Rock Rescue Course

This one or two-day course will give you a foundation of skills to rescue a fallen leader or injured partner. These are important skills for being a good climbing partner: you should know what to do if an accident happens. Since this type of rescue is a worse-case scenario, hopefully you never actually apply these skills for a real rescue. Instead, these skills are more commonly used in everyday climbing such as lowering a tired partner to the ground, hauling a pack up a crux, or assisting a partner through a crux.

This course is taught by AMGA-certified Rock Guide Joe Stock. Techniques are modern, regularly updated, and follow the industry standard. These are advanced techniques, so a solid base of sport lead climbing is necessary. Trad leading experience is helpful. The gear used on this course is typical for multi-pitch climbing: a rope, locking carabiners, prusiks, cordelettes and slings.

Public Course

• $450 for two full days.

• June 15-16, 2024

• Pivot Point, Seward Highway.

• Booking coming soon.

• Contact Joe or Elliot with questions.

• In partnership with Alaska Guide Collective.

Private Course

• 1 client: $700 per day

• 2 clients: $400 per person per day

• 3 clients: $300 per person per day, Joe can take up to 3 clients by himself, or he might be able to find second instructor if needed.

• 4+ clients: $250 per person per day

• In partnership with Alaska Guide Collective.

• More booking info.

Includes

• AMGA/IFMGA Mountain Guide Joe Stock.

• 3:1 student to instructor max ratio.

• Course handouts.

• Navigation, first aid, and repair kits

• Emergency communication and shelter

Does Not Include

• Transport. To reduce costs, using a rental car or your personal car is the best option.

• Lodging, food and drink. See Southcentral Alaska Logistics.

• Personal gear. See Rock Rescue Gear List.

• Rescue and trip insurance. See Booking for details.

Prerequisites

• Experience with outdoor sport lead climbing. Trad lead climbing experience is helpful.

• Comfort with modern belaying and rappelling.

• Ability to build a SERENE or EARNEST anchor.

• Comfort with basic climbing knots including overhands, figure eights, Munter, Prusik, Klemheist, and autoblock. See Animated Knots for help with knots.

• Helpful videos

  • AMGA rock rescue videos

  • AAC Know the Ropes universal belay standards

One or Two-Day Option

Day 1: lecture and ground based

• Course overview

• Situations for these skills

• Avoiding rock rescue

• Key safety checks

• Gear and harness setup

• Rescue knots

• Ascending and rappelling techniques

• Plaquette lowers

• Knot pass

• Haul 3:1 and 6:1

Day 2: on the cliff

• Counterbalance and tandem rappel

• Leader rescue

• Belay escape, alpine belay escape

• Multi-pitch descent applying the skills