High Lines

Monday, April 18, 2011

When it comes to Search and Rescue operations, the biggest challenge is the environment that the team works in.  There's no control over the location of the patient, or the weather, or the terrain.  As a result, the Mountain Rescue team trains in every type of situation and/or terrain as possible.  This training helps prepare the team for any type of situation that arises.

Last weekend, the Mountain Rescue Team practiced high line operations.

High Lines are very useful when the surrounding terrain contains a canyon of some sort.  A canyon can be challenging for many reasons.  The team may be unable to easily cross from one side to another, transporting gear can be tedious and draining, or the patient may be located at the bottom of the canyon where accessing the patient is a challenge. 

Here's a short video of rescue personnel shooting a line from one side of the canyon to the other.  This line is used to pull the high line rope across the canyon:


The end result once the high line is set up:


Rescuer being lowered into the canyon to retrieve a patient:


Go here to see more pictures of High Line training.