Intro to Self Rescue
Intro to Self Rescue
- Saturday, March 28th @ Auburn Quarry
- $249 per Person
- 4 Students per Instructor
Or call/text us at (916) 299-0711
Become the partner you wish you had.
This course will teach you the fundamental tools of improvised rescue and how to use them to perform a variety of important tasks relevant to single and multipitch environments. You will also be introduced to some more complex concepts that you will expand on in future training!
This course is HANDS-ON. You will be performing every skill and scenario in a realistic context.
You can perform all these tasks with what is already on your harness. You don’t need new gear, you need new knowledge!
It’s time to get serious about self-rescue.
Itinerary
We’ll start the day discussing some principles surrounding technical self-rescue and some concepts to avoid us getting into trouble in the first place. We will then go over some knots and hitches relevant to improvised rescue before moving into utilizing these tools in rescue scenarios. The scenarios are designed to be practical to your climbing experiences and will allow you to get hands on with your new tools and see them in action. We’ll wrap up the day discussing what comes next in your training journey.
Go deeper into more complex rescue scenarios and a multipitch context by continuing your training with Self Rescue | Beyond the Basics, often offered the next day at the same location.
Curriculum
Learning the below tools is the easy part. This course will focus on real application!
All skills will be improvised which is to say we will not be using specific rescue gear such as pulleys, rope clamps, etc.
- Friction Hitches
- Klemheist
- Autoblock
- Classic Prusik
- Knots/Hitches
- Munter Mule Overhand
- Butterfly Knot
- Some Common Rappel Situations (Prevention and Solutions)
- Hauling
- Assists
- 3:1
- 5:1
- Lowers
- ATC in guide mode
- Short + Long
- Load Strand Direct Defeat
- Gri-Gri
- Munter
- Ascending a Rope
- Pick-Offs
- Belay Escapes
- Baseline
What's Included?
- Ropes
- 8 hours of intense, practical instruction.
- All photos taken during the trip! Including top-down photos from a fixed line!
Not Included:
- Airfare
- Lodging
- Local travel/car rental
- Food or Snacks
- Travel/Trip Cancellation Insurance (recommended)
- Anything on the What to Bring list below
What to Bring
I basically want you to bring what you would usually bring climbing so you can learn how to use the things you actually carry to do these rescues. You may find what you usually carry is not enough, so it’s good to have some extra slings, carabiners, and prusiks.
Climbing Gear:
- Helmet
- Harness
- Handful of lockers
- Belay Devices (GriGri style and ATC style)
- Anchor/rescue material (ie cordalette or quad length sling)
- Prussik cord
- A few alpine draws.
- Gloves
- 30+ liter backpack
Clothes:
- Sun Glasses
- Sun Shirt
- Sun Hat
- Thin Pants for climbing
- Solid Shoes for the approach
- Warm Puffy Jacket
- Rain Coat
Food:
- Please bring your own lunch food.
Prerequisites
In order to make the most of our time together, please observe these prerequisites:
- A solid understanding of basic climbing knots and skills
- Anchor building skills
- Fitness for some long days at the crag.
Possible Course Locations
Next Course Details
- Saturday, March 28th @ Auburn Quarry
- $249 per Person
- 4 Students per Instructor
Or call/text us at (916) 299-0711
stoked
Climbers!
EXCELLENT Based on 52 reviews Posted on Jessica Rose4 February 2026Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Went on a rock climbing and yoga retreat in EPC with Erik and it was INCREDIBLE. Great instruction, great climbs, great vibes. I was one of the relatively newer-to-outdoor-climbing folks on the trip, and Erik was both patient and thorough in answering any and all of my questions. He helped build my confidence with lead climbing and lead belaying and I always felt super supported. Can't wait to play rocks with Erik again!Posted on Michael Westbrook2 December 2025Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Took the SPI course and exam with Kevin. We learned all of the required AMGA stuff and also got a lot of practical insights into the business.Posted on J. C.8 September 2025Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Vertical Pursuits is THE BEST rock climbing guiding service I’ve ever experienced. Erik has been our guide for years and he is reliable, prepared, knowledgeable, ready-for-anything, positive and downright fun. I always feel safe, supported, yet gently challenged with Erik. I always have the best time with Vertical Pursuits. If you’re looking to bridge into outdoor rock climbing or even up your climbing game, then Vertical Pursuits is the choice for you!! I Highly recommend!Posted on Vicky Wyatt3 September 2025Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I've been on a few climbing trips with Eric between 2023 and 2024 - such an amazing rock climbing guide and all round good human being. I went on a couple of organised group climbs (intro to sport climbing clinic and outdoor climbing day) and a couple of solo guided trips to Moab and Lovers' Leap - these are some of the best things I've ever done! So grateful to Eric and to Vertical pursuits making these climbs accessible for a relative beginner and so encouraging as well as being confident safety is a top priority. Highly, highly recommend and so sad I moved from the US so haven't got climb with Eric for a while.Posted on Andrea Willett3 September 2025Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Taking clinics with Vertical Pursuits was an absolute blast. Erik knows how to get on your level and make the material palpable. He and the staff at Vertical Pursuits are incredibly knowledgeable and hard working people, highly recommend if you are looking to learn more about safely rock climbing or a guiding service.Posted on Zain Memon3 September 2025Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Erik and Kev are unmatched!Posted on Meagen Doucette3 September 2025Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I took my spi instructor course with Kevin and couldn’t have asked for more. He was so tuned into what each of us needed and was sure we left with what AMGA curriculum listed AND MORE. He made sure we had enough energy to actually retain the info we learned and left plenty of time to practice real time. As the only female in the group, Kevin made me feel very comfortable and welcome. I would recommend Kevin and vertical pursuits to anyone looking to get SPI certified or guided up something.Posted on Eric R3 September 2025Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I took a big wall and aid climbing course with Erik and it was absolutely EXCELLENT! Never thought I could obtain the skills to big wall in the span of two days but the instruction was clear, efficient, and actually practiced during the course. I feel confident enough to get started and can definitely vouch for the instructors. They are extremely good at what they do and it is evident that it comes from a place of passion and love for climbing. Highly recommend anything with Vertical Pursuits!Posted on Justin Nguyen3 September 2025Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Kevin is an incredibly knowledgeable instructor, guide, and rock climber. He's so passionate about teaching and helping climbers be safe that he's even been recording webinars and youtube videos for free!! The content on videos is top tier and some of the best on the webPosted on Kyle Moorman3 September 2025Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Went from learning trad with them to a year later confidently leading 5.11 on gear - highly recommend