Khumbu Climbing Center Annual Training
For the past two weeks, Rigging for Rescue’s Xander Bianchi has been instructing climbing and rescue techniques at the Khumbu Climbing Center (KCC) in Phortse, Nepal in the Khumbu region near Mt. Everest. Each year, Rigging for Rescue sponsors an instructor in traveling to Nepal to volunteer their expertise to
Ouray Ice Park is Open!
The winter weather gods have seen fit to deliver optimal ice-making conditions for the Ouray Ice Park ice farming efforts. Cold temps allowed the Ice Farmers to make ice 24/7 for the past week. Couple that with an abundant water source – that can be attributed to last year’s big
Early Season Ice Climbing
Fellow RfR instructor Tim Pasek and I got out for some November ice climbing in the San Juan’s a few days ago. Southwest Colorado received a very cold blast of arctic air in the early part of October that contributed significantly to bringing in the high country ice climbs –
ITRS 2019
We just returned from the annual International Technical Rescue Symposium (ITRS) held in Albuquerque, NM. Rigging for Rescue has been attending and presenting at this event since its infancy in 1986 (NATRS at that time). The symposium is a gathering of around 170 attendees to discuss, dissect, and debate all
VT Prusik for Rescue Belays
VT Prusik for Rescue Belays – Abstract Rope rescue teams typically operate redundant two-rope systems with inclusion of a failsafe mechanism for fall arrest. Examples include the MPD, 540° Rescue Belay, Petzl I’D, and Tandem Prusiks to name a few. Teams operating in remote environments with longer ingress/egress distances often
The Great State of Maine
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Summer wrap-up
The summer RfR season proved to be a whirlwind. We traveled near and far working with a variety of rescue teams from very different backgrounds and mission profiles. Continued areas of participant interest included: pros and cons of Two Tensioned systems and how/when/why to apply them effectively use of the
Black Canyon NPS – Stoned Oven SAR
On Saturday, October 5, a call came in from the North Rim ranger station that there was a SAR in the works. A climber on the 5.11 route Stoned Oven on North Chasm View Wall had taken a leader fall and injured (broken) their ankle after striking a ledge. They
Self Rescue and Small Teams Response Workshop
We recently wrapped up one of our semi-annual Rigging for Rescue Self Rescue and Small Teams Response workshops. For the backcountry trad climber and mountain rescue “hasty team” respondent, it represents just about the best quality material that RfR offers in ropework and rigging. Our new indoor training facility
Grand Teton NPS
Conditions in the Northern Rockies were cool and wintery this past week during our training with the Jenny Lake climbing ranger cadre at Grand Teton National Park. After a review of system components/devices we focused on some of the more challenging rope rescue problem-solving missions such as highlines and multi-pitch.
Mt Rainier NPS
The month of April had us visiting a frequent port of call – Mt Rainier National Park. The climbing ranger cadre at Rainier responds to similar missions as the Denali NPS rangers – crevasse falls, hypothermia, altitude illness, and the myriad of others means of being incapacitated in the high
Denali NPS and 212th PJs in Alaska
We just returned from our annual pre-Denali climbing season seminar with the ranger cadre from Denali NPS. The training also included a contingent from the 212th USAF Pararescue (PJs) based in Anchorage. The PJs regularly augment the Denali climbing ranger patrols and serve as rescue medics on the mountain during
58th RQS Ice Climbing & Rescue Workshop
The 58th RQS USAF PJs recently joined us in Ouray for an ice climbing and rescue workshop. The PJs were training with Rigging for Rescue instructor/owner Mike Gibbs as well as senior instructor Jared Vilhauer. The workshop content included efficient movement on steep ice as well as various specialized rescue techniques
Khumbu Climbing Center – Advanced Rescue Course
Rigging for Rescue instructors are in Nepal, training the Sherpa climbing guides at the Khumbu Climbing Center (KCC). The KCC is located in the village of Phortse. Rigging for Rescue instructors have been volunteering time to support the KCC mission in providing education to the Sherpa guides. This year, the
DCTTRS – Critical Analysis
Two Tension or Not to Tension Much Ado About 4 Meters Abstract: Technical rope rescue has had a long, rich history of healthy debate and disagreement regarding device selection as well as techniques. A current debate that generates robust discussion involves the similarities and differences between Dual Capability Two Tensioned
Stairway to Heaven SAR exercise
This past weekend, a multi-agency SAR training exercise convened on the classic SW Colorado multi-pitch ice climb, Stairway to Heaven. The scenario was designed as a pre-plan training for what would be a very challenging access/egress of an injured ice climber high on the route. A small hasty team of
Remote San Juan Ice Climbing
The early season ice climbing in the San Juan’s continues to deliver in spades! What a start to our winter. Frank and I visited an old stomping ground of mine and found just about perfect climbing conditions in a remote setting. My absolute favorite type of adventuring. One of the
Ouray Ice Park – encouraging start to winter
Winter has arrived early in our home base of Ouray, Colorado. The Ouray Ice Park Ice Farmers turned on the water system during the first week of November. The temps have been very favorable for ice-making. We had an overnight low of 6 degrees on Monday. These images were taken
2019 Calendar Now Live
Rigging for Rescue is preparing for another great year in 2019! Our program calendar is now live on the Programs section of our website with open registration. Some notable changes to our lineup include a number of moniker adjustments. A few of the changes that can be seen are to our the Rope Rescue
