Blog Archives

Cross Haul Techniques for Rescue and Equipment Movement

Lance Piatt / Blog, Elevated Anchor Systems, Fall Safety, Rope Access and Working At Height, Uncategorized

Cross hauling is a controlled horizontal movement technique used to transport loads—such as a patient litter, heavy gear, or suspended equipment—between two points using independent hauling and lowering systems. The method relies on coordination between two rescuers or teams operating from opposite anchors, each managing their side’s tension to maintain balance and stability. When executed

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Understanding Pulley Systems for Mechanical Advantage

Lance Piatt / Blog, Mechanical Advantage

Mechanical advantage lies at the heart of rope rescue, and pulleys are the tools that make it possible. By redirecting force and multiplying effort, pulley systems enable rescuers to move loads that would otherwise be unmanageable. Understanding how these systems work—specifically how rope anchoring, pulley placement, and rope routing affect efficiency—is essential for building safe,

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Hybrid Patient Connection Setup with Skate Block and Tracking Line

Integrating Artificial High Directionals in Skate Block Systems

Lance Piatt / Blog, Mainline Systems and Operations, Skate Blocks

Integrating Artificial High Directionals (AHDs) within Skate Block Systems transforms a simple, low-tension rescue technique into a controlled, highly adaptable rigging platform. This integration enables teams to overcome edge trauma, improve resultant alignment, and achieve greater system precision—all without sacrificing the lightweight, small-team functionality that defines the skate block. In essence, an AHD turns a

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5 First Principles of Rescue Rigging

Lance Piatt / Blog, Designing Your Processes, Principles of Learning

The Immutable Laws of Rigging: A Guide to First Principles This document outlines five principles of rescue rigging—foundational truths that are non-negotiable and from which all safe practice is derived. These principles cannot be reduced further; they are the absolute realities that govern every decision made in a life-or-death scenario. 1. The Principle of

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Building a Rope Rescue Team with Terrain Awareness and Training Manuals

Lance Piatt / Blog, Designing Your Processes, Team Competencies

Congratulations on stepping into leadership for your search and rescue ropes team. It’s no small task. Building a rope rescue team requires more than equipment — it demands a keen understanding of terrain, a plan to close knowledge gaps, and a structured training manual that evolves with your team. These three pillars form the backbone

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transitioning to two-tensioned rescue systems

TTRS Anchor Systems with Artificial High Directionals for Two Person Loads

Lance Piatt / Blog, Two (Twin) Tension Rope Systems, Two Rope Offsets

Technical rope rescue demands anchor systems that are strong, efficient, and designed for redundancy. Building TTRS anchor systems with Artificial High Directionals (AHDs) is one of the most effective ways to achieve these goals, especially when managing a two-person load such as a patient and attendant in a litter. By combining the principles of sound

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Rope Rescue Safety Factors and equipment

Rope Rescue Equipment

Lance Piatt / Blog, Equipment

Understanding Rope Rescue Equipment is paramount in the high-stakes world of technical rope rescue. Equipment isn’t just a collection of tools; it’s the very lifeline connecting rescuers to those in need. From the quiet strength of a well-placed anchor to the mechanical magic of a pulley system, every piece of gear plays a critical, interconnected

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Two Tension Offset with Monopod and Side A-Frame

Lance Piatt / Anchors, Blog, Twin Tension Rope System, Two Rope Offsets

A two tension offset system allows rescuers to move loads laterally or diagonally—especially when vertical lowering is not an option. In this scenario, we use a monopod high directional on one side and a sideways A-frame on the other to shape and control the rope path. This approach is ideal for traversing terrain where edge

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two tension twin tension lower single operator back tension safety

CMC Clutch Twin Tension Two Tension Lower

Lance Piatt / Belaying, Blog, CMC Clutch by Harken Industrial, Twin Tension Rope System Clutch

The CMC Clutch Twin Tension Two Tension Lower has become a defining standard in modern rope rescue systems. By integrating the Clutch into a Twin Tension Rope System (TTRS), rescuers can achieve smoother control, balanced load distribution, and built-in redundancy. Whether lowering or raising, the Clutch ensures safe transitions, adaptability across rescue environments, and confidence

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The Rope Wrench Revolution From Double Ropes to a Single Line

Lance Piatt / Arborist, Blog

For years, the arborist’s preferred method for accessing a tree was a climbing hitch in a doubled rope system. As we’ve discussed, this method works beautifully because the rope sees half the weight of the climber on the anchor side and half on the hitch side. This perfect balance allows the hitch to advance and

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The Modern Arborist Overcoming Friction and Anchor Uncertainty

Lance Piatt / Arborist, Blog

Arborist climbing is unique among all height disciplines. Unlike a rope access technician who works on known, rated anchors, a tree climber operates on living, dynamic structures with unknown anchor strengths. This fundamental reality is at the heart of the profession and has driven constant innovation to improve safety. It is the defining element of

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The Two-Rope Standard Arborist vs Rope Access

Lance Piatt / Arborist, Blog

A professional climber’s work is a delicate balance of skill, science, and trust in their gear. That trust often starts with the ropes that support them. While both rope access technicians and arborists use a dual-rope system, their approaches are fundamentally different. This is the essence of The Two-Rope Standard Arborist vs Rope Access. In

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Primary vs Backup The Difference in Dual-Rope Systems

Lance Piatt / Arborist, Blog

A climber’s work is a delicate balance of skill, science, and trust in their gear. That trust often starts with the ropes that support them. While both rope access technicians and arborists use a dual-rope system, their approaches are fundamentally different. This is the essence of Primary vs Backup The Difference in Dual-Rope Systems. In

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The Arborist’s Ascent The Challenge of the Double Rope System

Lance Piatt / Arborist, Blog

An arborist’s work environment is unique, a three-hundred-and-sixty-degree canopy that demands a specialized approach to climbing. This is the essence of The Arborist’s Ascent: The Challenge of the Double Rope System. To access all parts of the tree, an arborist ideally ties into the strongest, most central point they can find. This high central anchor

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The Redirect Dilemma Choosing a Safer Path

Lance Piatt / Arborist, Blog

When performing a limb walk, an arborist ideally seeks a straight shot between their anchor and their work position. This is done to avoid the extra friction that is built up by the rope running over other limbs. But this creates a dangerous problem: if the climber falls, there’s nothing to break their fall, which

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A High-Wire Act The Dangers of Limb Walking

The Limb Walking Dilemma: Friction vs. Fall

Lance Piatt / Arborist, Blog

In the world of professional arboriculture, a limb walk is a fundamental skill. It’s a calculated move that requires a perfect balance of skill, precision, and risk management. This is the essence of The Limb Walking Dilemma: Friction vs. Fall. As a technician moves throughout the tree on a double rope system, their rope is

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A High-Wire Act The Dangers of Limb Walking

Lance Piatt / Arborist, Blog

In the world of professional arboriculture, a limb walk is a fundamental skill. It’s the equivalent of a high-wire act, a move that requires a perfect balance of skill, precision, and risk management. This is the essence of A High-Wire Act: The Dangers of Limb Walking. As a technician moves throughout the tree on a

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Understanding natural redirects in climbing

Lance Piatt / Arborist, Blog

As a climber, managing your rope’s path is a core skill. One method of doing this is by creating a natural redirect. This technique, where you physically disconnect your system and reroute it over a natural limb, can serve a specific purpose: to break your fall in the event of a swing. While this can

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The Arborist’s Choice A Look at the Double Rope System

Lance Piatt / Arborist, Blog

When it comes to working at height, arborists have a unique environment that demands a specialized approach. The Arborist’s Choice A Look at the Double Rope System and What’s Next is a vital part of understanding this field. Due to the specific nature of the arborist’s work environment, an arborist climbing hitch is the preferred

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understanding dual rope system in tree work

Understanding double rope systems in tree work

Lance Piatt / Arborist, Blog

In the world of professional arboriculture, understanding your climbing system is the foundation of safety and efficiency. A core part of this knowledge is the doubled rope system in tree work. It’s a foundational technique that has long provided climbers with a high degree of control and precision. This system allows a technician to position

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Blog

Cross Haul Techniques for Rescue and Equipment Movement

Understanding Pulley Systems for Mechanical Advantage

Integrating Artificial High Directionals in Skate Block Systems

5 First Principles of Rescue Rigging

Building a Rope Rescue Team with Terrain Awareness and Training Manuals

TTRS Anchor Systems with Artificial High Directionals for Two Person Loads

Rope Rescue Equipment

Two Tension Offset with Monopod and Side A-Frame

CMC Clutch Twin Tension Two Tension Lower

The Rope Wrench Revolution From Double Ropes to a Single Line

The Modern Arborist Overcoming Friction and Anchor Uncertainty

The Two-Rope Standard Arborist vs Rope Access

Primary vs Backup The Difference in Dual-Rope Systems

The Arborist’s Ascent The Challenge of the Double Rope System

The Redirect Dilemma Choosing a Safer Path

The Limb Walking Dilemma: Friction vs. Fall

A High-Wire Act The Dangers of Limb Walking

Understanding natural redirects in climbing

The Arborist’s Choice A Look at the Double Rope System

Understanding double rope systems in tree work

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