The incredible state of Arizona is known as canyon country and is home to many beautiful and diverse slot canyons with sheer rock-faced cliffs, deep natural pools, and impressive waterfalls and cascades. Many of these beautiful canyons are still relatively undiscovered, rarely visited, and not so far off the beaten path that they can be accessed in a day’s drive. To descend into these backcountry canyons is what “canyoning” is all about which consists of walking, climbing, rock jumping, climbing, swimming and rappelling, rappelling being the most technical of all canyoning skills and also the most dangerous. Canyoning thus becomes “technical canyoning” when the use of ropes or rappelling is required to safely continue the descent and exploration of a canyon area. So if you’re looking for more adventure and more of an outdoor challenge and the ability to explore more of Arizona’s beautiful and remote rocky canyons, then you’ll want to see how to learn to rappel where your delve into the exciting world of canyoneering will begin. technical!

Abseiling is defined as “a specialized climbing technique used to descend mountains or cliffs by the use of a controlled slide by a climbing rope anchored to the top of the cliff ledge.” either with a guide or on your own. Having recently been introduced to the sport of canyoning, I was inspired to continue improving my canyoning skills so that I could explore more of these remote canyons. So when a local hiking group called the Hiking Hikers Hiking Group (also known as Triple H) announced they were offering an introductory rappelling class for beginners at Coon Bluff Recreation Area on the Lower Salt River, I signed up quick and easy! moved!

Located about 17 miles northeast of Mesa, on the beautiful Lower Salt River in the Tonto National Forest, Coon Bluff Recreation Area is a scenic and popular spot for camping, picnicking, fishing, as well as wildlife and bird watching. . Along the slopes of the river and its lush riparian habitat, they say it’s very common to see bald eagles, turkey vultures, and even wild mustangs roaming in from the desert in the early morning hours. To visit the Coon Bluff Recreation Area, a Tonto National Forest Day Pass must be purchased at a cost of $6 per vehicle. You can purchase a pass before you head out either online or at your local sporting goods store such as The Big 5 Sporting Goods.

So, on a bright and clear weekend morning in November, and after stopping to pick up a pass for the Tonto National Forest, I set off on I-17 south from north Phoenix to meet up with my good friends and fellow students. excursion for our first rappelling and adventure class. . We learned that Coon Bluff, with its 92-foot sheer vertical rock wall cliff, is also a popular spot to practice rappelling skills, whether you’re new and a beginner just starting out or more experienced and advanced. Being someone who has a real fear of heights, I thought, oh my gosh, 92 feet? I was feeling so nervous that I wasn’t even sure I could keep going, at least not without a big shove from behind!

After picking up our last friend in Gilbert in the East Valley, we were finally ready to leave for Coon Bluff. To get to Coon Bluff from Phoenix, the directions say to take Route 60 East to the Power Road exit, then head north on Power Road, which becomes Bush Highway. After about 12 miles on Bush Highway, you will first come to Phon D. Sutton Recreation Site Road, but keep going another ½ mile and on the left you will come to Coon Bluff Recreation Area Road. We turned left and arrived at Coon Bluff around 1:40 pm, just in time for our 2 pm session beginner rappelling class.

We parked in the Coon Bluff Recreation Area parking lot, where we also met up with a few other members of the class who were just starting to arrive, including our good friend and fellow TLC Hiking member Dan Myers and his daughter. We headed out, gathered our backpacks and gear and after posing for a quick group photo, we began the short hike up the trail to the riverbank at the base of the bluff and the 92-foot rock face we would soon be descending. The closer we got as we got closer, the higher it seemed as well. From the river bank, while we waited for everyone to arrive and for the class to start, we enjoyed seeing how there were still people remembering the morning class that day. Wow, I thought as I looked up in amazement. From the ground, looking up, you’d use it as if it were 200 feet away!

Soon everyone arrived and just a few minutes later our event organizer and instructor, professional world climber, Michael Marin, arrived after having called them both to the bottom. In this introductory rappelling class, Michael expressed that we were going to learn all about rappelling technique, anchor selection and construction, knot tying, equipment, terminology, do’s and don’ts, and how to get out of a fix. you get into one But most importantly, Michael started by emphasizing the importance of safety, safety and even more safety when it comes to remembering whether you are new and learning or an experienced canyoner or mountaineer. Carelessness is the leading cause of accidents and deaths and can be prevented by learning essential skills correctly and always using common sense, he said.

After laying the foundation of safety first in everything you do when it comes to learning to rappel, we were then introduced to the gear and gear we would need and use for our first rappelling adventure. A list of the basic gear you need for rappelling that can be purchased at a local REI store is: 1) a well-fitting harness, prices range from $40-$55, 2) a locking carabiner, $10-$20 , 3) a rappelling harness device like a figure 8 or an ATC, $15-$30, 4) a 5ml prusik cord, for $10, and last but not least, and most expensive piece, your climbing rope, that for technical canyoning, and for beginners, a non-stretch dry treated rope is suggested, ideally 9-10 ml and 60 meters or 180 feet long, and has a price range of around $160, however include the string bag you will also need for around $40. Also, when it comes to packing up gear and venturing into wet canyons for technical canyoning, backpacks are around $129, and to safely store your gear and accessories, having a dry pack is essential to prevent water leaks and already be it big or small. prices range from approximately $10 to $20.

With our harnesses and gear safely and securely on, we were led to a tree behind us where Michael had ropes safely anchored and ready for us to begin learning rappelling technique and practice, while still on the ground, how the team works and why. as well as giving us all the possibility and the opportunity to feel comfortable with the way of using the rope through the rappelling device. You don’t need to “get down to business,” he demonstrated, just guide the rope behind you with your right hand back, then release pressure and resistance for more speed or hold it tighter behind you, adding more pressure and resistance to the brakes. , to slow down or come to a complete stop. Once you understand how to use this technique, all you need to do is lean back in your harness and trust that your equipment will work for you. After everyone had a chance to practice and felt comfortable enough to continue, we were given the go-ahead to start practicing our first real live rappelling!

We followed Michael as he led us up the trail to the top of the bluff and what a beautiful view it had over the entire Lower Salt River valley. Wow absolutely beautiful! After some last minute tips and pointers on installing anchors, how to set them safely, where and what types are best to use, both natural and artificial, we walked over to the edge of the cliff where Michael introduced us to the dual system. ropes that we were going to use and he told us about the importance of redundancy when doing any type of rappelling or mountaineering, especially for beginners, like us.

Now we were ready to start our first reminder. Michael asked, “Okay, who will go first?” After taking a quick look at the edge of the cliff to take a photo of my friend Scuji waiting below, I could barely see him. That’s when my heart began to race and my palms began to sweat. Wow I thought, that was a long way straight down too! I had so many butterflies and the longer I was there the more nervous I got. So I quickly jumped in line behind my friends Carolyn and Bob and as I was starting to shake like a leaf, I walked over to the edge where Michael hooked me into the rope and motioned for me to yell down, “secured?”, then, after hearing the call back, “assure”, he said to call back saying, “remembering”. As I kept my eyes locked on Michael’s, I kept asking, “Am I doing it right?” and as he repeatedly replied, “yes, you’re doing good, you’re doing good, keep going!”, and with his confidence and assurance, I began to walk slowly towards the side of the cliff, leaning over and re-harnessing myself at the same time. All the while pulling the rope behind me with my right hand to keep the speed slow and the descent steady, but never once looking down, just concentrating intently on what I was doing until almost halfway down I heard a loud noise. call from my friend Scuji who was yelling at me: “Laura, look to the left!”. I hesitated and then reluctantly looked down so I could take a photo. It was at that moment that I realized that I was really doing it! Now it started to feel easier and I was even comfortable enough to loosen the rope a bit and pick up my speed, swinging off the wall a bit as I continued to get closer to the ground. Wow, what an amazing and exciting experience! Once I made it safely to the ground, my good friend Bob was there waiting to help me unhook and I was again instructed to call back to the top, “off the rope” so the next person would know I was done climbing. rappel. .

After I had completed my first withdrawal, I waited for the rest of my friends and classmates to do it safely. My friend Dan came first, then Scuji, as well as the rest of the remaining class members, as he continued to take as many photos as he could, capturing their first experiences remembering for them. As the last members came down, the sun was beginning to set, and by 6 pm, the last person had arrived and the ropes were released to signify that the class was officially over.

It was a great day and an amazing experience and a great class organized by the Hikers Hiking group (also known as Triple H) and taught by our friend, professional world climber, Michael Marin. A heart-pounding, palm-sweating thrill ride and a great introduction to rappelling and technical canyoning that I’ll never forget! So if you are looking for more adventure and more of a challenge in the outdoors and would like to be able to explore more of the beautiful and remote rocky canyons of the interior of Arizona, then I highly recommend learning how to rappel and start your adventure into the exciting world. of technical canyoning!