The location for the ACC Climb Safe and Basic Rescue/Self Rescue course is Jamestown (see Mountain Project for driving directions) and will start at 8:00 AM Jamestown time (9:00 AM EST). A lot of material will be covered so everyone needs to be at the cliff with harness on and ready to go at 8am. There is no food nearby, so bring a lunch.

Those wishing to carpool meet at the Marietta Park & Ride (800 South Marietta Parkway Southeast Marietta, GA 30060). The caravan will leave the lot at 7am sharp! There is primitive camping near Jamestown for those who want to go up Friday night.

The Climb Safe and Basic Rescue/Self Rescue class led by local climbing guide Scott Perkins is on April 26th. The objective of the class is to promote safer climbing practices AND raise money for the Southeastern Climbers Coalition (SCC). Space is limited to a maximum of 20 participants and there are approximately 7 spots left.

This year’s format is a one day course with the morning session covering the climb safe material followed by the BR/SR after lunch. New climbers may not have the climbing skills for the BR/SR once we move past the ascending techniques by early afternoon. At this point they can volunteer to be “victims” for a rescuer or stay around and observe the rescue scenarios, or break off from class and climb on their own. Course content will be tailored to match the group based on the basic outline below.

Cost for the course is set at $50 ($53 if paid with card) for a half day (either climb safe OR BR/SR) or $75 ($78 if paid with card) for the full day. The class is only open to current 2014 Atlanta Climbing Club members. Please respond to this email if interested.

Climb Safe – Morning SessionThis session will concentrate on “basic safety” practices as well as “how-to” techniques. This clinic is structured for ALL climbers, beginners up through advanced recreational climbers. Everybody will get something out of the material- new climbers will become better partners, and experienced climbers will become better leaders. Some of the techniques and practices that will be covered in the Climb Safe are:

  • ·         Low impact climbing practices
  • ·         Fundamental risk management in single pitch climbing
  • ·         Basic climbing knots and hitches
  • ·         Safety checks and commands
  • ·         Proper communications while climbing
  • ·         Belaying(belaying a top roped climber, belaying a leader)
  • ·         Following(cleaning) a pitch
  • ·         Setting up a top-rope on a two bolt station
  • ·         Setting up a top rope on a monolithic feature(large tree or boulder)
  • ·         Doing a changeover at a two bolt station
  • ·         Safe rappelling practices

Basic Rescue/Self Rescue – Afternoon sessionThis session is attended for climbers with a solid working knowledge of Climb Safe practices, if you do the Climb Safe clinic and you absorb the info and perform to a reasonable standard you would have the necessary knowledge to participate in the BR/SR.. If you already have solid BR/SR skills, this is a good opportunity to practice them and be exposed to alternative ways of doing things. Some of the techniques and practices that will be covered in BR/SR are:

  • ·         Essential gear for leaders and seconds
  • ·         Knots and hitches for BR/SR (various knots and hitches will discussed and taught as we progress through the day)
  • ·         Clearing a jammed belay/rappel device
  • ·         Performing a belay take-over
  • ·         Ascending and descending a rope
  • ·         Getting ‘hands free’ and escaping a belay at ground level
  • ·         Rappelling with a Grigri or Cinch
  • ·         Rappelling for multiple raps(more than a rope length from the ground)
  • ·         Passing a knot on rappel
  • ·         Based on available time and student progress additional techniques covered may include:
  • ·         Belaying a second with auto blocking devices (ATC guide, Reverso, etc)
  • ·         Releasing and lowering the second with these type auto blocking devices
  • ·         Hauls and assists
  • ·         Tandem and simul rappelling techniques

Participants should bring whatever gear they typically bring when they go climbing. You DO NOT need to go out and purchase any rescue specific gear. This course is designed to teach improvised techniques using the equipment a recreational climber would have when they are out climbing with friends. Participants will be exposed to various techniques that will give them insight into what additional equipment they may want to add to their current gear.

Scott Perkins is a local climbing guide who has been climbing for 25 years and working as a professional mountain guide for the past 15 years. Scott guides and instructs beginner to advanced level climbers in everything from fundamentals, climbing movement, advanced alpine climbing skills, and rescue/self-rescue.