Ropes That Rescue Rigging Class Photos: Sedona, Arizona

Ropes That Rescue Participants Practice Knot-Tying

The classroom is located in Oak Creek Canyon, in the home of Ropes That Rescue owner and instructor, Reed Thorne.

Here, students practice tying a Portugeuse bow line.

Practicing Simple, Compound, and Complex Mechanical Advantage Systems

We spent hours setting up pulley systems after studying mechanical advantage in the classroom.

Students rig a compound 9-to-1 system with an off-set second anchor (held by Reed Thorne in the background), so both 3-to-1 systems "collapse" (need to be reset) at the same time.

Rigging a Stokes Litter Without A "Spider"

Ropes That Rescue students learn to rig a litter basket with just rope and their Aztek kits.

A Physics Lesson

Students learn the principles behind anchor and mechanical advantage systems.

Technical Rescue Training In The Field

Our Ropes That Rescue class practiced on Doe Mountain on two of the seven days.

Reed explains the drill before we get started. He also goes over general safety rules for field exercises.

Using The Arizona Vortex High Directional

Students set up the Vortex and a lowering and raising system, while another participant rigs the litter before going over the edge.

Inspecting The Students' Rigging

Reed goes over our systems and knots before the operation commences.

Rigging For A "Hot" Changover

The system is set up to lower the litter and attendant, then switch over to a raise after "scooping" the patient, who is mid-face on the cliff.

Going Down

The litter attendant is lowered over the edge, while the edge attendant assists. The litter attendant is being belayed by the man seated on the right.

Bringing Up A Patient

This was a late-day operation done without the aid of the Arizona Vortex high directional. Edge attendants are ready to assist.

The Litter Attendant Prepares To Ascend

Near the top of the raise, the attendant straddles the litter and gets ready to climb up over the edge.

The Attendant Then Assists On Top

Bringing the litter and patient up over the edge is much more difficult without the high directional.

Negotiating The Edge Is Definitely Harder Without the High Directional

Ropes That Rescue: Another Practice Operation

Participants set up a 9-to-1 compound pulley system and the Arizona Vortex at the edge of a slot.

The View Over The Edge

The litter attendant has to keep the litter away from the rock face as he and the patient are raised.

The Benefit of the Vortex

The Arizona Vortex high directional elimates edge "trauma" both going down and coming up.

An Anchor

This pole -- part of the Vortex -- is used as a focal point, backtied to a "bomber" tree.

The View From Doe Mountain, Where We Practiced For Two Days