NC High Angle Rescue College
Level I

On March 26 - 28, Howard Miles, Ian Bass, Mike Fjelstad and Sue-Lynn Hinson attended the North Carolina High Angle Rescue College, sponsored by the North Carolina Department of Insurance and Office of the State Fire Marshal. We entered this year as Level I students. The college is a four-level program that takes two years to complete. Level I, held at Stone Mountain State Park near Trap Hill, NC, gives students an intense review of basic ropes and knots, as well as an introduction to several skills including rappelling, vertical lowers, and free climbing a sheer rock incline.

It was a real Who's Who of instructors. I tried hard to learn everyone's names but my memory isn't what it used to be. If I have mis-stated anyone's information in the captions below, or if I have missed someone altogether, PLEASE email me so that I can correct it!

SCENERY AND STAGING AREA
Waiting for class to start	I believe there were almost 100 students in attendance this year!	Can't get much more scenic than that!
The Apex Crew and Friends	Robert Swiger (OSFM Training Supervisor) gives everyone their assignments	A good look at the steep rocky climb we had to make to get to our scenarios, just right-of-center in this photo. Perhaps not so bad for the sure-footed, but keep in mind we were hauling stokes baskets loaded down with gear!
Now THAT's a motley crew if I ever saw one! (L to R) Howard, Debbie Hilliard (Cary FD), Mike, Ian, and Ray Thompson (Wrighstville Beach FD) break for lunch	People actually climb that thing!	Can you find the climber? Check out the little dot in the center of this photo!
The staging area
Howard Miles	Mike Fjelstad	Ian Bass
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FREE CLIMB Lead Instructors: Jeff Hinshaw, Tom Billig, Mike Williams, Tim Pennel
Our group's first station was the free climb. It was a short but fairly steep hike up, toting all of our own gear in addition to stokes baskets ropes, hardware, etc. to set up the safety lines. You can see the barn that was the staging area, quite far down in this photo.	Debbie Hilliard (Cary FD) takes her turn. With a belay line attached to us for safety, we had to walk up this sheer rock slope. One step forward, three steps sliding back!	Eric Stroud (right) teaches students how to read the rock and determine a good path of travel
It's hard to get the perspective from photos as to how steep this wall was. We had 90 seconds to get to the top.	One of Mt. Mitchell FD's crowd
Smile, you're on my web site!	Mt. Mitchell FD poses for a shot	After scaling the wall and taking a turn on belay, we did our first rappel to get back down the slope.
Howard takes a break between evolutions	For those who complain that I never put pictures of myself on the web site, here I am!
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RAPPELLING Lead Instructors: Larry Denton, Laura Hinshaw, Dennis Durham, Chris Best
Our next rotation was to the rappelling station. Though it was only about a 10-foot high ledge, we learned quickly how to correctly place our feet so as not to do a face-plant into the rock. Some of us learned that the hard way.	Instructors Laura Hinshaw (a.k.a. "Squirt") and Larry Denton (center)	Larry Denton (far left) coaches Debbie while Dennis Durham (far right) watches over Howard
		Howard (center) mans the prusiks
Instructor Dennis Durham hooks students to the belay line before they step out of the safe-zone	Debbie and I must have rappelled a dozen times each!	Howard gets ready to take the plunge
That first step's a doozy!	Snakes? Who said snakes?	See you on the flip side!
	Back at the hotel, Howard and Mike review knots to prepare for Sunday's practical exams
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VERTICAL LOWERS Lead Instructors: Wayne Bailey, Gene Crouse, Greg Chatham, Jim Hardy
Lead instructors (L to R): Gene Crouse, Greg Chatham, Wayne Bailey, Jim Hardy	Our group spent Sunday morning at the vertical lowers station.	Instructors Jim Hardy (center) and Greg Chatham (right) plan the next scenario
Here, we got plenty of hands-on practice lashing a patient into the stokes basket, ...	...and hooking up the main and backup lowering lines to a braking system. Instructor Gene Crouse (left) shows us how to load a brake bar.	Team B's group leader Brian Hollifield (Captain, Shelby FD - a.k.a. "Hollywood"!), far right, puts tension on the system.
Howard takes a turn as the patient	Meanwhile, in the other stokes basket... "Cinch it down nice and tight!" "Ooh, not THAT tight!"	Howard goes for a ride!
"Off belay!" Hollywood (right) helps the others unwrap Howard from the basket	Then it was my turn to ride in the basket! Photos from the patient's viewpoint...	And over the edge we go!
These guys manning the tag line kept the basket from crashing into the rock wall on the way down	A look back up to the top...	...getting further and further away!
Here's a better look at our rock	Everyone who stepped over the rope marking the safe zone had to be attached to a safety line.	"On belay!" Getting ready to lower the next patient.
"Squeaky" (you had to be there) goes over the edge	Trust in your belayers!	"Down slow!"
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TESTING AND LEVEL 4 GRADUATION Level 4 Instructors: Joe Burris, Greg Atchley, Terry Foxx, Richard Landill
Instructors Jeff Hinshaw (left) and Wayne Bailey (center) answer questions before testing begins	The moment of truth! Students wait to be called to each practical testing station	Luckily the evaluator's back was turned as I had this "oh crap what comes next" moment during the basket lashing practical exam.
"You're not REALLY going to take that picture, are you?"	Debbie and husband Billy	Level 4 students line up for their graduation
Instructors Tom Billig, Laura and Jeff Hinshaw	"Cheese!" (Eric Stroud)	Two of the four Level 4 instructors
The other two Level 4 instructors	Instructors Dennis Durham and Chris Best(??)	Instructor Tim Pennell?
"Hey Ken, I have just one question about the new ERT standard......"	Instructors hand out completion cards to Level I students	Hope to see y'all at Level 2!!!!
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Copyright 2004 NCFirewolf