Rock Skills Workshop

Yesterday evening I went to SNR's Rock Skills Workshop at Lindfield Rocks, where I learnt how to do a pick-up rescue (which I am told is the very very last option from a long list of rescue options).

Test your autoblock before you go down!

A pick-up rescue (a la Adrian):

• Before abseiling down to assist, set up an autoblock below the device. To ensure the autoblock does not jam into your device, distance your device from your belay loop and then make your autoblock on your belay loop, or failing that put the autoblock on your leg loop above any buckles you may have (this is less preferable as a heavier person might make you topple sideways once you're both on your rope).

• You will need to bring down with you a cowstail and (that night we tried using) a 3:1 pre-setup dedicated hauling system

• Abseil down far enough that your long end of the cowstail can clip onto the patient's belay-loop

• Lock yourself off, have patient clip in (or clip them in if unconscious)

• Set up hauling system above your device, clip the patient in

• Haul patient in far enough that the shorter cowstail can be clipped in

• Take patient off their own rope, detach hauling system

• Unlock slowly and abseil happily down :)

I first observed one round of pick-up rescuing, then observed from the perspective of the patient (I got pins and needles hanging out waiting!). I then got to perform the rescue twice (once in the dark!). Adrian says that next time we should do this without using a pre-done hauling system.