This is an updated course from last year based on a convergence of lightweight litter handling techniques developed by the Italian CNSAS (alpine, cave and canyon) and North American techniques. With more and more calls in canyoneering, cave, and far back country alpine developing, the need to promote these SPAR based skills for small hasty teams is ever more critical.

European long drop litter techniques are divided into the “French” technique, which involves a lot of rigging from top to bottom with large teams of personnel at every station moving the litter at a non-stop pace, and the “Italian” technique which utilizes leap-frog rigging with only one shorter rope and a minimal crew of 3 persons, and occasional pauses to reset the system. On big wall or deep pit /canyon litter raises of up to 1800 feet and over 50 rebelays, the entire operation is performed by three responders with only their vertical gear and a Petzl Pro-traction each, serving as the core piece. While technical missions of that magnitude are not common in the USA, these techniques have relevancy for MRA teams with long vertical pitches in free space, against walls, canyoneering venues, cave venues, long ice climbing routes, or long steep snow slopes.

To accomplish this, the CNSAS rely on high individual proficiency in vertical mobility, fitness, and minimal gear to perform fast and safe litter movements and maneuvers. Most of their techniques are single rope based, with engineering redundancy being integrated at the anchor, redundant methodology, and keeping moving lines off edges. In almost all cases, counter weight techniques are used as the haul engine.