Participants will find that a Rigging for Rescue seminar is not just another basic rope rescue course but rather a specialized inquiry into the statics and dynamics of rigging. It is the application of theory into practical systems and concepts that makes these seminars instructor-level. These seminars are open to individuals who have a solid understanding of ropework techniques and a questioning attitude.

Twelve seminars are being offered in 2008 with five to be held in Ouray, Colorado, USA, three to be held in Invermere, British Columbia, Canada and four to be held in Yosemite National Park, California, USA.:

Seminar Specifics
All seminars are 7 full days (70+ hours) and run from 19:00 Saturday to approximately 17:00 the following Saturday.

Each participant is responsible for their own transportation, personal equipment, food and accommodation.

Daytime sessions will be a combination of lectures, demonstrations and discussions, along with practical hands-on field exercises and challenges where exact scheduling must be flexible to take best advantage of weather conditions. Evening sessions will include exercise analysis, literature evaluation, research findings, consideration of new equipment, and suggested techniques. Participants are encouraged to interact in a positive, inquiring way, and should feel free to advise us of techniques they particularly want to see covered.

Key themes during our Rigging for Rescue seminars are the encouragement of critical thinking, systems analysis and a questioning attitude. Transforming our knowledge of physics principles into practical working systems of greater safety, takes precedence over the introduction of gadgetry. As well as exploring efficient and effective raising and lowering systems, steep embankment evacuations, litter handling techniques and A-frames, the seminar will explain such concepts as:

boinnnggg: misconceptions about rope stretch and peak force

useful rope rescue physics principles

the difference between simple, compound and complex pulley systems

why many commonly used belay techniques are actually unsuitable for rescue-sized loads

the mechanics of the Kootenay Highline System

the realities of people's "real" gripping ability

how equalizing anchor systems can be a misguided approach

And much more! Rigging for Rescue is an intensive and in-depth seminar. Though it is impossible to cover every conceivable technique known in a mere 7 days, we will lay a very firm foundation of essential basics in the first few days and then our examination of additional topics will be limited only by participants' capabilities and exercise conditions.

Find Out More:
Rigging for Rescue - The Seminar
Contract Seminars
Update & Beyond
Specialized Mountain Rescue Week - Little Switzerland
Waterfall Ice Climbing and Rescue Workshop
Registration & Logistics

You can contact us directly about any of the Rigging for Rescue Seminars.