The Forest Hill Bridge outside of Auburn, CA which is 730' high above the North Fork of the American River and is California's HIGHEST BRIDGE! (and the forth highest in the USA). This bridge is normally open to RTR students for all courses in central Califonia. The bridge is subject to availablity. Nothing can surpass the Forest Hill Bridge for structural rescue and personal or team skill. The FHB is used in ALL programs taught in Central California: (subject to availability by CALTRANS) 

PSRW (Personal Skills Rescue Workshop), TSRW (Team Skills Rescue Workshop), ASRW (Advanced Skills Rescue Workshop), OHRW (Offset/Highline Rescue Workshop), STRW (Structural Tower Rescue Workshop) andthe IRW (Industrial Rescue Workshop)

I very long tracking line offset with litter and attendant being used in the California, TSRW (Team Skills Rescue Workshop) in 2008.

Here, students practice lead climbing 700' above the North Fork of the American River during the PSRW (Personal Skills Rescue Workshop) in 2008. Note the student climber is practicing on the outside of the ladder for a more thrilling lead.

Master Instructor, Yasuhiro Abe, of Japan going over the edge on Forest Hill Bridge, CA near Auburn

Here, students practice lead climbing 700' above the North Fork of the American River during the PSRW (Personal Skills Rescue Workshop) in 2008. Note the student climber is practicing on the outside of the ladder for a more thrilling lead.

The American flag courtesy of former Sacramento Metro Fire Captain Tom Briggs in Arizona Vortex SA frame evolution during TSRW (Team Skills Rescue Workshop) on Forest Hill Bridge in 2007

The large open girders of the Forest Hill Bridge make a perfect playground for confined space entry rescues. 

The large open girders of the Forest Hill Bridge make a perfect playground for confined space entry rescues. Here a view straight down 730' to ground. The passages are staggered so the evacuation is difficult without the use of frames

The large open girders of the Forest Hill Bridge make a perfect playground for confined space entry rescues. Here a view straight down 730' to ground. The passages are staggered so the evacuation is difficult without the use of frames. An Arizona Vortex SA frame is used for this purpose at the platform. RTR instructor, Greg Powell is just below the frame on Hawaiian Shirt Day

Nothing can surpass the Forest Hill Bridge for structural rescue and personal or team skill. The FHB is used in ALL programs taught in Central California: (subject to availability by CALTRANS) PSRW (Personal Skills Rescue Workshop), TSRW (Team Skills Rescue Workshop), ASRW (Advanced Skills Rescue Workshop), OHRW (Offset/Highline Rescue Workshop), STRW (Structural Tower Rescue Workshop) andthe IRW (Industrial Rescue Workshop)

RTR Washington Instructor, Greg Sobole, as attendant during early California 2007 TSRW (Team Skills Rescue Workshop)

Auburn Cliffs at the old Cool Limestone Quarry during TSRW (Team Skills Rescue Workshop) in 2008. Here litter work through an SA frame

Students from Japan, including master instructor, Yasuhiro Abe (blue jacket), practice edge transitions from an Arizona Vortex easel A frame

A difficult edge transition on sloping rock under an SA frame.

A small Arizona Vortex Skyhook® Capstan Winch platform for work at the Aubern Cliffs Quarry in 2011 OHRW (Offset Highline Rescue Workshop)

Students at the OHRW (Offset Highline Rescue Workshop) practice litter work through a guyed Arizona Vortex SA frame in 2011

Students at the 2013 OHRW (Offset Highline Rescue Workshop) practice difficutl and rigging intensive litter bypass of litter through mid span station work through an Arizona Vortex easel A frame

The WAPA (Western Area Power Administration) at Elverta, California near Sacramento is a one-of-a-kind opportunity to actually get on power transmission lines, towers and conductors. Here, students of the PSRW (Personal Skills Rescue Workshop) practice multiple evolutions on a 500kv power line which is full height at 40 meters (120')

More photos to follow.

Lowering off the wires after a team-based rescue at WAPA. (Western Area Power Administration)

More photos of the WAPA structural "playground"

RTR Assistant Instructor, Keith Thorne, with James Teasley practice mid span descents on improvised log roll hitch off of conductor bundle at WAPA

RTR Assistant Instructor, Keith Thorne, waits above on dead end (hot end yoke plate and corona ring) watching students perform rescue pick offs on conductor below. 

Each of three conductors being used to teach personal skill during PSRW (Personal Skills Rescue Workshop) as RTR Assistant Instructor, Keith Thorne watches from tower. 

RTR Assistant Instructor, Keith Thorne, watches from end of arm, student performs dynamic skate block offset pick/litter scoop on hanging victim (see hanging AZTEK)

A master evolution where students perform a pick off of an injured patient on the conductor, transfer them to the tower via a tracking line, and then lower on that same tracking line to the ground. RTR Assistant Instructor, Keith Thorne, watched from the tower. The drawing in the next photo was Reed Thorne's briefing of the plan in this 2012 OHRW (Offset Highline Rescue Workshop) at WAPA

Reed Thorne carries his portable white board everyplace he travels around the world

Ropes That Rescue "Adopt-A-Highway" on Hwy 89A

RTR has been 'sponsoring' (Adopt-A-Highway) a two mile section of Arizona scenic highway 89-A in Oak Creek Canyon since 1993. This beautiful scenic section is just above Midgley Bridge and includes a spectacular vista of the red rock Mitten Ridge and famous Teapot Rock (just behind the right sign post). 

This John William Waterhouse painting illustrates Alfred Tennyson's poem The Lady of Shalott. Draped over the boat is the fabric the lady wove in a tower near Camelot. But she brought a curse on herself by looking directly at Sir Lancelot. With her right hand she lets go of the chain mooring the boat. Her mouth is slightly open, as she sings 'her last song'. She stares at a crucifix lying in front of her. Beside it are three candles, often used to symbolize life. Two have blown out. This suggests her life will end soon, as she floats down the river.

From Reed Thorne: The classic Brittish Pre-Raphaelite style John William Waterhouse painting of The Lady of Shalott from the Tenneyson Poem. The painting is my favorite classical piece found in the Tate Museum in London. I stood in awe of it when I visited the Tate in 1974.