UKH

Hi,

im looking for a bit of advice about rope rescue courses for climbers.

I’m a fairly solid trad climber, leading mid-E grade routes and I’m fairly experienced setting up anchors, climbing multi-pitches etc. But this year I’d like to push the boat out with some more adventurous trips — Outer Hebrides, Alps etc. I was thinking that a rope rescue course could be a good idea to learn some of the more complex rope work in case of emergency. Has anyone got any experience of courses like this and would they recommend any in particular?

Thanks in advance!

I’ve sent you a message.

If you are anywhere near the south west, or fancy a break there, then Stu Bradbury runs courses including rescue techniques or can do 1:1 sessions. He's a top guy and entertaining too.

http://www.wall-crawler.co.uk/

He's done some of the BMC videos:

https://www.thebmc.co.uk/sea-cliff-climbing-skills-bmc-tv-cornwall

and articles on UKC:

https://www.ukclimbing.com/user/profile.php?id=100201

Worth checking whoever you go with is appropriately qualified.

The UK qualifications would be either “Mountaineering and Climbing Instructor” or “British Mountain Guide”.

Over the years I've done a couple of 2day courses, both excellent. The first was with PyB and the second was a refresher with Bryn Williams of Dragon Mountaineering. Well worth the time and money.

Plus 1 for Stu.

Not been on his courses but he’s a top bloke and general all round ledge. 

Not a course, but there's some really useful information here: http://www.multipitchclimbing.com

http://www.peakmountaineering.com/

As Jez mentions above, if you’re going to pay for a course then check the person delivering is suitably competent - I would add that it may be a good idea to look for membership of the Association of Mountaineering Instructors (AMI) or British Mountain Guides Association (BMG) - members will have to be up to date and current and will display an association logo. 

Stu (as mentioned above) is a good option, as I’m sure Jez, Bryn and the Brenin’s courses are too.

If we can help out, we run problem solving and improvised rescue courses for individuals or groups. Feel free to drop me a message if you want to know more.

https://www.climbcornwall.com/instruction-outdoor-climbing

(scroll down to the “Skills Workshops” section)

Best,

Jay

Rock & Sun do some good self/improvised rescue courses. 

Would highly recommend this: https://rockandsun.com/rock-climbing-courses/improvised-self-rescue-course/

If there are no available dates, it'd be worth emailing them (as I did when there weren't any on the calendar and them emailed me back a couple of months later with the dates before they'd been advertised on the site). 

The courses are subsidised so great value and the instructors we had were all solid Pembroke climbers.

They get the info on your ability prior and pair you up in small groups (of 3 or 4 generally) who are all around the same ability. Always a worry with this sort of thing that you'll end up in a group with someone who doesn't know how to tie in but it was very well managed. 

I did an excellent days training last year with Dolomite training in the Peak District. Great hands on training with a wealth of experience, couldn’t recommend highly enough.

Whereabouts are you based? I may be able to recommend some people local / closest to you.