Direct Action Vertical

Just a couple of short clips partially explaining the rig you saw in the last reel. In the 2nd clip, I spaced and referred to the Munter hitch as a bowline...(sorry...I was tired) but it is obvious what it is. Very powerful techniques using SPAR skills...counterweight...closed loop rigging, Munter hitches, etc. to perform a complex task with high forces using minimal gear. Again, this system is the basis for the PMR lightweight TTRS and our fumarole rescue system.

Been off line for a while due to domestic stress, but DAV has been as busy as ever. Updates to follow! Starting with the Mt Baker Glacier Cave expedition just completed 3 days ago. DAV provided the logistics and incident command for this first ever science expedition into the active crater of Mt Baker, leading a team of scientists and surveyors from an international team. This involved glacier travel, vertical caving, work in hazmat environments, technical rope rigging, and multiple fields of science. Special thanks to Hilleberg Tents, Sterling Ropes, and Industrial Scientific for air gas monitors. Expedition was huge success, with over 1500 meters of cave surveyed and dozens of samples collected. Thank you all for a remarkable team effort. Also..special thanks to all the porters who carried our payloads up and down the mountain, and in & out of the crater. This mission could NOT have succeeded without you!! More pics to come!
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DAV held an ITRA qualification course for Tactical Rope Operations level 2 in April 2024. We had operators from several agencies in Idaho and 2 from our comrades in the north... Toronto Police. This was also an ITRA reassessment for several Troopers from Oregon State Police. Venues included the DAV training center, Bend Fire Department tower (THANK YOU!), Mt Bachelor Pine Marten Lodge, and the High Bridge at Ogden State Park. As always, these operators executed the course with enthusiasm and achieved their qualification. Thanks also to Mt Bachelor security for the snow cat ride up and down the mountain and role players. As always, our courses include night operational, live fire drills, and reality based training with role players. Look for more courses coming soon!
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Northern lights over the DAV Training Center!

Will be posting on all our recent classes this week. We've been super busy. But wanted to share these photos of the northern lights over our training structure and lodging. Also includes summit of Cline Butte where we do our tactical tracking courses and some MSPAR work.

Course photos coming next!

TRAINING OPPORTUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS: Sorry for the delay but we had to deal with some restructuring in the company. We are happy to announce our first wave of trainings ready for registrations. Please also monitor the calendar on the website to see additional postings…coming soon.

We have 3 ITRA qualification tactical rope courses posted. Registration links are below. The April course here in Redmond is for a level 1 (rappel Master) and level 2. The May course in Spokane is a 6 day course for level 1 (Rappel Master) and Level 3 / Instructor and includes the ITRA helicopter endorsement. The June course in Sioux Falls is for a level 1 Rappelmaster, but there are only 4 slots left there.

There is also a 40 hour Tactical Tracking Operations Course here in Redmond May 21 thru 24. This is an intensive man tracking course heavy on tactics, tracking, and response to ambush, with live fire drills included. It is not just for wilderness tactical teams, but equally useful in urban parks, wooded residential areas, etc…anywhere you have dirt, grass or woods.

Dates not set yet, but more courses planned potentially in Boise, Idaho, and also our rescue courses MSPAR at the MRA conference June 4 – 6 in Salt Lake City, and a cave SPAR course in August.

Attached photos are from past courses. Don’t miss your chance to get this life saving training!

April Tactical Rope course in Redmond, Oregon:
https://directactionvertical.regfox.com/apr-24-troc-level-2-itra-cert


May Tactical Rope course in Spokane, Washington: (Rappel Master and Level 3 / Instructor)
https://directactionvertical.regfox.com/2024-spokane-tactical-rappel-master-course-3-year-certification

https://directactionvertical.regfox.com/may-2024-spokane-itra-level-3-instructor-course


May Tactical Tracking Operations course, Redmond Oregon: https://directactionvertical.regfox.com/may-2024-tactical-tracking-operations-course


June Tactical Rope course in Sioux Falls, South Dakota: https://directactionvertical.regfox.com/tactical-rappel-master-course-sioux-falls

Direct Action Vertical has been off line a bit with transitions, but will posting more now. Many courses are about to post for 2024, so stay tuned! Lots coming in 2024!!

DAV had a very productive visit with SKEDCO this week to discuss litters for the tactical rope operations program / ITRA tactical certifications. The more advanced levels of ITRA tactical involve litter evacuations from back country or high urgency venues...perhaps a downed officer in a high rise structure. The latest SKEDCO litter is ideal for this use and we will be featuring it in upcoming courses and training materials. Photos show DAV trainers Eddy Cartaya and Tom Gall with SKEDCO's Andy Ma in the litter. We are proud to have SKEDCO support for this important, cutting edge program!
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rappel rescue Master Technical Rescue Association rescue rope operations rope certifications Rock officer rescue tracking tracking operations enforcement mountain operations

Rushing water, knife-blade ice, biting wind, axes, ropes, and intelligent robots – and those were the HIGHLIGHTS of our Athabasca days!
Direct Action Vertical was honored to assist its customer NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in their recent Canadian Rockies science expedition!
Additional pics and videos to come!
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What an amazing expedition with one of our favorite customers: NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory!
Nineteen days on the beautiful Athabasca glacier in the Canadian Rockies included rigging, testing, caving, and most importantly supporting JPL's incredible scientists and EELS (the Exobiology Extant Life Surveyor).
This was made possible only due to the tireless dedication of the DAV team, an international group comprised of leaders in their fields of caving, mountaineering, rope access, expedition management, and medical. The best feeling for all DAV instructors was sharing in each and every JPL success and accomplishment.
Stay tuned for more photos and videos over the next few days!
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NTOA 2023 - DAV had a wonderfully successful experience at the National Tactical Officers Association Conference, meeting new contacts from around the country and around the world (including Dubai, Singapore, and Canada), spending time with some of our favorite clients, and enjoying our fellow exhibitors' tiny drones, robot dogs, and armored breaching vehicles!

DAV's exhibitor table highlighted the extensive training program for tactical rope operations, tactical tracking, mountain and cave operations. Since DAV conducts qualification courses for International Technical Rescue Association, information on ITRA programs was also distributed.

The DAV tactical mobility harness was showcased utilizing the new rope climbing demonstration frame fabricated by one of our instructors. Specialized equipment from Anthron, Sterling, and Petzl was also demonstrated.

We are looking forward to a robust training year in 2024.
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SINGING ROCK International Technical Rescue Association Anthron SAR Tactical Petzl Sterling Rope

Direct Action Vertical just completed a 6 day SPAR (Small Party Assisted Rescue) cave rescue course for cavers from around the region. Class was small due to wildfires pulling several students with fire duties away, but this gave those that attended extra time on rope! Students included expedition cavers and project cavers from around the country.

This is the unique curriculum developed by our instructors with several modules of pick offs, converting static systems to dynamic ones, using vertical kit for horizontal movement, shelter in place and survival candle making, blind folded SRT (single rope technique) courses, water problems in our unique wet-cave prop, patient movement drills in our pipe (cave) complex, as well as medical, expedition planning, and decision making. Caves in the local US Forest made for great in-cave experiences.

More advanced SPAR and MSPAR courses (level 2) will be coming up in 2024, so stay tuned. These will allow graduates of SPAR or MSPAR to get into the next level of minimal gear small party / team extrications. Vertical caving courses for beginner and advanced cavers will be forthcoming as well based on regional NSS grotto demand.
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SINGING ROCK Petzl Derick Calloway SAR Tactical Sterling Rope International Technical Rescue Association Anthron

DAV just completed an incredibly successful visit with one of our most amazing customers: NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory!

JPL has been a Direct Action Vertical customer for 6+ years, with DAV providing expedition planning/rigging/leadership and logistical expertise, through a variety of JPL projects/missions: Mt Rainier, Mt St Helens, Mt Meager, and Athabasca Glacier, Canada.

Our most recent visit included both a basic/advanced glacier safety course for the JPL scientists, and a rigging/planning workshop for the EELS (Exobiology Extant Life Surveyor) project. EELS is a potentially world-changing mission; it could one day look for signs of life in the oceans hiding below the ice of Saturn's moon Enceladus!

DAV's talented instructors worked closely with JPL's team of brilliantly innovative engineers to train, plan and ensure the success of the upcoming September field test at Athabasca Glacier in the Canadian Rockies.

Enjoy this JPL EELS video and a few stills from our days at JPL! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IAIWm7BL4v4