Climbing Self-Rescue

what is self-rescue?

“Self-rescue” is a very specific phrase in the outdoor industry which encompasses the skillset needed to get out of sticky situations on your own, quickly and elegantly. 

Here’s the deal: Climbing is inherently dangerous. It involves complex things within and outside of our control. Inevitably, you’re going to run into problems, either with your party, or with a neighboring party. Nobody wants to hang on a rope and wait for someone to come to their rescue. As climbers, we want to be able to solve our own problems, to be both safe and considerate.  

“Self-Rescue” can be substituted with the terms “problem solving” or “critical thinking.” Knowing how to avoid and get yourself out of problematic situations could save your day, or even your life! 

Course OUTCOMES

By the end of a self-rescue course, most students will:

• Know how to make a “rescue kit” using equipment they’re already carrying

• Feel more comfortable identifying common climbing risks and making proactive, informed decisions about mitigating them

• Understand how to rescue and when to retreat if you, your partner, or another party needs help due to injury, illness, weariness, or other factors.

curriculum overview

Our self-rescue curriculum is divided into two courses to suit different climbing scenarios, each allowing ample time for skills practice to solidify your confidence:

• Self-Rescue I is designed for climbers who spend a significant amount of their time in a base-managed setting (meaning belaying from the ground), where the climber could be top-roping or lead climbing.

• Self-Rescue II expands on the skills from Self-Rescue I, applying them to a top-managed setting (meaning belaying from above), whether it be in single pitch or multipitch terrain. 

The courses build on each other, but can also be taken independently to suit the climbing contexts in which you most commonly adventure.