Basic SRT Outline

 BASIC SINGLE ROPE TECHNIQUE (SRT) TRAINING

Basic SRT Course Objectives
A. To be able to smoothly ascend and descend a 30m/100ft dry or semi-dry rope using SRT skills in an efficient manner.
B. To be able to act as a responsible member of a team by taking care of oneself and being able to watch out for others.
C. To be able to responsibly purchase and properly assemble equipment.

I. COURSE OUTLINE:
A. Introduction
1. Instructor(s) and their background.
2. Safety parameters of the course.
3. Information sheets
• Safety rules
• Course outline
• Skills check-off sheets

A. Ropes, webbing, and padding
1. The learner will be able to fully discuss the care of nylon products as well as the enemies of nylon products.
2. The learner will be able to identify and discuss high-stretch ropes, low-stretch ropes, laid and kermantle construction, and safe working loads.
3. The learner will be able to identify different types of webbing and be able to discuss typical usages.
4. The learner will be able to demonstrate the use of rope pads during ascent and descent.

B. Ties
1. The learner can efficiently secure the following ties correctly the first time, without coaching, demonstrate the ability to set, dress, and back up each tie if necessary.
The learner will be able to discuss the pros and cons of each tie and when use of each is most appropriate. Suitable back up knots should be used, when appropriate.
An Overhand back-up knot with little or no space between the primary knot and back-up knot is usually sufficient. A back-up knot in webbing is usually unnecessary.

a. Overhand knot
b. Tape knot
c. Bowline knot
d. Bowline on a Bight
e. Figure Eight
f. Figure Eight on a Bight
g. Butterfly knot
h. Clove Hitch
i. Double Fisherman’s

2. The learner can tie a Prusik hitch or Ascender knot and demonstrate its use for climbing, as well as a belay or safety.

C. Rigging
1. The learner will be able to discuss the attributes of good rigging and be able to assess a safely rigged rope.
2. The learner understands why there is a knotted loop placed at the end of a rappelling rope and how to use the loop at the end of the rope.
3. The learner can efficiently deploy and coil a rope and willingly shares the burden of transporting team gear to and from a rigging site.

D. Harnesses
1. The learner can don his/her own harness and discuss redundancy in a harness.
2. The learner can fabricate an emergency diaper or other harness out of a 6m/20ft piece of webbing.

E. Safety and Techniques
1. The learner knows about and is able to demonstrate the proper use of gloves during ascent and descent.
2. The learner knows about and shows the proper restraint of hair, beards, and loose clothing, and why they are hazards.
3. The learner can discuss at least five uses of a Quick Attachment Safety (QAS) device and its proper length.
4. The learner can demonstrate the proper voice and whistle signals necessary to safely negotiate a 30m/100ft drop.
5. The learner knows, can discuss, and demonstrate edge safety and when to use a QAS at the edge.
6. The learner can demonstrate the effective use of a bottom belay and the associated safety precautions.

F. Equipment
1. The learner can discuss the advantages of an approved climbing/caving helmet with a four-point suspension chinstrap.
2. The learner understands relative strengths and proper usages of various carabiners and can demonstrate their use without error.
3. The learner can extensively discuss the parts and proper use of a rappel rack.
4. The learner understands the strengths and weaknesses of personal ascenders and has efficiently incorporated them into a climbing system in the proper manner.

G. Belaying
1. The learner can fully demonstrate the proper procedure of attaching a belay line to a rappeller.
2. The learner understands the pros and cons of a self belay system and can describe two different systems or methods.

H. Rappelling
1. The learner understands and can demonstrate the safe use of an 8-ring descender.
2. The learner can demonstrate rappelling skills that show style, a smooth rate of descent, proper placement of feet on the wall, proper placement of hands for control, and the execution of a safe landing.

I. Prusiking
1. The learner can demonstrate the ability to smoothly prusik up approximately 9m/30ft using three hitches in 15 minutes or less.
2. The learner can demonstrate the ability to smoothly ascend 30m/100ft of rope using a mechanical climbing system in an efficient manner in 10 minutes or less.

J. Complex Skills
1. The learner can efficiently changeover from rappel to prusik.
2. The learner can efficiently changeover from prusik to rappel.

II. PRACTICUM