Climbing Self Rescue
Learn to Avoid & Solve Common Problems for Safer AdventuresCurriculum Overview
“Self-rescue” is a very specific phrase in the outdoor industry used to encompass the skills set needed to get out of sticky situations on your own, quickly and elegantly.
Here’s the deal: Climbing is inherently dangerous. It involves complex things within and outside of our control. Inevitably, you’re going to run into problems, either with your party, or with a neighboring party. Nobody wants to hang on a rope and wait for someone to come to their rescue. As climbers, we want to be able to solve our own problems, to be both safe and considerate.
“Self Rescue” can be substituted with the terms “problem solving” or “critical thinking.” Knowing how to avoid and get yourself out of problematic situations could save your day, or even your life!
OUTCOMES
By the end of a self-rescue course, most students will:
Know how to make a “rescue kit” using equipment they’re already carrying.
Feel more comfortable identifying common climbing risks and making proactive, informed decisions about mitigating them.
Understand how to rescue and retreat when your partner needs help, due to injury, illness, weariness, or other factors.
courses
Our self rescue curriculum is divided into two courses to suit different climbing scenarios, each allowing ample time for skills practice to solidify your confidence:
Self-Rescue I is designed for climbers who spend a significant amount of their time in a base-managed setting (meaning belaying from the ground), where the climber could be top-roping or lead climbing.
Self-Rescue II expands these skills to a top-managed setting (meaning belaying from above), whether it be in single pitch or multipitch terrain.
The courses build on each other, but can also be taken independently to suit the climbing contexts in which you most commonly adventure.
Course Formats
We offer two Self Rescue course formats:
Open Enrollment - One-day course open to public enrollment. Students should feel comfortable leading self-guided climbing days in one or more of the following contexts: sport climbing, trad climbing, or top-rope context in single or multipitch terrain.
Private Course - Private instruction for your group only. Custom dates, curriculum and locations available, per client request. Best for larger groups, students with specific requests, and those who can’t accommodate our open course schedule.
Enroll Now
Learn to identify ways to mitigate risk and a variety of techniques to solve common problems that arise in a bottom-managed (belaying from below) top rope setting.
Learn skills to solve common problems many climbers encounter when belaying from above, as well as efficient rappel tactics.
Custom-tailored self-rescue curriculum based on your goals and experience. Available all season long, any day of the week (subject to availability).
LOGISTICS
Placing gear while lead climbing at Devil’s Lake State Park.
WHEN: March through November, weather permitting. Open courses run 3x per season, private courses scheduled by request.
COST: $185/person for open courses, private courses priced by group size.
PREREQUISITES: Any climber comfortable leading a self-guided climbing day. Whether you’re a sport climber, top-roper, single-pitch trad climber, or multipitch climber, these skills are for you.
BRING YOUR OWN: Food, water, clothing and footwear appropriate for weather, camera, sunscreen. Climbers with their own equipment may bring as much as they would like to use. We can supply all climbing equipment if you do not have your own. Students who wish to purchase gear in advance of class may do so in our Client Gear Store.
GROUP SIZE: 1 to 4. Larger groups possible for private courses by custom request.
COURSE EXPERIENCE
We’ll learn how to manage the following scenarios and more:
Lost/dropped belay or rappel device
Belaying a novice or injured rappeller
Lowering a tired or injured climber from above
Raising and hauling systems to assist a stuck or injured climber from above
Rappelling with an injured or disabled climber
Ascending a rope to help a stuck or injured top-rope climber
Escape the belay or transfer the belay to another person or object while the climber is weighting the rope
WE PROVIde
Experienced, certified climbing instructor
Harness, shoes, helmet, if you don’t already have them (but you probably do)
“Rescue Kit” of hard and soft goods needed to perform rescue skills (carabiners, belay device, double-length sling, prussik loop/Hollowblock), if you don’t already have them
Climbing and static lines to facilitate live, hands-on practice
