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.
Difficult Edge Transitions
Difficult edge transitions are among the more challenging scenarios one may encounter rope rescue. Occasionally, situations arise when a team must negotiate an abrupt edge with no high directional, and the patient condition does not allow for a vertical litter orientation. In these circumstances, a smooth operation hinges on a strong and coordinated litter attendant, strength and technique from the edge personnel, and polished command and communication. The clips below exhibit a well-executed difficult edge transition.
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
Iceland Dispatch #2: A little work, a little play, a whole lot of sun
The RfR seminar in Iceland is in full swing. Recent exercises have included some moderate slope work as well as pickoffs. And included in the rigging was a Petzl Goulotte piolet used as a pre-tension front tie – sweet! Not to worry, Mike and the guys from ICE-SAR are finding time to relax, including a boat ride to Skrúður Island, home to a massive puffin colony and an extensive cave system. The beautiful weather continues…do they even have sunscreen in Iceland?
Update from Iceland
Every year Rigging for Rescue works with the good folks at ICE-SAR, the Icelandic Association for Search and Rescue, for a week packed with training, fun, and camaraderie. This year the seminar is taking place at the fjords of the east; so far the terrain and weather have been perfect! Stay tuned for more pictures…
Good times with the slow pull machine
In November of last year, the Rescue Program Coordinator from Rocky Mountain Fire visited us in Ouray with an interesting question: can wildland firefighters use their fire hose as anchor material in an improvised rescue scenario? The following videos show two pulls that we did on a .75″ forestry hose (commonly referred to as a “garden hose”) and a 1.5″ single jacket forestry hose; both samples were heavily used prior to testing. The .75″ hose was configured as a wrap two pull two with a ring bend, and broke mid-strand at 6.83 kN. The 1.5″ hose was configured as a single strand anchored at each end with an overhand knot, and broke mid-strand at 18.93 kN. Both of these are considered “quick look” tests and are far from comprehensive. Nonetheless, it’s fun to see things break.
New Course Offering: Self Rescue and Small Team Response Workshop
Climbers, guides, mountain rescue practitioners, and military personnel are who we had in mind in crafting the Self Rescue and Small Team Response 5-day workshop. The workshop will focus exclusively on personal and self rescue ropework techniques as well as some improvised small team approaches to realistic rope rescue challenges.
Springtime in the Valley…
Rigging for Rescue offers two open enrollment seminars each Spring in California’s Yosemite Valley. The March 31-April 6 seminar already has a waiting list, but there are spots still remaining in the March 3-9 offering. More information about seminars in the Valley can be found on our website here: http://dev.riggingforrescue.com/yosemite2.html
Today at Rigging for Rescue…
Day four of the Waterfall Ice Rescue Workshop featured a multi-pitch lower in the Skylight climbing area. Kevin took some photos of the operation from the top of the second pitch. Enjoy! Troy Couture leading pitch 1 Mike Kingsbury topping out on pitch 2 Moving the load down the upper pitch After the station transition, moving the package down the lower pitch
Horsetail Mission
Members of the Ouray Mountain Rescue Team including three Rigging for Rescue employees recently responded to Horsetail Falls in the backcountry outside of Ouray to assist an injured ice climber. The team chose to use a Guiding Line aerial ropeway system to evacuate the injured party.
