19-07-2016 Canyoning Scotland

G2 Canyon ninja training continues…….

UKCG single pitch canyon guide assessment

G2 sent three intepid staff to Kinlochleven on the west coast to be eaten my midges and be tested as canyon guides. Bastien, Conner and Kevin attended a UK Canyon guide “single pitch guide” assessment run by Ben Starkie. Involving two days testing personal and leadership skills in enclosed steep rivers.

Day one was a personal skills day and started with a speed test tying knots and zip line making (guided abseils). Once proving themselves not to be total numpties they headed off to do the awesome “Van Halen” canyon followed by Bob the canyon dog barking for stones. After they proved how little time they could hold their breaths diving deep down for lost kit, they were whisked off to the much more committing and scary “Grey mares tail” canyon. A much more enclosed canyon with more serious problem solving and a two pitch 80 metre abseil out of the water fall it self. Back to base for our exam paper with much whispering….then dinner, beer, pool, AC-DC and drone destruction.

Day two was the group leadership test day with real live clients…….well, volunteers. They elected to do the Nathrach canyon. A fun adventurous trip which an be spilt into three separate sections. With big fat rain drops coming down they started to move quicker until the final 45 mins got huge and they evacuated out before the end but not before some hairy situations and high flows. In the end it was a great test of leadership for the boys and everyone passed with a cool new UKCG tee shirt which they haven’t taken off since. Below are some pictures of the course. The guys rated it as one of the best delivered and most testing assessments they have yet done.

Well done Ben.