Rock Rescue Course
This two-day course will give you a foundation of skills to rescue a fallen leader or injured partner. These are important skills for being a good climbing partner: you should know what to do if an accident happens. Since this type of rescue is a worse-case scenario, hopefully you never actually apply these skills for a real rescue. Instead, these skills are more commonly used in everyday climbing such as lowering a tired partner to the ground, hauling a pack up a crux or assisting a partner through a crux.
This course is taught by AMGA-certified Rock Guides Joe Stock and Elliot Gaddy. Techniques are modern, regularly updated, and follow the industry standard. These are advanced techniques, so a base knowledge of sport lead climbing is important. The gear used on this course is common for all types of climbing: a rope, locking carabiners, prusiks, cordelettes, and slings.
Prerequisites
Experience with outdoor sport lead climbing. Trad lead climbing experience is helpful.
Comfort with modern belaying and rappelling.
Ability to build a SERENE or EARNEST anchor.
Comfort with basic climbing knots including overhands, figure eights, Munter, Prusik, Klemheist, and autoblock. See Animated Knots for help with knots.
Helpful videos
2024 Public Course
$450 for two full days.
June 15-16, 2024.
Pivot Point, Seward Highway.
Booking coming soon.
Includes
Joe and Elliot: IFMGA Mountain Guides, AMGA Rock Guides.
3:1 student to instructor max ratio.
Course handouts.
Navigation, first aid, and repair kits.
Emergency communication and shelter.
Does Not Include
Transport.
Lodging, food and drink.
Personal gear. See Rock Rescue Gear List.
Syllabus
Saturday June 15, 2024: Meet at 8am at Steam Dot (10950 O’Malley Center Drive), then head to Pivot Point along the Seward Highway. Ground-based training.
Course overview
Situations for these skills
Avoiding rock rescue
Safety checks
Gear and harness setup
Rescue knots
Plaquette lowers
Knot pass
Haul 3:1 and 6:1
Sunday June 16, 2024: Meet at 8am at Steam Dot (10950 O’Malley Center Drive), then head to Pivot Point along the Seward Highway. On the cliff training.
Counterbalance and tandem rappel
Leader rescue
Belay escape, alpine belay escape
Multi-pitch descent applying the skills
Photos of Rock Rescue Courses
“Joe and Elliot did a great job. I was constantly impressed with how they were able to teach rock rescue skills so efficiently, yet in depth. You guys were a ton of fun to learn from, so thank you!”
“Thanks so much for an awesome weekend, learned a lot and had a great time with you guys. I’m not sure what is next, but I’ve really enjoyed working with you the past couple courses and hope we can maybe do something else ski related in the future!”
“HEY! Thanks everyone for making today super awesome.”
