- All levels Skill Level All levels
- Ages 16+ Ages Ages 16+
If you are looking to progress your multi-pitch technique and meet new friends, join us for an weekend of world-class climbing in the beautiful Smith Rock State Park.
Quick Details
Rock Rescue Training Course
Whether you climb 5.12 sport routes, moderate alpine routes, or typically just follow your partner, it’s crucial that you know how to get out of a rock climbing emergency.
This course is intended for all multi-pitch climbers who lead and follow, as well as sport and traditional climbers who are interested in climbing farther above the ground.
Technical rescue skills are critical for your safety and enhance your enjoyment and confidence every time you leave the ground. Continual practice and refinement of these skills is necessary in order to master them before an accident occurs.
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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.
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- 18+ for adult courses or 16+ with consent from a guardian and Kaf approval
- 12-18 for youth courses
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- 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
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- 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
- Knots for rescue
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- Professional instruction
- Passes and permits
- Group climbing gear
- Professional instruction
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- Transportation (carpool options available)
- Personal rock climbing equipment (shoes, harness, helmet)
- Food and water
- Transportation (carpool options available)
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- 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.
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- 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.
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Take you new skills to more exotic destinations like Red Rock or Potrero Chico or take it into an alpine environment with a guided climb of Mt Shuksan, Forbidden Peak, or the more technical approach to the summit of Mt Hood.
