Opportunity to draft a Canyoneering Policy for the UNPC

[Kuya]

Hey all,

I received an E-mail today from the Global Safety Manager -Risk Management Division of The Church or Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In the email I was asked to help develop a Mountaineering/Canyoneering Policy for the BSA Utah National Park Council.

I wanted to open up this topic to the canyoneering community.

What would you like to see in a BSA canyoneering policy?

Thanks!

Blake Merrell

[Scott P]

Something about LNT and group size should definitely be in there. I have been a scout leader for about 1/2 of my life and I see these things violated repeatedly.

They should probably require helmets in the policy as well.

[TommyBoy]

+1 to the LNT, also I don't think the scouts should be allowed to do a canyon if at least one of the leaders haven't already done it so the leaders know exactly what they are getting their boys into.

[jman]

UNPC only?

So that is only applicable to Scouts south of Utah County, am I reading that right?

Why would the UNPC Counsel Canyoneering policy be different then Trapper Trail (Ogden area) Counsel Canyoneering policy?

[Mountaineer]

Neither UNPC nor Trapper Trails has an approved canyoneering program in place yet.

Myself and Jeff are on the Trapper Trails canyoneering committee and have made quite a bit of progress toward an approved program, similar to GSLC.

[skelley]

Not sure what BSA leaders minimal skillset is, but for a canyoneering trip I would want at least two to have some formal canyon training and at least one to have wilderness first aid training.

As already stated, standard canyoneering practices should also apply like small group size, LNT, proper equipment. I would think always belaying the kids (unless they have formal training) would be a must. Also, their first rappel experience should be in a controlled environment, not in a canyon.





Hey all,

I received an E-mail today from the Global Safety Manager -Risk Management Division of The Church or Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In the email I was asked to help develop a Mountaineering/Canyoneering Policy for the BSA Utah National Park Council.

I wanted to open up this topic to the canyoneering community.

What would you like to see in a BSA canyoneering policy?

Thanks!

Blake Merrell

[Kuya]

All very good points. I will make sure to include those things.

[whansen]

I would have something in it that states. "All persons that are participating in the activity must first pass off to the Canyon Leaders the basic skills needed to do that canyon". Or something like that. Just so someone is not putting on a harness or rappelling for the first time ever in the canyon.

[Kuya]

Here is my draft copy of the UNPC Canyoneering Policy. Please have a look and make comments as you see fit.

Thanks!

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1pLhj8ZpaoI270atInUBTO2EPlu3AOhIMEKy4imyvKFo/edit?usp=sharing

[deagol]

I don't have a login for Google docs, but two suggestions:

Section 2.3: should it be stated that dynamic line only be used for belay and not be used for the rap line itself?

Section 2.3: should cryptobiotic crust be added as a surface to avoid?

[Kuya]

I don't have a login for Google docs, but two suggestions:

Section 2.3: should it be stated that dynamic line only be used for belay and not be used for the rap line itself?

Section 2.3: should cryptobiotic crust be added as a surface to avoid?

I think it would be fair to clarify that in the canyoneering section of the policy. While i don't think rappelling on dynamic ropes as a unsafe thing, i do believe that it is best practice to canyoneer with static ropes.

waking on cryptobiotic crust kinda falls under the leave no trace rules. I made a sub list of some items that i think especially appropriate for canyoneering. check it out and let me know what more I should add/take away.

[deagol]

looks good to me.

[Scott P]

Section 2.3: should it be stated that dynamic line only be used for belay and not be used for the rap line itself?

Static lines are preferable for rappelling only because they are easier to pull and take abrasion better, but there are no safety issues with rappelling on a dynamic line that I'm aware of. :ne_nau:

[deagol]

Static lines are preferable for rappelling only because they are easier to pull and take abrasion better, but there are no safety issues with rappelling on a dynamic line that I'm aware of. :ne_nau:

yes, but isn't that a good enough reason?

[moab mark]

Seems reasonable to me. Do you have a list of non BSA training programs?