Practical rope systems, efficient transitions and rescue skills for when your climbing day doesn’t go to plan.

Things don’t always go to plan when climbing. Knowing how to adapt your rope system, assist your partner or get yourself out of trouble can make a significant difference when you’re off the ground.

Join Adventure Education and CAWA’s experienced climbing guides for a full-day, hands-on self and partner rescue workshop designed for outdoor climbers who want to develop practical rescue skills using equipment they would normally carry while climbing.

Rather than relying on complicated rescue equipment, the workshop focuses on understanding the systems, working efficiently with minimal gear and being able to transition safely between different setups when circumstances change.

Throughout the day, you’ll practise techniques including:

• Ascending a rope using friction hitches (prusiking)

• Changing from one rope system to another independent system

• Changing between abseil and ascent systems

• Setting up anchor points for mechanical advantage

• Building and using 2:1, 3:1 and 6:1 mechanical advantage systems to access or raise a climber

• Assisted and unassisted hoisting

• Rigging an efficient belay anchor that can be converted for rescue in less than 30 seconds

• Managing common self and partner rescue scenarios

The workshop will combine professional instruction from Adventure Education with support from CAWA guides, giving participants plenty of opportunity to practise the systems and work through realistic climbing scenarios.

The exact content may be adapted to participants’ existing skills and the scenarios covered on the day.

This workshop is not suitable for beginner climbers. Participants need existing outdoor lead climbing experience and must be comfortable with the fundamental rope systems and knots listed in the prerequisites.