Intermediate SRT Student Manual 17 This page intentionally left blank. Inside front cover 18 Intermediate Single Rope Techniques Training Course Published by the Vertical Section of the National Speleological Society, Inc. First Edition 2008 Illustrations by Bruce Smith Courtesy of On Rope 1, Inc. and On Rope Copyright 2008 by the Vertical Section of the NSS All Rights Reserved Printed in the USA Liability Disclaimer Warning: Serious injury or death could result from the use of the techniques and equipment described in this manual. The Executive Board of the Vertical Section of the NSS Inc. provides this manual as a guide to Internal Organizations of the NSS for teaching safe vertical practices. All instructors and persons practicing vertical rope work should use sound judgment and a lot of common sense. Under no conditions does the Vertical Section sanction use of this material by any one not under the direct supervision of a qualified vertical instructor. This manual is provided with no liability to the authors, editors, critiques, publisher, or the National Speleological Society, Inc. expressed or implied, in the case of injury or death to the instructors, their students, or any other reader. 1 Start How it all works -Vertical Course Booklet given to Section each student includes: Contact Grotto Mentor -Introductory materials -Obtain assigned the task -8 units of goals and materials course to initiate training package needed to reinforce the learning -Put name experience in system -3 Goals of the Course Student and Grotto officer Student and Mentor VS Training Coordinator Specialist Mentors assist student through each unit Knots Belaying Harnesses Equipment -Butterfly -Top belay using a -Can don and adjust -Can safely rappel -In-line Figure Eight Grigri, and or a to fit at least three using 5 or more rappel -Bowline on a Bight Munter Hitch different types/ devices and know the -Double Figure Eight -Self belay makes of harnesses limitations of each -Helical Hitch -Can release a self -Can safely use 4 or belay device more mechanical -Verify basic knot ascenders and know skills are known the advantages and disadvantages of each Rigging Ascending Rescue Skills -Can demonstrate the Methods attributes of a safely -Can safely operate rigged rope -Can rig and a haul system Vertical Section Training Coordinator’s involvement Training Section Vertical -Pursues non-invasive efficiently use a -Can safely pick-off rig points whenever Frog System an injured climber possible -Can rig and safely from a rope and -Places a knot at the use a Mitchell bring them to the bottom of the rope and System ground knows why. -Can rig and safely -Can ascend/ -Can deploy, coil or use a Rope Walker descend to an bag, and transport System injured climber and team gear to and from -Can Rig and use a rappel them to the a rigging site Knot System ground -Set 3 bolts and hang from them END VS Training Submit Caving completed Safely lead at least 3 Coordinator multi-drop cave trips- will return a signed form to the Taking charge of and completed VS Training rigging and the certificate noting welfare of the completion of course Coordinator participants 2 Intermediate Single Rope Techniques Goals of the Course 1. Successfully negotiate a multi-drop cave environment under adverse conditions/situations, both up and down, in an efficient manner. 2. Perform all the skills outlined in the Basic Training Course. 3. Demonstrate and be actively involved in group leader- ship and assume command if the leader becomes disabled. A Mentor The “Whys” A mentor: a trusted friend, Always seek the root reasons behind counselor or teacher, usually a more all the things you learn. Learn the experienced person. Some professions “Whys”. If you can answer why you have “mentoring programs” in which are doing something a certain way and newcomers are paired with more it makes sense to you and to others, experienced people in order to obtain chances are you are doing it right. If good examples and advice as they you are doing things just because you advance. Schools sometimes have heard it should be done that way or mentoring programs for new students or your friend Bill said to do it that way students who are having difficulties. then chances are you do not fully Mentors provide their expertise to understand the depth of your topic and less experienced individuals in order to there is a good chance it needs to be help them advance their careers, enhance revisited. Always seek higher knowl- their education, and build their networks. edge. Separate proven methods and Many of the world’s most successful techniques from lore and rumor. Be people have benefited from having a diligent with your knowledge for it is mentor. the ultimate force that will pull you If you are fortunate enough to be through the most difficult of situations. selected as a Mentor, be good at what you are expected to do. Read the section on being a good Trainer on page 9 3 Knots Goals of this Unit 1. Master 5 additional knots that Butterfly Knot you may or may not have learned in the Basic Vertical SRT Course Thoughts about knots. Using and understanding all the aspects of the knots you choose to use is the most important part of the knot subject. Learn a few and know them well. 1. Practice making knots with rope the size you intend to use in the field. Butterfly Knot is a great mid-line knot and 2. Make the knots compact and small. is useful for tying out a bad spot on the 3. Make the loops in the knots the size rope or attaching a carabiner to a point on of those things they may encircle. the rope. It does tend to bend the rope radically through the bends of the configuration resulting in a lower- than- average breaking strength. Most texts rate it about 60-65%. It is omni-directional and Small, tight, compact very easy to inspect. It seems to work rigging includes small connection loops. best with softer ropes. In-Line Figure Eight 4. Very few knots need what some people refer to as back-up knots. In all the knot text books including some of the great historical reference texts, back-up knots are never mentioned. Clifford Ashley in his incredible book Ashley’s Book of Knots says, “ a knot is never “nearly right;” It is either exactly right or it is hopelessly wrong, one or the other; there is nothing in between.” By adding some version of a helper back-up knot we contribute to the knot being In-line Figure Eight is one of the eight “hopelessly wrong.” knots in the family of eights and qualifies as a mid-line knot. It is a directional knot and is 5. Dress and stress a knot. Will it make very useful when tying a Trucker’s Hitch. It it stronger? Maybe not, but it will allow it to be inspected from a requires the knowledge of making the knot distance. This is very important for a in both directions. It too, radically bends the resulting configuration rendering it a knot that safety officer to be able to identify and verify that the knot is tied is lower than average in breaking strength correctly. much like the Butterfly Knot. 4 Bowline on a Bight Bowline-on-a-Bight is also a mid-line knot and is one of the preferred double loop knots because it unties so easily, even after extraordinary tightening. It too is multi- many Firefighter training texts. Most users, directional and is a great knot to include in however, use this knot as a mid-line knot for one’s arsenal. rigging to multiple points or for an end-line connection point. Many people feel the Double Figure Eight double loop provides better loop durability because there are two loops. The weak point The Double Figure Eight is a large of the knot, however, is like any other Figure complicated knot that can be used for either Eight on a Bight where the standing line an end-line knot or a mid-line knot. It can be enters the knot. In a pull test the knot will break used as an emergency harness according to at this point. To properly dress this knot, be sure that this part is tucked here in the end during the dress- ing and stressing. 5 Helical Hitch Famous Ashley Quotes “The question of what knot is best for a particular need is perhaps the most important of all to be considered.” Bowline “Perhaps the most difficult task I have attempted is to sort out the terminology of knots and to ascribe to them their rightful names.” “At sea, the whole subject of knots is commonly divided into four classifications: hitches, bends, knots and splices.” “It appears to be true that a rope is weakest just outside the entrance to a knot......” “A knot is never “nearly right”; it is either The Helical Hitch is a very easy to use exactly right or it is hopelessly wrong, one or the other; there is nothing in between.” gripping knot much like a Prusik. It slides easier than a Prusik and requires much less rope than a Prusik to tie. As a gripping knot, however, it only suspends from one cord, “There is nothing quite as rewarding as whereas a Prusik suspends from two cords. If tying a beautiful knot” you can tie a Bowline you can tie a Helical. All a Helical Hitch is a Bowline that has the Anita Briem bowline loop rope rotated around and around Journey to the Center of the Earth 3D and around the main rope.