Climbing is fun and exciting, but there are some significant potential risks if you and your partner are not prepared to manage them. Rock climbing self rescue is a vital skill for any climber and should be practiced routinely. Whether you need to lower an injured climber safely off of a route, escape a lead belay to call for help, or simply help your partner through a difficult section of climbing – self rescue skills are one of the absolute best tools you can have at your disposal as a rock climber.

Knowing what to do when things go south can make the difference between a minor inconvenience, and a night spent snuggled up with your climbing partner waiting for daylight! In this Rock Rescue course, we will help outfit you with the skills you need to avoid an “epic” at the crag or in the mountains. During this two day course, you will have plenty of time to get hands on, ask questions, and prepare yourself.

Various types of friction hitches, the munter mule with overhand backup, mechanical advantage hauling systems, and rappelling with an injured climber are all covered in depth. With these skills, you will be able to escape a belay, ascend a rope, transfer loads, assist partners, and safely rappel as a team.

If you’re looking to gain more confidence in the mountains, whether in a single or multi-pitch setting, this Rock Rescue course will help round out your skillset as you develop into a mountain leader.

This is a hands on class where you will have plenty of time to practice, ask questions, and apply skills in new ways.  Instructor demonstrations coupled with hands on experience is a great way to put it all together and refine your rescue skills in the vertical realm.

Prerequisites:

Participants should be able to comfortably climb 5.7 outdoors on a top rope as well as have experience with basic climbing systems such as belaying and tying friction hitches.  Previous leading experience and multipitch climbing experience is strongly recommended, but not required.