Whats in your rescue kit?

Hello all,

I've been learning around self rescue and started putting together a kit that I can have while climbing. I'd like some feed back on the kit that I have so far, and any recommendations for anything else. What do you/would you carry in your rescue kit?

2 - Prussiks (1-5mm cord, and 1-sterling hollow block)
1 - 15' 7mm cordelette
1 - Knife
1 - tibloc
1 - SMC Descending Ring

Thanks for your input

Maybe some tubular webbing?

When specifically were you thinking of carrying this? multipitch? Alpine?

Multi Pitch mostly.. but wouldn't mind hearing about recommendations for alpine.

I carry a second Prussic, knife and ropeman on an old biner. Typically I'm usually carrying a cord and a main prussic anyways, so I don't carry a second one specifically since that's a lot of weight. Used this little kit a bunch, typically for stuck ropes or juggling a line when ropes didn't reach.

I carry a tibloc, 60 cm sling, 120cm sling, a long prussik on an old leaver biner.

I dont have a kit per se, but I just have a big oval locker, tibloc, knife and then a quick link, rap ring and bail biner. I usually carry 2 prussiks anyway.

You forgot the flask of whiskey and cell phone.

Scotch, and I'm not talking about the tape! ;)

The larger - solid (not the skinny rolled aluminum!) rap rings are a good belay device backup!

A chalk bag with a zipper pocket is perfect to hold that and a knife.
Use good 6mil cord for the chalk belt (make it long..) Now you have everything you need.

Oh, and don't forget to put some TP in that chalk bag pocket. You did say for emergencies!!

ViperScale wrote:You forgot the flask of whiskey and cell phone.

Cor wrote: Oh, and don't forget to put some TP in that chalk bag pocket. You did say for emergencies!!

PERCOCETS!!!!

Hank Caylor wrote:PERCOCETS!!!!

^^^ +1 for Percocets, I also carry some super glue, small suture kit, tribloc, knife, rap rings and cord, a condom and some jolly ranchers

If one prussik is occupied for extending a rappel, might be tough to ascend with just one other. Try it out. I could get by with one foot, but if I had to go very far up, two fir feet is more workable. You also need to have a short one for your top half, unless you're fine with the possibility of hanging in space by one foot in a cord, on an already effed climb.

Hank Caylor wrote:PERCOCETS!!!!

The other posts on this would all mention more water than you think you need, enough to get through a night, if it gets to that, and if you are really out there somewhere, a reliable check in person. Not what you are asking, but part of how you should be thinking.

Self rescue, IMO, is for keeping small oopses from becoming big ones, like stuck hair in a rap device. The "self" part, far, far more often than the "rescue" part. For that, SAR would want you to not try and be a hero. Hunker down, do what you can for an injured party, and stay put so they can find you. And, have that call-in in place.

A few people on here are capable of a double rap. Most of us, I really doubt it.

Headlamp.

2 prussiks
1 oval carabiner
1 small knife

thats pretty much all you need in my opinion. im assuming we have 2 cordelettes between us. everything else is just clutter and weight. maybe a small pulley? the oval carabiner is way nicer than a normal carabiner for doing hauling. it might change slightly if doing glacier travel where id add for sure a pulley and a texas prussik.

Gno Verucchi wrote:^^^ +1 for Percocets, I also carry some super glue, small suture kit, tribloc, knife, rap rings and cord, a condom and some jolly ranchers

Seems to me that you're talking about the specific genre of rock climbing. Aside from longer, less frequented routes --where a knife and headlamp can be handy-- why carry a rescue kit? I loathe clutter while I'm leading. If your gear is multi-purposed, you shouldn't have to carry extra stuff. In a multipitch environment, you're likely to have a cord already (leader and second). Carry nylon slings for some of your extendable draws and you should be set. A 3:1 requires one sling and one biner, a downward pull 5:1 requires 2 slings and 2 biners, and you can construct pretty complicated systems with a cord, a few slings, and a few biners. I've never carried a rap ring, you're likely to have a few dozen biners that fit this purpose well.

Ice climbing has gotten me into the habit of carrying a hollow block for a rappel back-up and a quick 3:1, and I always have at least one 48" runner.

Also, a competent second and a bail plan are always good.

I don't know why people would take leaver biners on gear-only multis. You don't need a leaver to rap off tat. It makes sense when you have bolts but even then if you're just rapping you shouldn't need it.

As for everything else I take it is hugely dependent on route.

Spot gets left at home if we're in a truly remote place... they can't help you if no one can reach you (or you're already dead) so its just extra weight. If its alpinism I always bring the long screw and extra cord, even if we're planning to solo all the ice or climb a rock butt... you never know where there will be some ice and need to rap. Multi-pitch rock I just have the lightest prusiks possible (cord for autoblocking raps is one, and any other cord or or sling can be the other). Knife is a must on long routes or anything with loose rock where you might get a coreshot, tape too. Percocet stays at home usually but comes along if loose rock or fall potential could warrant a major traumatic injury AND both partners need to be conscious for a descent (should probably bring it more often).