Category: Instructing

How much friction for your device?

How much friction for your device? Friction Testing

How much friction for your device? We were interested to know how much a lowering device can hold for rescue in particular and personal use. The testing is for practical use when out on a rescue, training or instructing a group about how much it can hold in relation to: the particular device the friction […]

Life on the edge: testing the edge kit

Life on the edge: testing the edge kit Edge Kit 4on2 Drop Test Factor 1

Introduction We have used an edge kit for several years. Over this time, I have never done any testing on the combination of Purcell Prusik (Prusik on a Prusik), Prusik hitch 6mm on 8mm cord and double overhand (scaffold) hitch onto a carabiner. There has also been an assumption made that the edge kit would […]

Build a 9:1 pulley system with a Jigger

Build a 9:1 pulley system with a Jigger Set of fours load capture

Build a 9:1 pulley system with a Jigger Something I am always looking to do is find new ways to make gear more useful. For rescue one of the great tools in the toolkit is the jigger (aka set-of-fours). This is a pre-constructed pulley system made, in this instance, with two double pulleys. It has […]

When anchor acronyms go bad

When anchor acronyms go bad Anchor acronyms

When anchor acronyms go bad There are a lot of anchor acronyms out there in the rigging, rope and rescue world. A few examples include: SERENE: Solid (or strong), Equalized, Redundant, Efficient, No, Extension ERNEST(A): Equalized, Redundant, No, Extension, Solid (or strong), Timely, (Angles) STRADS: Solid, Timely, Redundant, Angles, Distribution, Shockload They are all basically variations […]

Get more friction with a double Munter

Get more friction with a double Munter

Get more friction with a double Munter A number of organisations (e.g.ski patrols and glacier guiding) use a 6mm Spectra or Dyneema line for escape or access. The upside of using this type of system is it is lightweight and easily carried all day. One of the downsides is that you need to use a […]

6 Training Tools for Instructors

6 Training Tools for Instructors

6 Training Tools for Instructors. This article was originally written for the training of SAR volunteers however, the principles here I think are universally applicable to all instructing. We have a unique situation and opportunity training SAR volunteers: They want to be at the training – at the course, monthly training, refreshers, SAREXs… They are giving […]

Abseiling: 5 ways to improve

Abseiling: 5 ways to improve abseiling-imp-grotto-canyoning-festival-web

Abseiling: 5 ways to improve. Lessons learnt from abseiling in a canyon. When I first started canyoning several years ago I had to adapt my abseiling (rappelling) technique to this environment. A few things were the same and many things were different (or as is often said ‘same-same but different’). I had come from a […]

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