Guatemala 2016: Mechanical Advantage Systems
Team members Derick Reinhard and David Thompson worked all week teaching the basics and more advanced techniques of mechanical advantage systems. This included a review of basic knots, raises and lowers, inline and piggyback systems using 1:1, 2:1, 3:1, and 4:1 setups. Students also learned and practiced how to ascend and descend using prussiks in one of the most unique training locations on the base. Double rope techniques were used throughout the exercises to reiterate the need to maintain safety in high risk situations. They used traditional rope-on-rope techniques with prussiks and pulleys to create a redundant system that included technical advantages and the ability to switch from a raise to a lower while the system is loaded.
