The West Coast Canyoneering Methodology (WCCM) was developed by Alpine Training Services in response to the growing need to collaborate innovative and proven technical safety systems with progressive industry related psychological training protocols. ATS combined these elements to create the safest & most effective canyoneering training protocol in the world.

Technical canyoneering originally began in Europe, but has quickly caught on in the U.S. By taking a close look at every known teaching style and safety record, one thing became inherently obvious -- there had to be a   better way! Understanding the multiple variables of technical canyoneering was key -- the equipment, the technical applications that all lead to similar margins of safety, etc… The founders of the WCCM set out to look at the sport under a completely different light.

Psychological points of interest were the first issue to visit. We realized once the psychology of the sport was understood, the world’s technical rope and equipment systems would be subject to a new point of view. The next step was to create a system of measurement against every known existing aspect of risk management in the sport itself and related outdoor discilines such as creek boating and rock climbing. The acronym T.E.R.M. was created and became the foundation for this fresh new hybrid theory. Looking at the sport from all viewpoints objectively allowed ATS to create a fair assessment of what systems were well designed and needed no adjustments versus systems which did not stand up to the new style(s) delineated by T.E.R.M. Through this review process gaps became apparent where both psychology and technology had not yet bridged in this outdoor vertical and adventure risk activity. Designing methods to bridge these literal and theoretical gaps became the next step in the process.

In the late 90's, ATS began contacting manufacturers for product development towards the sport and working with groups of outdoor professionals from other rope related & rescue disciplines. The final element of development towards the WCCM was to engage groups of outdoor professionals including psychologists, rope rescue instructors, government search & rescue training officers, swiftwater technicians and professional climbing instructors. We worked to expose them to our methods for canyoneering and engage ourselves in this final process of discovery.  The combined published results became the foundation for the final step -- creating a flow chart of both technical and psychological training milestones embedded in our instructional training curriculum. This program is designed to enable a WCCM student to go from Canyoneering I: “The Beginning” to the empowered point of “Recreational Canyon Leader” or "Professional Canyoneering Gudie", proving to be both technically and psychologically competent and accountable for themselves and for others, including other beginners. The final result was the creation of our training course program designed to move our clients along at their own pace, including free class shadowing for students of the WCCM as a form of C.E. (Continued Education). ATS is the first company to offer a continued education based program. Our accomplished training methods have raised the industry standard in the U.S. which all other canyoneering schools now seek to achieve.

The end result -- a higher level of efficency and effectiveness towards safety in canyoneering. Safety for the instructors, clients and end users after training including a platform for CE in similar sports. Since ATS also provides an industry standardized full service Kayaking School, Rock Climbing School and Mountaineering School each of these established disciplines now add value to the canyoneering curriculum to be known as the WCCM.

The founder of ATS, Darren Jeffrey comments on the innovative process:

The lack of thought and continuity between the technical and psychological training methods, especially in Europe, always fascinated me. With well over 20 years of personal climbing and canyoneering experiences, and hundreds of hours of professional training from various organizations, canyoneering continues to impress me as the most technically challenging vertical adventure risk sport. That being said, the physical limitations are much less than the limitations of other vertical adventure sports such as mountaineering or rock climbing.  Coupled with the internet and real time information that the climbing world did not have in its' beginning, we have a "super nuke" of a sport on our hands. In the end, this means more people can and will get the training and be out there on their own. Which in a short time has created a sport that has potential to grow larger and faster than climbing could or did. Canyoneering faces the same issues as climbing does. Access being of top concern, anchors, styles and ethics etc. If we are wise we will learn the short cuts through these issues and not have to relive the pains of the past!

Here is a simple outline covering a few of the psychological safety points of the West Coast Canyoneering Methodology.  

Becoming trained in the WCCM will build technical competency and core mental confidence, creating a well rounded canyoneer capable of having a knowledgeable response to any situation as it arises.

Alpine Training Services has a dedicated instructional canyoneering program which includes direct training, written field evaluations, a student text book, dozens of tracked “homework” based canyon days all undercut with our industry leading free class shadowing program, innnovate video podcasts, and assigned mentor training. All of these features are designed to empower our clients to get trained, and be out there enjoying the canyons of the world as often as possible.

Learn more about the WCCM Certified Courses...