks prior to the planned canyon activity. Heavy rain or thunderstorms may increase the risk of flash flooding. If the soil is already saturated then rain during the activity will result in increased runoff. Also consider the size of the catchment. Catchment sizes for many canyons are given on OzUltimate.com. Also consider the type of surface of the catchment area. Hard surfaces such as roads and residential areas absorb little water and water can enter the canyon in a shorter time and in higher volumes than compared to wilderness canyons during flash flooding.
22. Consider if recent rainfall may have increased the water level, altered the conditions and made the canyon more difficult. There may be waterlogged entry and exit tracks, unstable surfaces, landslides or fallen trees.

On the day of the canyon

1. Have a contingency plan to do an alternate canyon should the conditions cause concern.
2. Brief the participants on: planned route, duration, possible exposure, specific landmarks and potential hazards.
3. Monitor the weather on the day.
4. Where possible appoint a suitably experienced co-leader to share responsibilities.
5. Discuss with the team, roles and the importance of teamwork and introduce the Co-leader to the group.
6. Where a leader should be positioned within the group depends on the experience level of the group, familiarity with the canyon, the safety ratio and what the leader decides. Ideally the leader should be positioned at the front of the group.
7. Confirm communication meanings with the group e.g. verbal, whistle or hand signals. Confirm communication method again just before long distances or operating out of sight.
8. Be aware of the communication ability of members from non-English speaking backgrounds. Check that communications are understood.
9. Check participants have at least a helmet, harness, personal safety lanyard and any essential equipment before leaving the cars.
10. Check if any additional equipment is carried by group members that can be used if required.
11. Plan for an early exit contingency, should conditions deteriorate or prove more challenging than anticipated.
12. Be prepared to initiate an emergency response such as activating a PLB in the event of participants being injured, lost or incapacitated. Inform the group as to what the emergency response plan is.
13. Continue to monitor the fitness of the group – checking for fatigue, injuries, hypothermia and hyperthermia.
14. Strong currents may make swimming, abseiling and rock scrambling more hazardous.
15. Check all anchors before setting up ropes and descending to ensure they are in good condition and have not been adversely affected by UV sunlight, rock fall, flood, fire, etc. Have sufficient material to build a new anchor if required.
16. Check all ropes and equipment to ensure they are in good condition. It is good practice for the last person down to carry a backup rope and be capable of performing rescues.
17. Explain the route for each abseil and any potential hazards.
18. When throwing rope down, if the rope cannot be sighted on the ground, then knot the ends of the rope/s. This may not be practical in all situations, such as white water. Consider using a releasable anchor.
19. The leader should appoint a pitch or anchor manager to check those getting on the rope at the pitch head. Usually this would be the pitch rigger or last person down.
20. Use a bottom or top belay when it is suitable and safe to do so.
21. Canyoners should stand clear of the area below the abseil to avoid being hit by falling rocks and debris.
22. Pools should be checked for depth, submerged debris and other hazards prior to abseiling into deep-water or jumping into a pool./li>
23. The leader, co-leader or any other canyoner (with suitable rigging experience, who the leader has allowed to rig) can rig or check the rigging. Canyoners who do not have rigging experience cannot rig or check rigging.
24. Buddy checks should be done - ABCDE checks are done aloud by the person about to abseil. The person next in line to abseil also checks the abseiler.
25. The first person abseiling is advised to use a VT prusik (self-belay), French Prusik (autoblock) or be top belayed (depending on conditions).

After the Canyon

1. Check that all participants have returned safely.
2. Conduct a debrief where participants have the opportunity to provide feedback on the activity.
3. Check equipment that was shared during the activity is returned to the owner. e.g. carabiners, ropes, rope bags etc.
4. Check all cars start before driving away.
5. Reply to the earlier pre-canyon email that you had sent to late-returns-ubmbc@googlegroups.com to inform the club committee:
   1. That the group has finished the canyon.
   2. If there were any changes to participants or if the activity was cancelled.
   3. If there was a near miss or incident on the activity, complete an incident form.
6. It is recommended to report new hazards observed on the OZultimate.com OZultimate.com canyon conditions webpage or RopeWiki.
7. It is recommended to clean all ropes, check for damage, measure and mark rope lengths so they are ready for the next trip.

Leader Equipment

The leader should have at least one of each of the following items in addition to the personal items required for canyoning.

• Minimum

  Additional descender

  PLB or Satellite communicator eg InReach

  Compass

  Map

  Adjustable wrench (for maillons)

  Basic rescue equipment

  Fire lighting equipment

  Maillons

  Mobile phone (offline map/gpx recommended)

  Slings (anchor building material)

  Additional Carabiners

• Optional

  USB Battery (charge phone)

  GPS

  Emergency Shelter/bothy bag

Group Equipment

• Minimum

  Rope/s

  Backup rope

• Optional

  UHF Radios

  Rope Bags

Ropes

• Sufficient ropes so that if ropes become stuck on one of the abseil pitches and are not able to be retrieved progression through the canyon is possible with the spare rope/s (this does not include the backup/rescue rope).
• Take into account rope shrinkage, changes in anchor position and discrepancies in reported abseil pitch lengths.

Canyon Leaders

Leaders are experienced technical (abseiling) canyoners with advanced abseiling skills. Their interpersonal skills develop teamwork and cohesion within the group. They utilize members’ expertise to enhance group performance. Leaders are highly proficient in managing group participation, logistics, risk assessment and unanticipated problems that may arise during the canyon.

It is also acknowledged that qualities such as sound judgement, compassion and fairness are vital for canyon leaders but are less easily measured than skills, knowledge and experience.

Becoming a Canyon Leader

Advanced canyoners may work towards becoming a canyon leader. The role of assistant canyon leader provides opportunities for members to develop leadership skills under the guidance of club canyon leaders and mentoring.

Assessment of Canyon Leaders

Members may apply to become a canyon leader to the UBMBC canyoning committee. Assessment could include:

1. Canyoning and Bushwalking experience
2. xternal Training Courses attended (abseiling, first aid, navigation, leadership, rescue)
3. On-line training courses
4. Practice sessions with UBMBC
5. Canyoning experience with UBMBC
6. Experience as an assistant leader
7. Mentoring reports from UBMBC leaders

Members who are successfully assessed to become canyon leaders will complete a probationary period where they are monitored by an UBMBC leader.