Self Rescue

Photo by @gamantri Cris Posadas

  • Have some climbing ability and experience with or a strong desire to climb outdoors independently.

  • 2 Days (with the option to add more)

  • 1-5 Participants

Ready to sharpen your skills?

In my experience, I find that a surprising number of recreational climbers are lacking in self-rescue skills.

In my opinion, if you don’t know how to solve the most likely rescue scenarios, you shouldn’t be risking your life out on the cliffs. Even in the “relatively safe” realm of sport climbing things can quickly go wrong.

Most climbers think of self-rescue as skills you need only in the worst case scenario, but most of these skills can often times solve simple and common issues which will make you a more efficient climber while also giving you the confidence to take on bigger objectives.

Would you know what to do if…

  • You are belaying your partner from above and halfway up the pitch your follower informs you they need to use the bathroom…like right NOW! How will you efficiently, smoothly, and safely lower them to the ground?

  • You borrowed a rope from a friend and while you are lowering your partner from a single-pitch sport climb, you realize the rope isn’t long enough to get your climber to the ground? Luckily you tied a knot at the end of the rope, but how would you solve this problem while keeping the climber protected?

  • On a multi-pitch climb, your follower falls at an overhanging crux and now they are hanging in space and can’t get back onto the cliff. Is there anything you can do to help them up? What if you were the follower? Could you get yourself out of this situation without the help of your belayer?

  • Your rope gets stuck while rappelling on a multi-pitch climb. What do you do now?

  • Three pitches up, your follower gets knocked unconscious by rock fall 100 feet below you. Do you know how to quickly get to them to give them first aid? After you assess them, you find that they don’t have any serious injuries but can’t keep climbing; how do you transition to rappel to get you both down to the ground?

  • Your leader becomes incapacitated more than half a rope-length from your belay. Because more than half the rope is out you can’t simply lower them back to the belay. What should you do?

If you can’t solve these issues in a quick and efficient manner, you should consider working on your rescue skills. This comprehensive course will answer all these questions and any other questions you may have on how to get out of the trickiest of situations. You alone are responsible for your own climbing so take charge of it with this comprehensive self-rescue course.