Rock Self-Rescue Refresher Series

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.