Self Rescue and Small Team Response

Last week was our Self Rescue and Small Team Response Workshop held at our home base of Ouray, Colorado. The participants were keen, the weather was flawless, and we had an outstanding week of training. Exercises included basic belay escapes and transfers of tension, rescuing the second as well as the leader using counter-balance techniques, a very challenging leader rescue in traversing terrain, a multi-pitch leader rescue and evacuation including use of a tensioned guiding line to cross a water hazard, and some team-based pickoffs. Our next offering of this workshop will be May, 2013.

From the Archive...

A demonstration drop test of the British Columbia Council on Technical Rescue Belay Competence Drop Test Method 1 meter drop on 3 meters of 11 millimeter low stretch rope with a 200kg test mass.  The belay device is a mechanical rope grab: the Gibbs ascender.

Denali Climbing Rangers and 212th RQS

Another great training with Denali NP and the 212th Rescue Squadron.  This year's training took place out of the Serenity Falls Hut in Chugach State Park.

Update and Beyond, Ouray 2012

Once again, a great crew of participants traveled to Ouray, Colorado to attend a Rigging for Rescue Update and Beyond Seminar.  This seminar is open only to previous Rigging for Rescue seminar participants.  The next Update and Beyond Seminar will be held in Yosemite, California in October.  Check out our website for more information.

Creative Anchoring in Iceland

Mike has returned from his annual trip to Iceland, and has shared some great pictures including these "non-traditional" anchoring solutions. 

 

Cargo net anchor

 

Piolet as a pre-tension front tie

 

Rescuer as the back offset anchor in a compound 9:1

 

Dirt thread: this piece of webbing is fixed to a customized picket that isn't compromised by the girth hitch