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 […]
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 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 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 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 […]
More and more about less and less. This idea has been rolling around between the ears for some time – so time to release it to the world. If we have more and more information about finer and finer detail that makes no difference to our practice then why do we need it? This finer […]
Or risk management in the real world. For the past few months, I have started to use the term ‘risk priority’ to describe how to manage emerging risks in the moment. A lot of the places we work are dynamic in nature. Maybe we are moving through an environment or we are in one place […]
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. 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 […]
Knots Safety Check How to undertake a knots safety check before use A knots safety check is a really important step in your rope work just prior to use. You will learn how to go through a 6-step systematic quality check for each knot, bend or hitch. This includes: aligned, tightened, tail length, loop size, fit […]
