SRT course (7 days)
Taught by Angel Ivanov and Stanimira Deleva, two of Europe's senior cavers.
- Dates
- 6.3-12.3
- Course price
- 1600 ILS
- Down payment
- 1000 ILS
A course of 7 full and intensive days, taught in Israel by two of the senior cavers in Europe. In the course we learn the rope technique used for working in vertical caves.
During the course we learn how to use this technique both for climbing and for descending, how to pass stations, knots, changes of direction (deviations), traverses (horizontal passages), Omega lines and more.
We learn important knots and also touch on anchors and on building routes of different kinds.
At the end of the course we learn and practice helping a caver in distress, a technique known as 'self rescue'.
Registration depends on a down payment of 1000 ILS.
Cancellation policy:
- Up to two weeks before the course: full refund
- Up to one week before: 50% refund
To join the waiting list, leave your email address:
Course topics
Topic 1 - Getting to know the equipment
- Personal equipment for vertical caves: types, standards, warranty and expiry, arrangement, maintenance.
- Additional equipment: ropes, slings, carabiners, friction devices, etc. Warranty and lifetime, wear, maintenance.
- General equipment: transport bags, watertight barrels, water bags, etc.
Total: two hours of lecture + presentation of equipment examples
Topic 2 - SRT technique
- We dive into the single rope technique (SRT):
- Ascending (climbing) and descending (rappelling) on a single rope
- Different options for locking the friction device
- Changing direction - from descending to climbing and from climbing to descending.
- Techniques for climbing in free space (overhanging).
- Climbing and descending that require passing stations.
- Passing the following elements when descending and climbing: knot, deviation, traverse, Tyrolean (Omega), etc.
- The correct technique for climbing with a Pantin.
- Using a climbing ladder.
Total: 24 hours of practice (3 days x 8 hours)
Topic 3 - Ropes and knots
- Ropes: types, quality, standards, strength, warranty and service life, wear, maintenance and inspections.
- Fall factor.
- Knots: figure 8, double figure 8, figure 9, bowline, double bowline, alpine butterfly, Italian hitch / Munter hitch, flat knot, Prusik, etc.
Total: 10 hours (two hours of lecture; 8 hours of practice)
Topic 4 - Anchors and building a route
- Anchors - basic principles
- Preparation - correct arrangement of the anchoring equipment
- Types of anchors - overview, general considerations in choosing an anchor, rules of execution
- The correct approach to the head of the pitch
- Building a route along a pitch, traverse, rope deviation, weight distribution, Y-Belay
- Connecting 2 ropes
- Dismantling the route and collecting the equipment
Total: 18 hours (two hours of lecture, two days x 8 hours of practice)
Topic 5 - Self rescue techniques
- Self rescue techniques.
- Improvised methods for ascending or descending.
Total: 8 hours of practice
Programme by day
Day 1
Lectures on equipment + SRT practice.
Evening lecture: ropes, fall factor.
Day 2
SRT practice.
Evening lecture: knots.
Day 3
SRT practice.
Evening: a cave visit
Day 4
Lecture: anchors and building a route - part 1, practice of anchors and building a route.
A visit to a vertical cave.
Day 5
Lecture: building a route - part 2, practice of building a route.
Day 6
Self rescue techniques. Improvised methods for ascending or descending.
Day 7
Test. All participants who pass the test will receive certificates.
Course price
Course price: 1600 ILS
The price includes
- Instruction
- Shared course equipment (ropes, carabiners, cave bags, etc.)
The price does not include
- Travel
- Personal accident insurance
Logistics
Course start: Sunday morning
Course end: Friday evening, Shabbat eve - 7 full days.
Participants must get to the course location on their own.
Mandatory equipment for participants
Full personal SRT equipment, including:
- Caving harness + carabiner (Omni, Screw-Lock, Maillon Rapide, etc.)
- Chest harness, jumar + oval carabiner,
- Cave descender (Stop, Rack, Simple) + carabiner
- An additional carabiner (non-locking) to increase friction when descending
- Chest jumar
- Foot loop + carabiner
- Double cow's tail (made of dynamic rope of at least 9 mm) + 2 carabiners
- 5 additional locking carabiners
- Helmet
- Headlamp
- An additional spare lamp,
- Pantin (recommended, not required)
Personal caving equipment
- Caving suit
- Base layer or leggings and a warm undershirt
- Gloves
- Boots