Self Rescue (Mt. Erie, WA)

Location

Anacortes, Washington

Group Size

4 people per guide

Duration

8 hours

Learn how to address sticky situations using common equipment climbers carry on a day out. 

Self rescue refers to skills that climbing partners use to help each other and themselves if something goes wrong. Whether you're a top rope hero or venturing into multi pitch terrain, rescue skills are essential to being safer and more self-sufficient in the outdoors. This clinic covers self-rescue using common equipment climbers carry on a day out. We'll work hands-on to address the most common rescue scenarios, using skills like ascending a rope, assisting a stuck climber from above and below, escaping the belay, rappel techniques, and more. 

Learning Outcomes

During this course we will teach topics including:

• Preparing for and preventing rescue situations
• Tying hitches, including friction hitches, releasable and non-releasable rope hitches, and their uses 
• Taking over a top rope belay from the ground
• Belaying and lowering a climber from the top of a pitch, using both tube-style (ATC) and mechanical assisted braking devices (Grigri, etc.) 
• Multiple ways to assist a stuck climber from the top of a pitch
• Multiple ways to ascend a rope without specific ascension equipment
• Decision-making frameworks to apply rescue skills in unique, real-world situations

Many of these skills are applicable to multipitch climbing as well as single pitch climbing. If time allows, we may practice additional scenarios that combine these skills to achieve rescues in multipitch environments. 

Prerequisites

• Knows how to tie into the rope for climbing
• Can independently perform safety checks before climbing
• Capable of comfortably climbing 5.8 while on a top rope
• Proficient top rope belayer with tube style (ATC) or assisted braking (GriGri) devices
• Outdoor anchor building experience and leading experience are recommended, but not required