REMS-2 Rope Technician

Prerequisite: - REMS Rope Rescuer, or permission of the CPR Technical Rescue Director

The Rope Technician training represents 15 percent frequency of occurrence for those rigging skills needed for terrains the fall between 60 and 90 degrees. The 15% frequency is still limited to team-based vertical operations; however, basic personal descending (rappelling) and ascending skills are added. Descending skills are especially valuable for recon and early patient contact. 15% of the time vertical skills are needed more so in wilderness and industrial applications. Wildland firefighting will typically avoid vertical cliffs making it much less likely that a REMS team would have a need for a vertical (90 degree) rescue. However, REMS teams should be proficient in vertical rigging applications given the remote chance these skills are needed. It should also be noted that more advanced knowledge is extremely beneficial in elevating the team’s overall confidence and rigging aptitude, regardless of the frequency of need.

At the completion of this class, the participants should be able to:

1. Tie advanced recue knots that are required for multipoint anchors and other wilderness applications. 
2. Construct natural anchors that can accept the expected loads and maintain safety ratios.
3. Rig and operate natural and timber-artificial high directional anchor systems. 
4. Rig and operate appropriate backup rope systems (belay lines/fall protection systems).
5. Demonstrate proficiency in vertical mobility including descending, ascending, and perform a vertical rope transfer.
6. Perform a vertical team-based pickoff.
7. Perform a cliff-based sloping highline evacuation.

  Advanced Knotcraft

1. Munter Hitch, including usage as an adjustable anchor
2. Directional Eight
3. Two-Loop Figure-Eight used as a Multipoint Anchor
4. Portuguese Bowline with a forward loop
5. Birmingham Bowline with a forward loop
6. Single and Double Becket Bend

Perform anchor rigging concepts including: 

1. Blitz Anchor
2.  Back-tie techniques (tension and multi-point)
3. Focused Floating Anchors
4. Artificial High Directional Systems, including Tripods, Bipods, and Mono-pods

Mainline concepts including:

1. Team-based mainline rigging
2. Twin-Tension Systems
3. Compound and complex mechanical advantage systems

Belay concepts including:

1. Management of Elongation of the Belay Line, including the management of Twin-Tensioned Systems.

Additional concepts including

1. Vertical Patient packaging with a litter basket
2. Rig the Pike and Pivot with a litter basket.