Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2025

Canyoneering II (Face-to-Face)

ORPT 1055-01

Course: ORPT 1055-01
Credits: 2
Term: Fall Semester 2025
Department: PEHP
CRN: 31406

Course Description

 Builds upon the knowledge and skills developed in Canyoneering I. Topics include rope ascending, anchor building, sequencing, and passing knots. This course is typically offered in the Fall term. Prerequisite: ORPT 1050 (Canyoneering I) or instructor permission 

Required Texts

Text(s):
Canyoneering (How to Climb Series) by David Black
Rappelling; Rope Descending & Ascending Skills for Climbing, Caving, Canyoneering, and Rigging (How to Climb Series) by Bob Gaines
Equipment:
I strongly recommend you have the following items for this class:
  • A Harness
  • A rappel device and a large locking carabiner
  • A personal tether (e.g. P.A.S., Petzl Connect)
  • 20’-40' of 1” tubular webbing
  • 20’ of 6mm rated accessory cord
  • 12’ of 5mm rated accessory cord
  • 2 or 3 3/8-inch or 5/16-inch quick links (stamped with CE, UIAA, PPE, WL or SWL)
  • 2-3 sewn nylon slings (120” length)
  • A climbing helmet
  • A decent sized backpack (40-60 liters; 2500-3500 cubic inches)
  • Good shoes (trail runners, day hikers, boots, etc…)
  • 4 spare locking carabiners
  • Leather gloves
  • A couple Petzl Tiblocs
  • A small sturdy knife
  • A whistle (not one that will be useless when wet)
  • A 60 meter static rope

Learning Outcomes

Students will…

  • Be introduced to additional equipment used for canyoneering
  • Demonstrate an ability to rappel on a single and double rope
  • Demonstrate an ability to efficiently set up natural anchors suitable for rappelling
  • Demonstrate an ability to efficiently set up a rappel on artificial anchors (bolts and hangers)
  • Become familiar with internet resources and guidebooks useful in determining canyoneering routes commensurate with their knowledge and skill level
  • Demonstrate an ability to engage a suitable backup (i.e., fireman's belay, auto-block) while rappelling
  • Demonstrate mastery of the canyoneering rating system (for North America)
  • Understand several contingency anchor techniques and demonstrate the ability to apply them
  • Demonstrate the ability to pass knots while on rappel
  • Demonstrate the ability to ascend fixed ropes (on a straight line and on a knotted rope)
  • Demonstrate a usable knowledge of several knots, hitches, and bends

Course Requirements

Knots 
You’ll need to demonstrate your ability to tie several hitches and knots efficiently (figure eight family, bowline, butterfly, clove hitch, double fisherman, flat overhand (aka Euro Death Knot), prusik, auto-block, girth hitch, water knot, etc…).

The Keyhole Seven paper 
Read a specified article from Outside magazine and write a paper on it.

Class Canyoneering Trips (3 total)
There will be three full-day trips wherein we go do canyons. You are invited and encouraged to attend all of these trips during the semester.

Video Viewing Discussions 
For this assignment you will view a video I upload onto Canvas and discuss it with your classmates.

Grading Scale: A = >94%, A- = 90-93%, B+ = 87-89%, B = 84-86%, B- = 80-83%, C+ = 77-79%, C = 74-76%, C- = 70-73%, D = 60-69% F = <60%

Course Outline

Each number corresponds to a class session, in sequence from the beginning of the semester until the end. 

  1. Belayed Rappels

  2. Eight-Munter-Overhand Contingency

  3. Ascending Fixed Ropes

  4. Rappelling Past Knots

  5. Haul Systems

  6. Alternative Natural Anchors

  7. Tandem and Simul Rappels

  8. Knots, Hitches, and Bends

  9. Rope Management

  10. Courtesy Anchors

  11. Lock-Offs and Managing Friction on Rappel

  12. Multi-Point Natural Anchors

  13. Static Twin Rope Systems

  14. Safety Lines for Traverses

Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work

This class is fast and furious, we cover as much material as students can absorb within a very limited amount of time. Please be on time and ready to go when class starts each week, be prepared to stay the entire duration of class. If you’re already familiar with the information and skills please don’t pull out your phone and text or surf the internet—help those students in the class that don’t have the skills or knowledge you do.
Late Work:
Each assignment will be given a due date and time. If you turn an assignment in after that it will be graded as though turned in on time, then whatever grade earned will be reduced by 50%. After 72 hours of being late, the assignment will be given a zero (0).

Attendance Policy

Be here when you're feeling well and don't come when you aren't. We can meet when you feel better, and I'll help you get up to speed. Attending class and the trips is the best way you can develop your canyoneering skill and knowledge. There are no better substitutes for mentored time on task. If your lack of attendance becomes an issue (i.e. you're missing class regularly), I'll speak with you individually to find a remedy.  

ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.