ANU Mountaineering Club Canyoning Guiding Principles These Guiding Principles have been developed by experienced members of the ANU Mountaineering club, and have been approved by the ANU Mountaineering Club Executive. All ANU Mountaineering Club trip leaders will be expected to adhere to these principles. Departures from these principles will need to be approved by the Canyoning Officer. Activity Description What activities are involved: Canyoning involves scrambling, roped abseiling, walking, swimming and jumping. Canyoning can be conducted in dry canyons, wet canyons, on marked and unmarked trails. The types of skills needed: Canyoning skills include navigation, abseiling, building anchors, jumping, sliding and swimming. Areas that the ANUMC frequents: The ANUMC generally Canyon in the Blue Mountains, Bungonia National Park and the Namadgi National Park. Role of the Canyoning officer: The role of the Canyoning officer is to review trips according to the following set of safety standards. Trips will also be reviewed by the Trip Convenor. Trip leaders will be requested to ensure that trips follow these guidelines before being approved by the Activity Officer. Planning to submit a trip The following information should be consulted when planning to submit a trip: • Appropriate maps, guide books and websites including o OzUltimate.com o alternatezone.com o Canyons Near Sydney (several editions are available at the club gearstore) • Parks and road closures • Weather forecasts • Flood and storm warnings • Fire warnings • Local knowledge from leaders and other ANUMC members Trip description Trip descriptions will cover the following information: • Type and nature of the activity • Number of participants on trip – including number of beginner and intermediate participants • Skills, abilities and fitness required by participants. • Personal and group safety gear required to be carried • Car registration number and where cars will be left • Campsite location • Intended plan & escape route – and if plans change who will be informed/where a note will be left • Safety officer contact • What time the safety contact should raise an alarm • Departure time, intended return time • Whether anyone on the trip has done the trip before • Summary of the risk management and emergency response strategies • Itemised trip costs • Acknowledgement of risk by participants Risk management Trip planning and preparation are important in managing risk on ANUMC trips. Following the guidelines set out in this document will assist leaders and co-leaders to identify, analyse, evaluate and treat risk accordingly. Emergency response on a trip Safety officer All ANUMC trips are required to nominate a Safety Officer. This officer is someone who: • Will be contactable throughout the duration of the trip • Has been left with contact numbers of the ANUMC Executive • Has been given appropriate instructions on when to raise the alarm Trip warning times • Trips with the risk of being benighted should all specify a ‘warning time’ of when an alarm should be raised with the Exec and the emergency services. • Consideration of the following factors will help determine an appropriate warning time: o In some cases the time should allow self-sufficient parties (prepared to stay overnight) enough time to make a walk out in the morning. o Accessibility of mobile phone reception, or inaccessibility of setting of an EPIRB o The group composition and gear carried. Emergency response plan This is a plan of a series of actions to be carried out in the event of an emergency. All trip leaders should consider generic plans for different common scenarios they may encounter. Eg: Emergency plan for canyoning accident in easy to access area: • Stabilise injured canyoner (lower off ropes, move to a dry area if possible, put into recovery position, keep warm etc) • Call emergency services for assistance – if no reception, send a party of at least 2 towards the road to get reception. • Call injured canyoner’s emergency contact if appropriate • Manage other group members (keep warm, reassure etc). Emergency plan for benighted canyoning trip • Prepare to stay the night in canyon • Ensure participants are warm and hydrated • Attempt to contact emergency person as soon as possible • Keep the group together Escape routes Escape routes, if appropriate will be identified during the trip planning. These will be outlined in the trip description. If alternative plans are made at the last minute due to weather or other factors, these should be communicated to the Safety Officer, or a note left at a Parks office or on the car windscreen. This plan will be outlined in the trip description. Emergency communication Trip leaders will carry charged mobile phones. In the case of no mobile reception, at least one EPIRB will be carried. First aid Trips will have at least one person with First Aid qualifications – no older than 3 years. Reporting incidents and near misses All incidents will be reported to ANU Sport (www.anu-sport.com.au). Mandatory gear on Canyoning trips Mandatory personal gear: • Day pack (over 30L) • Rain jacket • Harness • Sufficient dry bags for gear • Wet suit full length • 3x screwgate carabiners • Long sling • Descending/belay device • Prusik loops • Helmet • Personal first aid kit • Thermals • Wool jumper or polartek fleece • Sunscreen • Hat • Sunglasses • Beanie • Headtorch • Water bottle • Volleys or canyoning-specific footwear • Whistle • Pulley • Lunch and snacks Mandatory group gear: • EPIRB • First aid kit • Adequate rescue equipment (canyon and group-dependent, may include pulleys, power cord, tape or other technical gear required to enact a rescue) • Sleeping bag • Stove or thermos of boiling water • Rope protectors • Spare maillion for anchor repairs • Spare tape for anchor repairs • Adequate rope • Additional carabiners for rigging anchors • Map and compass Optional personal gear: • Thermos • Spare socks • Gloves for abseiling Leader to participant ratios Club canyoning trips are divided into three categories: abseiling, non-abseiling and co-leader training. Abseiling The minimum number of trip participants (including the leader and co-leader) is: 3 The maximum number of trip participants (including the leader and co-leader) is: 6 The accepted leader/co-leader/experienced person to participant ratio is: 1:2 Non-Abseiling The minimum number of trip participants (including the leader and co-leader) is: 3 The maximum number of trip participants (including the leader and co-leader) is: 8 The accepted leader/co-leader/experienced person to participant ratio is: 1:2 Co-Leader Training Trips All participants on co-leader training trips are to have been approved as co-leaders. No beginners or other canyoners who have not been approved as co-leaders may participate in these training trips. The minimum number of trip participants is: 3 The maximum number of trip participants is: 6 Leader recognition Trip Leaders ANUMC Trip Leaders in Canyoning will be recognised by a peer recognition system. Trip leaders are those who, recognised by at least three club canyoning leaders, have the technical and group management skills to lead a group of canyoning participants. These skills include: • Technical vertical and/or swiftwater (trip-dependant) rescue skills • Ability to exercise a duty of care to participants • Ability and preparedness to assign and communicate roles within groups, particularly the relative dependence and responsibility of beginner, intermediate and experienced canyoners. • Can assess & manage risk including participant composition, equipment, navigation, weather conditions and appropriate emergency response Co-Leaders ANUMC Co-Leaders in Canyoning will be recognised by a peer recognition system. Co-leaders are those who, recognised by a club canyoning trip-leader, have the technical skills to enact a rescue and move the group to safety in the case of a trip-leader being incapacitated in an emergency. These skills include: • Technical vertical and/or swiftwater (trip-dependant) rescue skills • Ability to exercise a duty of care to participants • Can assess & manage risk including appropriate emergency response .