Rescue and Medical Courses
Industry Standard Mountain Rescue and Wilderness Medicine Instruction
These courses cover skills that provide a margin of safety in a variety of recreational and work situations. Technical self-rescue skills are advisable for any climber who enjoys pushing the limits. More advanced rescue courses teach essential skills for outdoor professionals. Many of these courses provide certifications that are widely recognized and may be prerequisites for employment in mountain guiding, outdoor education, parks, and mountain rescue services.
Rescue and Medical Courses
Industry Standard Mountain Rescue and Wilderness Medicine Instruction
Many rescues begin by tying off a belay device. Ben TraxlerThe Technical Self-Rescue for Climbers program is an intensive one to two-day seminar on improvised multi-pitch rock rescue techniques. Participants study a series of haul, lower, rappel and rope-climbing systems and then apply them to a variety of practical scenarios. Individuals who complete this rock-rescue program should be able to apply these skills to a wide array of complex high-angle problems.
- Location:BC, WA, CA, NV and UT
- Season:Year-round
- Length:1 - 2 days
- Cost:$575 (min. of 2 participants)
A series of WFR students putting together an improvised litter.The Wilderness First Responder first aid program was designed for serious outdoor practitioners. The course provides students with the skills required to manage minor backcountry ailments while simultaneously providing them with baseline techniques that they will need in order to respond to more serious incidents. This course is often required for outdoor professionals.
*This course does not count for continuing education hours towards an EMT Certification.
- Location:Various Locations - US and Canada
- Season:Year-Round
- Length:5-9 Days
- Cost:$715 (additional charges for some locations)
A rescue practitioner operates a line during a lowering operation. Jason MartinThe American Alpine Institute Technical Rope Rescue Level I program is an NFPA compliant rope rescue course. Students will develop the skills to perform rescues and recoveries at the operations level in both steep and high-angle team-rescue scenarios.
- Location:BC, WA, CA and NV
- Season:Year
- Length:4 days
- Cost:Operations Course - $1135, Operations and Technician Combined - $1895
Students set up their rigging as they prepare to conduct a rescue. Jason MartinThe American Alpine Institute Technical Rope Rescue Level II program is an NFPA compliant rope rescue course. Students will develop the skills to perform rescues and recoveries at the technician level in both steep and high-angle team-rescue scenarios.
- Location:BC, WA, CA and NV
- Season:Year-round
- Length:5 days
- Cost:Technician Course - $1325, Operations and Technician Combined - $1895
A patient is loaded into a litter for evacuation. Jason MartinThe Advanced Mountain Rescue course integrates both rope rescue and self-rescue techniques in a high mountain glaciated environment. Students will apply a series of lowland rescue techniques with mountain modifications in order to develop the skills required for mountain rescue. Additionally, participants will spend a significant amount of time developing strategies to solve complex crevasse rescue problems.
- Location:Mt. Baker, WA
- Season:April - October
- Length:5 days
- Cost:$1415
A rescuer places a patient in a litter in a crevasse. Jason MartinThe American Alpine Institute Technical Rope Rescue Comprehensive is the most complete rope rescue course offered in the United States. It is the only course available anywhere that addresses the techniques required for team-rescue as well as those needed for self-rescue.
- Location:Bellingham and Mt. Baker, WA
- Season:April - October
- Length:15 days (14 days of instruction with one rest day)
- Cost:$3395
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