The year was 1983, and like so many others in the Portland area, we felt invincible. We were young, eager, and ready for a challenge. The plan seemed simple enough: climb Mt. Hood, ski back down, grab lunch, and crack a beer before the afternoon was over. Classic Portlandia thinking.

Walking into the climber hut that morning, we saw a few Mountain Locator Units (MLUs) sitting there. Someone asked, “Should we grab a couple?” Bob waved it off: “Nah, we’ll be fine.”

Spoiler alert: we weren’t fine.

The Moment That Changed Everything

We were descending the Hogsback when the blizzard rolled in. Stinging ice particles whipped at our faces. We knew the route like the backs of our hands, but in a whiteout, everything we looked at seemed like a cliff. Looking up, it was no better—an avalanche slope stretched out before us. The route markers (wands) were nowhere to be seen.

Out of options, we made a collective call for help. Advice was simple: stay put.

As we huddled together, we found some solace—a cave formed by a fumarole (steam vent). It wasn’t glamorous, but the cave was warm, the sulfur smell negligible, and it saved us from the storm’s full fury.

Portland Mountain Rescue was already on their way, just 1,000 feet below us. Their professionalism, bravery, and cohesion were nothing short of heroic. They put our safety before their own, and they got us off that mountain alive.

A Lesson in Preparedness and Responsibility

We weren’t prepared for the ferocity of that blizzard. We lacked the tools—no MLUs, no bivouac gear, no contingency plans. The climb that was supposed to be “fun” turned into a harsh reminder of something deeper: rescue isn’t just about equipment; it’s about mentality.

• We didn’t take the tools seriously. The MLUs were sitting there, free to use, yet we waved them off.
• We underestimated the situation. Incoming weather wasn’t just a “small system” to shrug off.
• We didn’t ask, “What if?” Problem-solving starts long before the problem arrives.

That event created a massive shift in my life—a call to pay it forward. It was no longer just about climbing or skiing; it was about purpose.

From Rescue to Rigging: Act 1 and Act 2

That moment on Mt. Hood set the stage for Act 1: Becoming part of the Search and Rescue (SAR) community and launching Rescue Response Gear. The experience instilled a fundamental truth:

“Necessity is the beginning place for creativity.”

When you’re faced with limited options, every move counts. Every solution requires clarity. And the question always comes back to: What am I trying to solve?

For the next 20 years—Act 2—I chased this question. I found meaning in helping others solve their rigging problems, designing systems, and learning how rigging connects not just anchors and ropes but people and purpose.

Sometimes, the stairs that led us up need to be burned behind us. Not out of spite, but out of necessity—so we don’t go back. Fun gives way to purpose. The “why” becomes clearer.

Enter Act 3: The Reveal

Today, Rigging Lab Academy and its parent, Red Ibex Solutions (home to Rescue Response Gear), are my Act 3. This is where the tension of the story rises to its peak—the moment where all lessons converge, where old questions are answered, and new ones arise.

But Rigging Lab Academy isn’t about “how-to” rigging. It’s not just systems and gear. It’s about who and what—the people behind the ropes, the minds solving the problems, and the deeper why that drives it all.

The “WHO” is you.

Every course, every blueprint, and every strategy is built for one purpose: to disrupt. To shake up the way learners and teachers approach rigging. Not just to improve on what exists, but to create something entirely new.

A New Opportunity > Simple Improvement.

Rigging and Life: Mentality and Problem Solving

Rigging, like life, is about problem-solving under pressure. You can’t always see the path ahead, but with the right mindset, the right tools, and the right team, you find solutions where others see roadblocks.

Whether you’re rigging a highline, designing mechanical advantage systems, or navigating life’s blizzards, the process is the same:

1. Start with clarity: What problem are you solving?
2. Build solid anchors: Establish your foundation.
3. Create flexibility: Allow room for change and adaptation.
4. Evaluate and learn: Every experience adds to your blueprint.

A Challenge for the Future

So here we are, standing at the edge of something new. I don’t know what your Mt. Hood moment looks like. Maybe it’s a call to action, a shift in mindset, or the realization that your skills are bigger than the tools you hold.

But I do know this: Rigging Lab Academy exists to give you the resources, the challenges, and the opportunities to rise to it.

RRG and RLA Reference:

• Explore the Blueprint for learning and leading in rigging: Learn More Here.
• Find the tools you trust at Rescue Response Gear.

Peace on your Days

Lance