Here at Sierra Rescue, we teach a variety of classes in a wide range of drainages and valleys. One of the more stunning backdrops for a swiftwater rescue class, and my favorite place to don my dry suit, is the Yosemite Valley.
Thanks to Yosemite Search and Rescue (YOSAR) we have been able to work in conjunction with some of the best in the business. YOSAR is responsible for the challenging task of keeping the public safe in and around the rock and water that is so popular in the National Park. We are grateful for the opportunity to work with such high-caliber rescue professionals.
Between the SRT and the SRT-A, the Yosemite valley has a multitude of incredible locations for training and scenarios. From high-lines across the class VI section of the upper Merced, to exciting class III whitewater rapids, the courses utilize some great sites in the valley for challenging training.
The highline with mid point drop is an advanced technical rescue in places where access is dificicult or imposible from the banks. It requires lots of gear and personnel but can be very effective in rescues and recoveries.
High to low victim transport across the Merced River in a stokes litter
Rescuers maneuver using a highline with a boat on a tether, enabling them to move up and down and laterally across the current. Teams on each bank control the boats movement.
Last year we were fortunate enough to have Yosemite National Park Fire Department come out during our training and demonstrate some of the techniques deploying an inflated fire hose. We were able to share lots of ideas and refine some of the rescue techniques.
One technique in particular used a short lenght of fire hose rigged to a colapsable cinch. When deployed from a bridge, the victim enters the loop, and becomes secured as the loop collapses. It is similar to the Canal Lasso with ropes and carabiners, but the added boyancy of the fire hose is easier to hod on to, and floats. Another characteristic of the fire hose cinch is that it does not cinch as tight as with just a rope.
We also did some scenarios with a fire hose rigged in the water at a diagonal for containment. It created lots of drag, but if attached on the downstream side with a quick-release hitch, the victims were able to pendulum to shore.
Another highlight of the Yosemite classes was our strainer-mapping expedition on the Merced through the park. With Half Dome looming to the upstream of our rafts, and Yosemite Falls around the next bend, this float was a nice break in the middle of 7 days of training. The section we floated was pretty mellow, but gave a beautiful and rare vantage point of the Yosemite Valley from river level. Sure enough we found some strainers and mapped them using GPS, and we also stumbled up some good riverboard ‘training’ sites.
Spring weather in the Sierras in unpredictable at best, and in the last few years, I’ve taught in shorts and 70 degrees, and then been snowed on while doing entrapment drills the next day. You never know what weather you’ll get, but rain or shine, Yosemite National Park is a great and unique place to train. This year’s class dates are filling up, so check out the training schedule and we’ll see you on the water!
