Reed Thorne has been involved in the teaching of techniques relative to the 'vertical realm' since the early 1970's. In Southern California, his first activities dealing with rope were with the Sierra Club Angeles Chapter (Orange County Group) where Reed became a Hundred Peak, Rock Climbing and Mountaineering Section leader through training with the Sierra Club's Leadership Section. He eventually moved into rope rescue instruction under nationally-recognized US National Park SAR ranger, Butch Farabee, at the Grand Canyon in Arizona between the years of 1981 and 1986. Butch is credited with having shaped Reed's early years as a rope instructor.

In 1989, Reed was also instrumental in the preliminary testing of belay techniques alongside John Dill of Yosemite SAR and Arnor Larson of the British Columbia Council of Technical Rescue in BC, Canada. These tests still remain some of the most extensive ever attempted by a volunteer team of lay-researchers, the results of which were published in Response magazine in the highly acclaimed 1990 article "Are You Really On Belay?" by John Dill. Many of Reed's hand-drawn illustrations accompanied this article.

Reed now has attained recent Technician Level certification with the Society of Professional Rope Access Technicians (SPRAT) where he practices rope access procedures often on his back yard training and testing tower. His services have been required on several dams and bridges throughout the Southwest including work on Hoover Dam and also in training Arizona Department of Transportation structural engineers during the construction of Navajo Bridge over Marble Canyon in 1995. His work with various construction companies such as Edward Kraemer and Sons, Kiewitt Western and Vastco Company have earned him a reputation as a knowledgeable technical rigger where understanding and safety are of paramount concern.

He formerly was the primary rope discipline instructor for the Arizona State Fire Marshal's Office for over five years before privately forming Ropes That Rescue Ltd. (RTR) in 1993. Since then, RTR has traveled and taught extensive programs to fire/EMS agencies around the world, including Australia where he holds regular programs hosted by Fire & Rescue Australia. Mining and oil refineries from Arizona to northern Canada have contracted rescue programs within the challenging terrains of their own operations. Electric power utilities and others have also used Reed to teach their emergency response teams. His thorough knowledge of the electric power delivery industry has lead to many of the procedures and techniques he espouses in his rigging courses. In 2001, Reed's pioneering power line rescue techniques were featured in the History Channel special "High Voltage" (on 'Suicide Missions') delineating extra hazardous rescue procedures with Georgia Power transmission linemen on energized 500,000 volt power lines (left). In addition, Reed has recently completed two full-length DVD's on TOWER RESCUE, one for emergency responders and a second specifically for tower workers. These training DVD's are accompanied by full color manuals (right) which Reed authored, photographed and illustrated.

During times that Reed is not teaching rope rescue programs, or consulting for industry, he is busy as an accomplished mason. Brickwork had previously been his main living since the early '70's. He designed and built his own three-level masonry home in Oak Creek Canyon, Arizona north of Sedona which is built from native river stone and old Phoenix sand mold brick. Reed still comes "out of hiding" to work on custom brick jobs and interesting Rumford fireplaces around the Southwest. Check the Rumford web site for Reed's masonry work http://rumford.com/Thorne.html. Reed also dabbles in cartooning and other forms of artwork. His cartoons have been featured in Advance Rescue Technology magazine accompanying his article "A Young Person's Guide to Pulley Systems" in 2001 and later in a nine part series "A Young Person's Guide to Structural Rescue" in 2005. Click on the drawing to see the entire stupid cartoon.

Len Batley is a Fire Officer with the South Australian Metropolitan Fire Service, Australia. He has over 20 years experience in Emergency Services specializing in Technical Rescue. Len has achieved instructor status with many emergency services Australia wide as well as holding many international qualifications. During his time in the Fire Service he started and coordinated the rope rescue program expanding in to other areas of technical rescue. This involved the initial implementation and training of instructors, and the control of quality standards through all shifts and departments of the Fire Service.

In 1998 Len was awarded the prestigious Winston Churchill Memorial Trust Fellowship. This opportunity enabled Len to study technical rescue with emergency organizations in Canada, United States, Sweden, United Kingdom and Singapore for six months. Utilizing his knowledge gained locally and internationally Len has set up a training company (Fire & Rescue Australia). Fire & Rescue Australia specializes in teaching ongoing training to corporations, emergency services members and individuals. Participants frequently describe Len's courses as "the most intensive, enjoyable learning experience in Australia for rescuers". Len is privileged to be working with Ropes that Rescue and hopes he may be able learn from Reed and other members and to share his knowledge with rescuers all over the world.

Doug Clark's interest in ropes began at the age of 14 when he was first introduced to climbing. That interest quickly expanded to a passion. That passion has taken him from the tropical limestone of Thailand to month long expeditions in the Canadian Rockies. He has climbed the big walls of Yosemite to the splitters of Nevada, but will always return to his backyard, the Washington Cascades.

Doug was hired with the city of Wenatchee, Washington as a Firefighter in 1995. Having had exposure to many rescue disciplines, he chose to make technical rope rescue his specialty. After beginning his instructor training with Ropes That Rescue in 1997, he returned to the Wenatchee Fire Department and created their current rope rescue program. He quickly became a consultant for many of the surrounding fire districts. In 1998 he was approached to implement a technical rescue program for the Alcoa Wenatchee Works Aluminum plant and provided initial and ongoing training for their 40 person team. Along with instructing many fire departments throughout the state of Washington he is a member of the instruction cadre for the North Central Washington Technical Skills Center, and has taught seminars for the National Ski Patrol.

Doug has logged over 900 hours of instruction in the art of rope rescue. His background has allowed him to interact with all types of students ranging from professional firefighters to people in industry. Aside from his time spent teaching; he has gained experience through his involvement with his local mountain rescue group.

In his free time Doug enjoys many outdoor activities including canoeing, mountain biking, and hiking with his wife, Mandy, and their Australian Shepherd, Zoe. Doug and Mandy just recently welcomed a brand new baby daughter to the household! Her name is Mya Isabella Clark. We're still waiting for pics!

Mike Green is a Captain with the Montgomery County (Maryland) Fire and Rescue Department where he is currently the Station Commander of Station 3. He is also a member of Maryland Task Force 1, a FEMA US&R Team, where he serves as a Rescue Squad Leader. Although involved with many disciplines of technical rescue, Mike enjoys technical rope rescue the most. He has taught thousands of hours of technical rescue courses for his own department, the Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute, and FEMA US&R program. Prior to becoming an official instructor for RTR, he acted as an assistant to Reed in a number of his programs. He credits his success in rope rescue to Reed Thorne and Kirk Mauthner (of RIGGING FOR RESCUE of British Columbia), both of whom he has studied extensively with for almost 15 years.

Mike has an associates degree in Engineering. Physics and mathematics play a crucial role in all aspects of technical rescue, and he enjoys applying these principles to a wide range of technical rescue scenarios and problems. He especially enjoys the rare opportunity to elevate the bar and teach technical rescue at a truly advanced level. Another interest of Mike's is research and testing of technical rescue equipment and systems. Like physics and math, testing is also a critical component of technical rescue. In his spare time, Mike spends considerable time on the golf course and driving range. He lives near Frederick, Maryland with his wife Sharyn, girls Courtney and Lindsey, and cat Max.

Green at the Pentagon after 9-11

Eric entered the vertical world during high school in 1977, learning rock climbing on the sandstone cliffs of Southern Illinois.  Since then, climbing has been a constant.  He has opened over 150 new climbing routes in Southern Illinois, and has climbed in areas across the United States.  In 1981, Eric concurrently began a 12-year tenure as a Tae Kwon Do and Hapkido instructor at Southern Illinois and Southeast Missouri State Universities, and at private schools.  He feels that he draws upon this foundation of precision-coordination teaching when teaching anything, especially the technical aspects of both rigging and climbing movement.  Since 1993, Eric and his wife, Kathy, have owned and operated the Vertical Heartland Climbing School.  In 1996, they purchased about ¼ mile of the 110-foot high south face of Draper's Bluff in Southern Illinois, built their home at the base, and have since operated the climbing school on site.

In the mid-1990s, Eric received training up through advanced rock guide with the American Mountain Guide Association, focusing heavily on multi-pitch guiding and minimalist rescue scenarios.  Eric joined the Ropes That Rescue staff in 2005, after training with Reed Thorne since 2002.  If not teaching for Reed, Eric can otherwise be found doing complex rigging for sectional trimming and removal of trees leaning over homes with his business, Rope Science Tree Service .

A sampling of Eric’s other work includes: changing ot 500-pound Hilton Hotel signs via rope access 380 feet above the streets of Springfield, IL; teaching rope skills to Team Columbia Sportswear (EcoChallenge); rope accessed hi-rise window washing in St. Louis; and rigging for a Rescue 911 television show.

He is the author of three editions of Vertical Heartland: A Rock Climber's Guide to Southern Illinois, having finished the latest in early 2005.  He is a licensed Emergency Medical Technician- Intermediate level- with 13 years of ambulance experience at Jackson County, Illinois.  Despite swapping full-time ambulance work for his tree service, Eric remains on the ambulance employee roster to lead the Jackson County Rope Rescue Team in regular trainings and the occasional real call.  Eric holds a Bachelor of Science degree in-Recreation from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale.  Away from work, he enjoys rock climbing with Kathy and their son, Lukas, and his other passions of martial arts and in-line skating.

Dave Van Holstyn (nickname: VH1) is a career Lieutenant and Technical Rescue Coordinator with the Grand Rapids (MI) Fire Department, currently assigned to Rescue Engine Co. #5, one of the departments technical rescue companies. He is a lifelong resident of Grand Rapids and began his fire service career in 1987 as a paid-on-call firefighter in Walker.

"I think what attracted me to the fire service was the challenge of being called to the worst of situations with the expectation that we will solve the problem. And we do. We have to. There isn't anyone else".

Technical rescue incidents present some of the most challenging of those incidents.

Dave began his formal technical rescue training in 1993 as a charter member of the GRFD confined space rescue team, but his exposure to working at heights started in high school while doing work on communications towers. Dave is a team leader for the West Michigan Regional Collapse Rescue Team and as a state certified instructor is active in teaching structural collapse rescue, however rope rescue remains his specialty. He has conducted countless classes, not only for fire departments in Michigan, but also for industrial rescuers in a dozen states and Canada. Dave has made several presentations at the Fire Department Instructors Conference in Indianapolis and is also one of their Hands-On Instructors. Dave was involved in the development of programs on firefighter survival, rapid intervention teams, and most recently industrial extrication.

The best memories of his career are intertwined with his worst. The best revolve around the opportunity to not only meet, work, and train with but to also become friends with the best firefighters in the country. These were men who not only understood the mission of the fire service and did it well, but who also exhibited the traits of a leader; humility, compassion and a genuine desire to help others. Tragically several of them were killed on 9/11/01.

"I'll never forget Lt. Peter Martin, FF John Vigiano, his brother, NYPD Detective Joseph Vigiano and the nearly 400 others who died because they understood the mission and didn't back away."

Dave's wife of 27 years is Joanne, a special education teacher. They have three children, Mark, Beth and Renee. Dave and Joanne both enjoy music by Mercy Me, Casting Crowns and Aaron Shust. http://www.mercyme.org/main/pages/audio http://www.mercyme.org/main/pages/audio

As time allows they like to ride the bikes trails in Michigan and enjoy taking day hikes, then relaxing around the campfire.

"The thing I really enjoy about being associated with RTR is the opportunity to get outside the cookie cutter mentality that surrounds rope rescue in the fire service. The challenges of doing more with less (both people and equipment), the problem solving required combined with the opportunity to work in some of the most unique venues in the country is awesome. On top of all that, you get to meet and work with some of the best rope rescue people in the country....definitely the cream of the crop!"

Scott began his career in the vertical realm in 1978. With a pair of sneakers and a "swami"  belt, he began the journey of rock climbing that has taken him to many different climbing areas of the world including Mt. Arapiles; Australia, Siruana; Spain, Verdon Gorge; France, Pembroke; England and Squamish; Canada, et al.  Traveling to different countries of the world, helps me retain an appreciation for everything we have and all that the U.S. has to offer, yet I learn something new about myself and our way of life every time I travel abroad .  Scott has climbed locally for 30 years in the Lake Tahoe basin.  He has climbed many of the classic long free and aid routes on the immense granite cliffs of Yosemite, namely, El Captain's Salathe wall and the world renowned free climb, Astroman on Washington's column.

Scott is currently employed with the Roseville Fire Department and is a Captain on Truck 7 on the "B"  shift. He has been in the fire service for over 20 years, first starting as a Volunteer Firefighter in Placerville, Ca., then becoming a full-time career Firefighter in 1988. Two years later he took a job with Roseville, and was promoted to Engineer in 1993 and then to Captain in 1997. Scott became a Haz-Mat Specialist in 1993 and became California State Rescue systems I & II, Confined Space, Trench Rescue, and Shallow Water Dive Rescue certified. He is also a member of  FEMA's CATF-7 USAR team as a rescue specialist. Scott is in charge of all Technical Rope Rescue work and rope rescue training at Roseville Fire Dept. I believe that rope rescue is a natural step in the life of a climber, as it has a sense of being able to give back to the community. Because rope rescue involves a multitude of different skill sets such as knot-craft, metallurgy,  physics and math, it keeps me captivated.

Scott married his climbing partner, Colleen. She has a Master's degree in Math and teaches at Western Nevada Community College and at Lake Tahoe Community College. They have just competed building their dream home on the southern shore of Lake Tahoe, although the house is livable, there is still considerable work to be done. The finishing touches always take the longest, seemingly. Scott loves to work with wood and built the cabinets for his kitchen, baths and did 90% of the mill work for his house. Scott did most of the building of this house including the framing, electrical and plumbing (with some assistance from his wife and other subs). "I tried to make the house as efficient as possible by using energy efficient materials wherever we could". This may have been a little more costly up front, but expect to get big returns in the future. So far, so good! My electric and gas bills have been very affordable to this point.

Daniel, Scott's son, is a Freshman in the University of Utah studying business and minoring in recreation and tourism. He loves Utah with all of its' diverse outdoor activities  and natural beauty of the landscape such as the high desert in the south and the striking mountains just outside of town in the Wasatch. Scott, Colleen and Daniel all love the great outdoors and the many facets of activity it can bring. They love to climb, ski, bike, walk and travel in the wonderful playground of the Sierra Nevada and elsewhere. "I am always excited to travel to a new area and explore, looking for something different and unusual. I love to find different types of rock to climb, along with different venues to play in".

Scott is honored to become part of the team at Ropes that Rescue, and is looking forward to offering Northern California and Nevada some of the best there is to offer in Rope Rescue training.