SAR responders often have subjects who have wandered by accident into slightly technical terrain in which the subject finds themselves unable to continue up or down. Another common scenario is there are two subjects in technical terrain, one injured, one not, and once the injured subject has been successfully evacuated the remaining subject needs to be removed from the terrain as well. Short roping and short pitching are two related techniques that can be added to a responder's suite of rope-use tools to efficiently help people out of these sorts of terrain problems. Short roping/pitching is an advanced technique that experienced recreational or professional climbers can use to provide a belay to a subject in third or fourth class terrain, without the need for more complex and time consuming rope systems.

Course objectives include:
-identify situations where short roping/pitching is a potential solution
-understand where short roping cannot be safely utilized
-rig rope for short roping and pitching
-effectively use terrain features and body position to provide a safe belay
-gain enough experience to a point where you can continue to practice on your own