One of the key characteristics that defines a "wilderness" location, apart from the 1 hour away from definitive medial care, centers on the lack of available resources and the necessity to improvise. Though field teams and expeditions may have some first aid / rescue gear with them, in emergency situations there is very seldom a surplus...

A swiftwater entry  doesn't have to be graceful, it just has to gets the job done. A good swiftwater entry can make or break your swiftwater swim. Part superman, part belly flop, it involves extending yourself into the current and can give you the jump start you need to make your target. In our swiftwater rescue courses...

I recently had the opportunity to travel to Chile and got to spend a few weeks on the Futaleufu river in Patagonia. My wife and I joined up with a commercial trip through BioBio expeditions. We bridged the gap between guests and guides, leaning more toward the guide side. Once we proved our worth with...

[caption id="attachment_2233" align="alignleft" width="300"] looking at the lines through Rainey falls on the Rogue River[/caption] Boat safe. Be prepared One of the mainstays when approaching any rescue centers on the “K.I.S.S” theory: Keep it simple and safe. As rescue efforts unfold adhering to this simple acronym can help keep rescuers and bystanders safe. Another widely...

Access is paramount to the success of many swiftwater rescue incidents, but getting there is often challenging and risky. Pin-point access to a location using tag lines from both banks can achieve access with more precision and control. With proper training, the 2-point tag line system is quick and simple method for getting there.  Take...