ABOUT THE course
This course provides the essential guide skills required to become a climbing and abseiling guide in a top rope climbing environment.
The course is designed for experienced climbers looking to further their skills and knowledge to confidently work as a guide in areas such as outdoor education programs, rock climbing club leaders, youth rock climbing programs, adventure tourism operators and recreational climbers looking to improve safety and efficiency in the top rope climbing environment.
The course teaches a variety of skills and systems in technical instruction, group instructional skills, delivering safety briefings and group management protocols and fitting clients personal protective equipment I.e. harnesses, helmets, climbing shoes and equipment.
The top rope guide course addresses both top and bottom managed belay skills in a variety of environments I.e. Sea cliffs where there is no direct foot access to the base of the climbing site.
The training includes key techniques for abseiling guides such as top belayed abseiling descents, rigging setups for relevant rescue techniques and technical instruction.
The course focuses on technical climbing and guiding skills, common guide and briefing techniques, managing clients in a natural surfaces cliff environment and pertinent rescue skills.
Self Study – Pre Course Requirements
All Trainees will be required to Download and Complete the required documents for your course.
All of our courses have a set of Study and Exam Materials that are required to be completed Prior to the Practical training phase. www.paci.com.au/guides.php
Day 1
Theory
As this training is for a qualification in a workplace trainees are required to complete the following assignments:-
SWMS – safe work method statement – Lead single pitch climbing and abseiling activities on natural surfaces
Risk assessment document – Lead single pitch climbing activities on natural surfaces – top rope
Risk assessment document – Lead single pitch Abseiling activities on natural surfaces
2 x Incident reporting
2 x Faulty equipment reporting
The theory training for these assignments is day 1 of the course
During this day we also mark the required course exams,
Exams are to be completed prior to the course
PACI membership applications and required photo ID’s
Submit digital copies of current first aid and CPR qualifications
Note:- Trainee’s will have 2 weeks to complete the written assignments after the last day of the course.
Day 2 – Guide – Abseiling
Identify safe access to and egress from the pitch
Determine descent and ascent route appropriate for conditions and clients ability
Select anchors and assess condition, including performance under likely load and stability of surroundings.
Rig or establish multiple anchors, ensuring equalisation and minimise potential for shock loading.
Set up safety line to access site for rigging abseil
Rig ropes to minimise effects of rope stretch and rub points and to allow efficient descent and ascent
Rig to minimise impact on the natural environment.
Select and tie appropriate knots, and rig ropes suitable for load and function within the belay system.
Set up anchors and ropes to allow for a rescue I.e. Releasable Abseil Systems
Select an abseiling and belay system suitable for the abseil, environmental conditions and participant.
Establish a belay from which belayer is independent of the system.
Establish a belay that maintains safety of belayer and abseiler
Choose a belay device suitable for the natural surface conditions and belayer
Determine need for, and establish, back up belay systems.
Minimise risk of cross loading and mis-alignment of carabiners.
Complete ABCDE safety checks according to organisational procedures
Distribute and fit Clients PPE and Equipment
Demonstrate Abseiling techniques and ground train clients assess client reediness to abseil at height.
Check and confirm participant ability to use and control equipment before activity commencement.
Inform participants of known and anticipated risks, safety procedures, safe behaviour, safe areas and boundaries.
Develop communication protocols to communicate with the abseiler and maintain visual contact of clients. I.e. emergency warning calls for rope deployment and loose rock triggered.
Encourage participants to ask questions and seek advice before and during session.
Monitor participant performance and provide directions, encouragement and corrective instruction to improve techniques.
Respond immediately to adverse participant reactions and hazardous situations.
Respond to hazardous situations I.e. Hair or clothing entrapments or Inversion of a participant
Respond to participant fear and hesitancy bail out.. Hauling techniques to bring your abseiler back to top of cliff
Respond to an unconscious abseiler – patient extraction
Respond to emergency situations according to organisational safety, emergency response and first aid procedures.
Debrief participants and encourage discussion on their technique and satisfaction with session.
Retrieve equipment, inspect for wear or breakage, tag faults and store in designated area
Document any equipment faults and incidents including injuries and near misses.
Evaluate the activity through a team debrief and identify improvements for future activities.
Day 3 – Guide – Top Rope Climbing
Identify safe access to and egress from the pitch
Determine descent and ascent route appropriate for conditions and clients ability
Select anchors and assess condition, including performance under likely load and stability of surroundings.
Rig or establish multiple anchors, ensuring equalisation and minimise potential for shock loading.
Set up safety line to access site for rigging top anchors
Rig ropes to minimise effects of rope stretch and rub points and to allow efficiency
Rig ropes in direct alignment of the intended climbing route
Rig to minimise impact on the natural environment.
Select and tie appropriate knots, and rig ropes suitable for load and function within the anchor system.
Deploy dynamic climbing ropes for bottom managed belay systems
Demonstrate belaying and lowering techniques and ground train clients belay and lowering techniques assess client readiness to belay and lower the climber.
Implement back up belay systems for participants safety and involvement in the activity
Check and confirm participant ability to use and control belay equipment before activity commencement.
Inform participants of known and anticipated risks, safety procedures, safe behaviour, safe areas and boundaries.
Develop communication protocols to communicate between Belay teams and the climbers I.e. ABCDE safety checks and emergency warning calls I.e. loose rock triggered. and other communication during the assent and lowering process
Encourage participants to ask questions and seek advice before and during session.
Monitor participant performance and provide directions, encouragement and corrective instruction to improve techniques.
Respond immediately to adverse participant reactions and hazardous situations.
Respond to hazardous situations I.e. climber going off route and risk of a pendulum fall, hair or clothing entrapments in device when lowering a climber or mismatched belayer to climber weight ratio.
Use techniques that minimise damage to equipment and the surface during activities.
Implement extrication techniques to release a climber from a compromised situation.
Maintain personal safety throughout rescue operations.
Complete ongoing risk assessments to minimise risk of injury to participants and others.
Respond to emergency situations according to organisational safety, emergency response and first aid procedures.
Amend activities if risk is unacceptable; cease activities when required.
Debrief participants and encourage discussion on their technique and satisfaction with session.
Retrieve equipment, inspect for wear or breakage, tag faults and store in designated area.
Document any equipment faults and incidents including injuries and near misses.
Evaluate the activity through a team debrief and identify improvements for future activities.
Day 4 – Guide Abseiling – assessment phase
Trainees to perform skills alone and unaided
Collect Photos for SWMS document
Day 5 – Guide Climbing – assessment phase
Trainees to perform skills alone and unaided
Collect Photos for SWMS document
When competency has been achieved trainees will finalise assessment verification documents and learner questionnaires.
Successful Candidates will receive a Nationally Recognised Statement of Attainment
