Rock Self-Rescue Refresher Series - Tacoma - 2017

Climbing Course

Rock Self-Rescue Refresher Series

This three-part seminar series was created to provide a venue for refreshing rock self-rescue skills. It was designed for Intermediate Alpine Climbing students and graduates who have completed initial rock self-rescue training.

Intermediate Refresher Series: Rock Self Rescue Refresher

Sponsored by The Tacoma Mountaineers, Advancing Alpinism subcommittee

All Mountaineers enrolled in an Intermediate Alpine Climbing Course complete foundational training in small party (generally two-person) rock self-rescue. Such training generally involves learning belay escape strategies, counterweight rappel, tandem rappel, and raising and lowering a follower. These skills, although initially learned and assessed at a standard of reasonable basic competence at a rock rescue field trip, are among the most perishable skills that intermediate Mountaineers ever acquire, since their future performance is rarely, if ever required. If not regularly practiced, many of these technical skills are lost or suffer substantial degradation over time, which compromises future climbing safety and risk management in the event of a climbing accident. This three-part seminar series was created to provide a venue for refreshing rock self-rescue skills. It was designed for Intermediate Alpine Climbing students and graduates who have completed initial rock self-rescue training. It covers the same basic material on rock rescue presented during the first year of the Intermediate Alpine Climbing course, and updates it with some additional enhancements to improve flexibility and efficiency.

You may view the course outline at: https://www.dropbox.com/s/icwf3ksqal3l3bs/Six%20to%20One%20Droploop.do cx?dl=0

Pre-requisite: Completion of an Intermediate rock rescue field trip, or equivalent

When: First three Monday evenings in May (May 1, 8 and 15, 2017), from 6pm to 9pm.

Optional day-long field trip practice TBA

Where: Tacoma Program Center

Potential field trip locations: Exit 38, Leavenworth, Mt. Erie

Questions/ Contact ? Please email Gregg J. Gagliardi. Gagliardigregg@gmail.com. Cost: $45 (covers all three meetings, 9 hours total; the field trip is free for those who complete all three ground clinics)

Course Requirements

This course has no scheduled activities.

Roster
Required Equipment

Gear requirements: Harness, helmet, autoblocking belay device (e.g., BD ATC Guide), 5 locking carabiners, 6 non-locking carabiners, one cordelette, 4 slings (any size up to 48", including Prussik slings), one climbing rope (30 meter half rope is okay for evening clinics; a full 60 meter rope will be required for the field trip). Belay anchor materials (2 non-locking carabiners, one double- or triple- length sling (or second cordelette), large locking HMS carabiner). Additional materials may be required for the optional field trip, depending on location.

Recommended reading: Rock Climbing: The AMGA single pitch manual. Gaines, B. & Martin, J.D. Falcon Press ( 2014). Self-Rescue. Fasulo, D. Falcon Press (2011) Climbing self rescue: Improvising solutions for serious situations. Tyson, A & Loomis, M. The Mountaineers Books (2006). The mountain guide manual. Chauvin, M & Coppolilo, R. Falcon Press (in press, scheduled for release April 2017). Videos: There are countless videos on rock self-rescue to be found on the internet. I have found the best ones at the American Mountain Guide Association (AMGA) website (https://amga.com ). Many of these are available at no cost on their public page; others are accessible only with a membership to AMGA. Another great website for rock self-rescue videos is "Climbing Life", IFMGA guide Eli Helmuth's website (http://climbinglife.com). 

Course Materials

You must register for this course to see course materials.