Description
A SPECIALIZED WORKSHOP FOCUSING ON THE MEDIUM OF WATERFALL ICE
Rigging for Rescue’s home base of Ouray, Colorado is one of the world’s premier ice climbing destinations. Ouray is home to the Ouray Ice Park which hosts over 100 ice climbs in a narrow gorge just minutes walking distance from town proper. Additionally, the surrounding San Juan Mountains are choked with frozen waterfalls throughout the winter months.
Ouray is an optimal location for increasing your personal waterfall ice climbing and terrain evaluation skills. If you or your team works or plays in areas that are home to waterfall ice, this is a workshop that you won’t want to miss.
Prerequisites: the skills outlined on our prerequisites page.
TOPICS & TECHNIQUES
- a critical thinking approach to effective leadership, size-up, teamwork, and putting it all together in a technical rescue as it pertains to patient care and evacuation
- finding balance in efficiently meshing the medical aspects of patient care and the movement of the patient in technical terrain
- the importance of exemplary patient assessment skills for the medical/rescuer
- patient care considerations in a variety of scenarios in the difficult terrain environment
- patient securing and packaging considerations in a variety of settings and scenarios
- efficient use of medical /rescue equipment and personnel in a given technical rescue
- recognition of what interventions “really make a difference” for most patients in difficult terrain rescues
- stretcher orientation and attending considerations
- medical kits / new equipment
- BLS/ALS considerations and limitations in technical rescue
- pain management and medication delivery options
- safely improvising and adapting in patient care and rescue
- a reinforcement of safe, timely and efficient rope rescue techniques and principles utilized in moving the patient in both steep and high angle settings
- safe helicopter interface
The above list is not exhaustive, nor is it a checklist. One of the hallmark traits of a Rigging for Rescue program is the flexible curriculum. Specific techniques & topics covered are influenced by the overall participant mix and their interests. Each Rigging for Rescue seminar or workshop is a custom experience. All field training scenarios will be in and around Ouray, Colorado.
Waterfall Ice & Rescue Workshop PPE List
Please make sure each participant comes prepared with:
- Food/hydration for the day
- Appropriate clothing/footwear
- Warm, rugged winter clothing including a shell coat/pant
- Hard sole mountain boots (for crampons)
- Hat/buff/thin & thick winter gloves
- Puffy jacket
- Headlamp
- Notepad/pen
Required Personal Gear (Assume 1 of every item, unless stated otherwise)
- Helmet
- Harness
- Leather Gloves (1 pair)
- Backpack
- Personal Decent Control Device (ATC, Grigri or equivalent)
- Locking carabiners (4-6)
- Non-locking carabiners (3-4)
- Sewn Runners (120 cm, 2)
- Prusik (VT Prusik 8mm or equivalent)
- Personal Anchor System
- 6mm cord (10 meters)
- 8mm cord (10 meters)
- 25mm webbing (5 meters)
- Pulley (Mini prusik minding pulley, 1-2)
- Knife
- First aid kit
Ice Climbing Related (Assume 1 of every item, unless stated otherwise)
- Ice tools (1 pair)
- Ice screw (16-19 cm, 1)
- Crampons (1 pair)
- V-Thread Tool
We want to see what you use, how and why. We are looking for the best possible way to rig and conduct rescue. Printed materials, video clips of trainings, and favorite rescue books are all welcome additions to the seminar. Active participation is the best way to foster a rich and rewarding learning environment.
HOURS
We’ll begin at 08:00 on the first day of each workshop for an initial ‘meet & greet’ and workshop introduction. The training will continue for five full days (40+ hours) beginning at 0800 on Monday and ends at approximately 16:30 on Friday afternoon. Each participant is responsible for their own transportation, personal equipment, food, and accommodation.
This workshop will include low participant-to-instructor ratios and a classroom located right in the heart of the Ouray Ice Park.
