 Robert (Efland Fire Department) prepares for his first-ever rappel as instructor Mark Haraway looks on. |
 Ray (Wrightsville Beach Fire Department) mans the belay line. |
 Mark shows Robert how to take up the slack in the line before he loads the system. |
 That first step's a doozy! |
 Funny how it seems twice as high when you're at the top looking down! |
 The token trip to da beach! |
 Wrightsville Beach |
 That's me, getting ready to take the plunge! |
 Mark shows me how to secure myself with a two-wrap prussik, then lock off so that I can let go of the rope and just hang around. Brian (East Spencer Fire Department) mans the belay line and looks on. |
 "Walk the wall, just like Batman!" |
 Heather (Pinetown Rescue/EMS) takes her turn. |
 Catching a few rays during break... |
 Firefighter from Eno Fire Department dons the harness. |
 Brian (Clinton Fire Department) locks off while hanging 3 stories up. |
 "You're not going to put that on the web site, are you?" |
 Chad (Guilford County firefighter/paramedic) starts his descent. |
 Ray (Wrightsville Beach Fire Department) |
 Scott (Lafayette Village Fire Department) sets his prussik brake. |
 Redundant anchor point with a Munter hitch for the belay line. |
 Ray and Mark prepare the ascension system while James (Cherokee Fire Department) looks on. |
 Ray demonstrates the use of the Gibbs ascenders. He makes it look a lot easier than it really is! |
 Tommy (Burgaw Fire Department) gets hooked up for the climb. |
 Trying to get balanced for that first step. |
 Andrea (Pinetown Rescue/EMS) prepares for the ascent. |
 Andrea makes it to the second story window. |
 Instructor Mark Haraway |
 Brian makes the climb. |