rope rescue Archives

Arizona Vortex Configuration Guide for Directional and Anchor Frame Rescue Systems

Lance Piatt / Anchoring, Anchors, Arizona Vortex, Artificial High Directional AHD, Blog, Designing Your Processes, FAQ-Frequently Asked Questions

The Arizona Vortex is often taught as a collection of individual configurations: tripod, A-frame, gin pole, sideways A-frame, and easel-leg variants. But in the field, those configurations are never selected in isolation. Terrain, edge conditions, anchor availability, hauling direction, team size, load path, and operational constraints all shape the decision. This project reframes the Vortex […]

Arizona Vortex Configuration Guide for Directional and Anchor Frame Rescue Systems Read More »

Rigging a 5:1 MA Off a Tripod for Confined Space Rescue

Lance Piatt / Anchoring, Anchors, Confined Space Rescue, Designing Your Processes, Portable Anchors, Principles of Learning, Technical Learning

Rigging a 5:1 MA Off a Tripod for Confined Space Rescue A complete operational breakdown for raising a 200 lb load 30 feet — with limited anchor geometry and edge protection requirements. A 5:1 mechanical advantage system off a tripod is one of the most reliable configurations for vertical confined space extraction — but only

Rigging a 5:1 MA Off a Tripod for Confined Space Rescue Read More »

Anchor Force Distribution in Technical Rescue Rigging

Lance Piatt / Anchoring, Anchors, Blog, Principles of Learning

Anchor Force Distribution in Technical Rescue Rigging Understanding anchor force distribution in technical rescue is the difference between a technician who follows rules and one who understands why those rules exist. This tool makes that understanding tangible — not through charts or formulas alone, but through live, interactive geometry that responds to your input and

Anchor Force Distribution in Technical Rescue Rigging Read More »

Technical Rescue Questions Answered from the RLA Knowledge Base

Lance Piatt / Blog, Designing Your Processes, Education, Personal Competencies

Technical Rescue Questions Answered from the RLA Knowledge Base You have a technical rescue question. Not a general one — a specific one. The kind that comes from being inside the discipline, from having studied the system or worked the scenario and landed on something you need answered precisely. You know enough to know the

Technical Rescue Questions Answered from the RLA Knowledge Base Read More »

Highline Systems — Planning, Building, and Operating the Crossing

Lance Piatt / Blog, Designing Your Processes, Dynamic Directional, Education, Highline Rigging, Offset Track Line, Principles of Learning

A highline is a tensioned rope system used to transport a rescuer and patient across a gap that cannot be crossed any other way — canyons, gorges, building-to-building, or industrial spans. When ground access isn’t an option, a highline is. This chapter covers both system types, the calculations that govern them, and how to operate

Highline Systems — Planning, Building, and Operating the Crossing Read More »

Highline Configurations in Rope Rescue When and How to Use Each System

Lance Piatt / Blog, Designing Your Processes, Highline Rigging

Highline systems are not built from a single template. The configuration selected must match the terrain, the objective, and the level of control required. The mistake is not choosing the wrong gear—it is choosing the wrong system structure. Each configuration changes how force moves, how the load behaves, and how the team must operate. Understanding

Highline Configurations in Rope Rescue When and How to Use Each System Read More »

Highline System Components Explained for Rope Rescue Operations

Lance Piatt / Blog, Designing Your Processes, Highline Rigging

A highline system is only as strong and predictable as the components that build it. While the overall system moves a load across a span, each individual element has a defined role that must remain clear and uncompromised. Understanding these components is not about memorizing parts—it is about understanding how each element contributes to control,

Highline System Components Explained for Rope Rescue Operations Read More »

Artificial High Directionals When They Are Needed and How They Support Rescue Operations

Lance Piatt / Arizona Vortex, Artificial High Directional AHD, Blog, General Rigging, Mainline Systems and Operations, Twin Tension Rope System

Introduction Artificial High Directionals (AHDs) represent a decisive shift from basic anchor-based rigging into controlled, engineered system behavior. Teams that are competent in raise and lower operations often reach a point where efficiency, safety, and control begin to degrade—not because of poor technique, but because of environmental limitations. Edges, terrain transitions, and structural barriers introduce

Artificial High Directionals When They Are Needed and How They Support Rescue Operations Read More »

Basic Rope Rescue Operations Three Day Training Progression

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

I received several similar requests for ingredients of a “Basic Ropes Class”… Rope rescue demands clarity, discipline, and a layered approach to learning. Skills cannot be rushed, and they cannot be learned out of order. Each step builds the next, and each concept strengthens the rescuer’s ability to operate under tension and uncertainty. This three-day

Basic Rope Rescue Operations Three Day Training Progression Read More »

Horizontal Rope Rescue Systems and Highline Movement Techniques

Physics of Horizontal Rope Rescue Systems

Lance Piatt / Anchoring, Anchors, Artificial High Directional AHD, Blog, Dynamic Directional, Highline Rigging, Horizontal Rigging, Mainline Systems and Operations, Twin Tension Rope System

Physics of Horizontal Rope Rescue Systems Why sideways movement is the real test of a rigger’s mind. Vertical rope work is the entry exam. Gravity defines the path, the system behaves predictably, and most mistakes are recoverable. But move a rescue load sideways—even fifty feet across a gap or diagonally off a tower—and everything changes.

Physics of Horizontal Rope Rescue Systems Read More »

Balancing Online and Hands-On Training -Knots for Force Multiplication in Rope Rescue - Steep Highline Calculations and Rigging Techniques

High Tension Highline Rigging Mastery for Technical Rope Rescue

Lance Piatt / Anchors, Artificial High Directional AHD, Blog, Designing Your Processes, Mainline Systems and Operations, Principles of Learning, Technical Learning, Twin Tension Rope System

The ability to span a canyon, river, industrial void, or structural gap is one of the most demanding skills in advanced rope rescue. While offsets, tracklines, and guided systems are essential tools, the true test of technician-level capability is the high-tension highline. Unlike everyday rigging, high-tension systems do not forgive misunderstandings in geometry or guesswork

High Tension Highline Rigging Mastery for Technical Rope Rescue Read More »

Rope rescue training for veterans covers leadership, mechanical advantage, and advanced rigging skills and Hidden treasures in team leadership

Advanced Rigging Principles for Technical Rope Rescue

Lance Piatt / Anchors, Artificial High Directional AHD, Blog, Elevated Anchor Systems, Horizontal Rigging, Mechanical Advantage, Principles of Learning, Technical Learning, Two Tensioned Rope Rescue Systems

Modern rope rescue has outgrown the era of “strong gear plus strong backs.” At the advanced level, operations are built on system engineering, controlled redundancy, and a clear understanding of how forces, geometry, and human factors interact in real time. The Technical Operational Rigging Study Guide you started with is more than an exam—it is

Advanced Rigging Principles for Technical Rope Rescue Read More »

Horizontal Movement Systems in Rope Rescue

Counterintuitive Principles of Elite Rope Rescue Systems

Lance Piatt / Anchoring, Blog, Designing Your Processes, Mainline Systems and Operations, Twin Tension Rope System

1. The Ultimate System Test: What Happens If Everyone Lets Go? The “whistle test” is one of the simplest yet most powerful tools in rope rescue. It strips away the illusion of operator control and evaluates the system on pure mechanical resilience. If a sudden distraction — a falling rock, a hornet swarm, or a

Counterintuitive Principles of Elite Rope Rescue Systems Read More »

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

Cross Haul Techniques for Rescue and Equipment Movement Read More »

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

Integrating Artificial High Directionals in Skate Block Systems Read More »

Anchors in Rescue and Life - backup anchors

Understanding the Purpose and Application of Backed-Up Anchor Systems

Lance Piatt / Anchoring, Anchors

Backed-up anchor systems add redundancy and resilience to rope rescue and rigging operations. They serve as a safeguard against the failure of a primary anchor, which could otherwise cause catastrophic system collapse. By incorporating backups, teams create an additional layer of safety that reduces risk and improves overall reliability. The practice reflects a core principle

Understanding the Purpose and Application of Backed-Up Anchor Systems Read More »

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

5 First Principles of Rescue Rigging Read More »

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

Building a Rope Rescue Team with Terrain Awareness and Training Manuals Read More »

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

TTRS Anchor Systems with Artificial High Directionals for Two Person Loads Read More »

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

CMC Clutch Twin Tension Two Tension Lower Read More »

rope rescue