FirstSpear

Archive for the ‘Mountaineering’ Category

32 North STABILicers

Tuesday, March 15th, 2016

STABILicers are American made tarction decices that are worn attached to the soles of your footwear.  This is the Hike XP model.

The Hike XP incorporates their SureFit™ binding system and contoured insole provide a secure fit. These are a great option for those wearing commercial hiking boots in icy and other slippery conditions. Made from a Lightweight Thermo Plastic Elastomer that remains pliable in cold weather, they also incorporate replaceable cleats.

While the model I’ve shown is for use with hiking boots, several models will fit military footwear.

www.32north.com/icers/27-stabil-hike-xp

High Angle Solutions – CTOMS – T2-Harness

Wednesday, March 9th, 2016

T2-Harness

We set out to solve the problem of wearing a chest or full body harness that incorporates into an armor plate carrier system. Typically a system like this would either go under the armor, making the high attachment point exit from behind the plate getting into the face of the wearer. The other more common option if for a system to go over top of the plate carrier and all the attached pouches. The problem with that is that it makes the pouches less accessible and when loaded can crush the content. Not ideal for things like first aid kits and even pressing the PTT switch on a radio.

We designed the T2-Harness to seamlessly integrate into a plate carrier. The webbing runs through the MOLLE in front of the armor, but behind any mounted pouches thus solving the two major problems. The T2 must be used in conjunction with either an M2 or G2 Harness (sold separately) as the only tested and compatible seat components, creating a Class 3 harness system.

T2 Harness 360 View

The T2 uses the same convenient connection style as our patented M2 Harness system. Comfort adjustment is fast and easy while donned to transition from suspension to walking and vice versa.

ctoms.ca

High Angle Solutions is a weekly feature by DMM, CTOMS, and Atlas Devices.

High Angle Solutions – DMM – Chimera

Wednesday, March 2nd, 2016

dmm

An evolution of our ever popular Phantom, the Chimera is the ultimate in high performance, light weight, clean nosed biners. The clean and shrouded nose gives added security from snagging and accidental gate opening, and the low weight reduces your overall load, making the Chimera perfect for fast and light missions.

dmm2

> Designed for maximum strength with minimum weight at 30g

> Clean nose for snag-free clipping and unclipping

> Quickdraws supplied on 8mm Dynatec with rubber keeper

dmmwales.com

High Angle Solutions is a weekly feature by DMM, CTOMS, and Atlas Devices.

Identify The Kit

Sunday, February 28th, 2016

  
Identify the gear used on this McKinley summit team from the U.S. Army’s NWTC.

That’s Quite A Sight

Thursday, February 18th, 2016

  
Thanks Piotr!

High Angle Solutions – CTOMS – TRACE Systems Authorized Trainer Course

Wednesday, February 17th, 2016

TRACE Course Photo 1

The TRACE Systems Authorized Trainer Course is a 5 day program that covers advanced use of TRACE Systems. Topics include professional and hasty rescue systems with 1 and 2 person loads, guiding lines, high lines with reeves, multi-pitch work climbing, glacier travel and crevasse rescue among other topics. The 5 days of training will bring a unit/agency’s instructor cadre to the Authorized TRACE Systems Trainer level for the agency, and Instructor level for the Instructors, authorizing them to teach basic and advanced use to their unit after completing the online pre-course/pre-use packages. This course is ideal for military units requiring complex terrain negotiation, law enforcement special tactics units and even civil Search and Rescue Team. TRACE Systems is not to replace traditional systems, but to fill a gap, provide a light weight alternative, without compromise of safety or capability, when traditional systems are weigh prohibitive.

TRACE Course Photo 5

Venue’s for the training can be urban, mountain or a mixture of both depending on the agency’s mission requirements. A typical course will start with a day of basics, getting into the details and the importance of specific progression in the training when running a course. Glacier travel and crevasse rescue can be taught on a tower or rock. A glacier is not a key component to learning the systems. Two days of rescue systems follow learning professional rescue with one and two rescuers. Included in those days is high lines that can be used with a reeve for rescue, or for bridging in complex terrain negotiation. The fourth day will get into the process of climbing with the system, setting up fixed lines and the always interesting discussion of self-rescue. The work week finishes off, depending on venue, with a multi-pitch climb. And all this done on the TRACE Systems 6mm rope.

ctoms.ca

High Angle Solutions is a weekly feature by DMM, CTOMS, and Atlas Devices.

High Angle Solutions – Atlas Devices – Atlas Powered Ascender 5 (APA5)

Wednesday, February 10th, 2016

Atlas Devices-APA5-Single Person Rescue

The Atlas Powered Ascender 5, or APA-5, is a powered ascension device which is optimized for situations such as High Angle Rescue, Confined Space Rescue, Disaster Response, and AIROPS. Described as “the 4-6 man haul team in 1 box”, the APA-5 features trigger controllable speed with power tool-like design, and requires minimal training to operate.

Specs

Ascender

– PN: APA-5, APA-5-S (AK-APA5 for Full Kit)
– Weight: 14.5 lbs /6.6kg
– Max direct lift capacity: 600 lbs /272kg
– Ascent/descent speed: Variable
– Intuitive power tool-like operation / Variable speed control governor
– Submerged system operation
– Load-rated housing

Battery

– STD-7.5lbs/3.4kg; High Capacity-12.4lbs/5.6kg
– Depth-rated interchangeable battery

Rope

– Rope diameters: 6-11mm
– Integrates seamlessly with COTS climbing equipment

Environmental

– Operational seawater depth rating
– Operating Temp Range: -10° F to +120° F / -23° C to +49° F

Safety

– Fully tensile load-rated housing
– Ergonomic safety interlock for operation
– Emergency mechanical descent without battery
– Non-volatile battery if punctured by ballistic

Options

– Wired or wireless remote control
– High-speed ascent (lower max lift capacity)
– Multi-diameter rope capability in single configuration
– Extended life battery

Certifications

– NAVSEA 9310 Certified by US DoD
– US DoD Test and Evaluation Command Safety Confirmation
– certification for Operational Use

Examples of the APA-5 in use

Atlas Devices-APA5-Single Person Hoist Recovery w Remote

1-Person Rescue APA5 w/ Remote Control: Horizontal Hoist w/ High Point

Atlas Devices-APA5-Single Rescuer Hoist Edge Transition

1-Person Rescue w/ Remote Control: Horizontal Hoist-Edge Transition w/ High Point

Atlas Devices-APA5-Patient Recovery w Tagline

1-Person Rescue w/ Remote Control: Horizontal Hoist w/Tagline

Atlas Devices-APA5-Edge Loading w Two Person Load

2-Person Rescue w/Edge Guard: Horizontal Hoist w/ Low Point

Atlas Devices-APA5-Vertical Patient Recovery w Remote

1-Person Rescue w/ Remote Control: Vertical Hoist

Atlas Devices-APA5-Dismount for Patient Recovery

Get the full Atlas Catalog here: atlasdevices.com/pdf/Atlas_Devices-2015_Catalog.pdf

For more info visit www.atlasdevices.com or email sales@atlasdevices.com.

High Angle Solutions is a weekly feature by DMM, CTOMS, and Atlas Devices.

High Angle Solutions – DMM – Colors, Finishes and Customization

Wednesday, February 3rd, 2016

Colors and Coatings:

DMM offers a range of color and coating options on alloy and steel products to aid environmental concealment and noise suppression. Further customization services, such as identification markings and bespoke sewn elements are also available to create a custom product specific to its end use.

Anodizing:

Anodizing is the standard coating process for use on DMM aluminium products. This process not only offers corrosion and wear resistance, but also allows for color to be used for aesthetics and identification, or, in the military environment, to aid with concealment.

By fine tuning the anodizing process they are able to offer a range of subdued colours in a matte finish. The anodizing process DMM uses conforms to BS EN ISO 7599:2010 Class AA10 sealed. This process will withstand the rigors of a 48 hour neutral salt spray as described in ISO 9227.

Their standard tactical color from 2016 is Matt Grey and the bulk of their products will be available stock in this color although some will be available stock in black. Other subdued colors are available subject to a minimum order quantity.

For a number of years black has been the color of choice for tactical metal hardwear, however, it is hardly the most appropriate color to blend into any background as it produces an almost perfect silhouette and as we know, black is not often found in nature so is easily picked up by the MK1 human eyeball as being out of place.

Black seems to have stemmed from the shock and awe hostage rescue environment, however, there are now far more groups within the military employing climbing to provide a tactical advantage in wilderness, urban and maritime environments, these operators require a more subtle approach. Matt grey provides a very dull solution in all of these environments, it is far more consistent in production to get a very matt finish on grey than with other colors.

Image 1 Matt Grey Alpha Light

Cerakote:

Cerakote is a ceramic based coating that has excellent wear, hardness, chemical resistance, abrasion resistance andcolor  consistency. Cerakote is available in a massive range of colors to suit the environment you are working in, it is also available in a reduced visual IR-signature detection version.

The main advantage of Cerakote for climbing equipment is the excellent color consistency and matt finish which allow the end user to specify colors which are impossible to achieve through anodizing.

Image 2 Cerakote Boa

PVC Coating:

Selected products are available with a PVC coating. The PVC provides a protective coating and more importantly reduces the sound signature in environments where sound suppression is a priority.

Image 3 PVC Coating

Custom Marking

Standard Markings:

All DMM metal products carry a unique serial number and any international certifications the product complies with. The unique serial number allows every single item to be individually traced back to its original date and order of production.

Image 4 Serial Identity

Unique Customization:

DMM are also able to offer custom laser etching in addition to the normal etching required by the standards. This can take the form of identification marks and numbers to aid internal administration, through to decorative markings such as unit insignia.

Image 5 Royal Marines Fly Axe

Sewn Product Customization:

DMM extend their customization options to sewn products where they can sew bespoke lengths of slings in a variety of technical Dynatec, nylon and polyester webbings that are suitable for safety critical environments.

Using the same traceability they apply to their metal products, all DMM sewn products have unique reference numbers, however DMM can also customise the labelling on sewn products such as slings, quickdraws and sewn terminations on rope with unit identity codes or reference numbers.

All DMM customisation options are subject to minimum order quantities.

dmmwales.com

High Angle Solutions is a weekly feature by DMM, CTOMS, and Atlas Devices.