Rock Rescue Course

This course is taught indoors at the West Seattle Health Club during winter and early spring. It is taught at Mt. Erie or Vantage in the summer.

Minnesota – Taylors Falls, Interstate State Park or North Shore. This course will run rain or shine.

This two-day course begins at 9 a.m. on Day 1 at a pre-established climbing location.

Spend the first day focusing on individual rock rescue components that support a big picture rescue. Your instructor will break each section into smaller pieces as we build a skill set for high angle rescue. All lessons will be held on the ground in lecture sessions with practical application after each lecture.

Day 2 will focus on putting technical rescue skills into practice. Each participant will hang over the cliff edge as an instructor supports them in performing a series of rescue tasks. Be prepared to hang from a harness for hours at a time as you and your peers practice the rescue skills learned the previous day.

The course will finish with a closing and reflection by 5:00 p.m. Plan on being home for dinner that night.

• 18+ for adult courses or 16+ with consent from a guardian and Kaf approval
• 12-18 for youth courses

• This is an advanced level course, and we encourage you to take our Sport Lead Climbing,  Traditional Climbing Fundamentals, Traditional Lead Climbing, and Multi-Pitch Climbing courses before considering this educational opportunity.
• At a minimum, multi-pitch sport climbing experience is required.
• Experience constructing complex anchors is helpful as well as the ability to place traditional climbing protection.
• Proficient understanding of the following knots and hitches will help you learn new material:
  • Overhand and figure-eight series (knot, bite, bend, follow-through, and flat)
  • Girth, clove, and munter hitch
  • Prusik, auto-block, and klemheist friction hitches

• Knots for rescue
  
• Rescue equipment
  
• Hauling
  
• Belay devices and belay methods
  
• Ascending
  
• Lowering
  
• Load-releasable systems for rescue
  
• Counter-balance rappels
• Tandem rappels
  
• Belay escapes
  
• Knot passes
  
• Stuck rappel ropes
  
• Belay station management
  
• Basic First Aid kit requirements

• Professional instruction
  
• Passes and permits
  
• Group climbing gear

• Transportation (carpool options available)
  
• Personal rock climbing equipment (shoes, harness, helmet)
• Food and water

• You will be responsible for providing your own harness, helmet, and rock climbing shoes.
• We encourage you to bring your own gear for practice.
• Upon registration, you will receive a full packing list, but feel free to contact Kaf Adventures with any gear specific questions you have.

• Transportation and times will be coordinated by email when the pre-trip announcement is sent to all registrants. This course is scheduled to run from 9 am-5 pm both days.

Learn the basics of mountaineering during our mountaineering progression: Beginner Mountaineering and Intermediate Mountaineering.

Then pair Advanced Mountaineering with an Alpine Climbing Course for the ultimate eight-day Cascade climbing experience!

Also, take a look at our International Adventures. Join us on a climbing holiday to Mexico or China — opportunities you won’t want to miss out on!