A Sport and Rope Rescue Bibliography, by Thomas Evans
Presented here is a bibliography of books related to sport and rescue rigging divided by general subject. Readers are encouraged to read books from other disciplines. The full list of citations can be downloaded here.
For those interested, I have written a review of all of these citations, and that full review can be found on this page, or can be downloaded here.
Note: Because this bibliography has gotten so large, the list of books is broken up by their intended audience (e.g., firefighters, cavers, canyoneers, etc.). Readers are encouraged to read through the citations intended for other disciplines so you can find other useful resources.
Canyoneering/Canyoning Technique Books: (Intended for those moving through canyons, all books have short sections on small party rescue techniques)
Single Rope Technique Books: (Intended for cavers, most have short sections on small party rescue techniques)
Cave Rescue Books: (Intended as guides for those interested in cave rescue specifically)
Arborist Books: (Books designed to teach rope access for tree workers)
Slacklining Books: (Books that teach how to rig and use slacklines)
Climbing Books: (Here I cast a wide net for books on any type of climbing; sport, trad, big wall, etc.)
Snow and Ice Climbing, and Glacier Travel Books: (Most intended for recreational users)
Rope Rescue Books: (Most of these books are primarily written for the Fire Service)
Swiftwater Rescue Books: (Most of these books are primarily written for the Fire Service)
Industrial/Rope Access: (Intended for people who employ workers at height, or people who work at height)
General On Line Resources:
For those interested, I have written a review of all of these citations, and that full review can be found on this page, or can be downloaded here.
Note: Because this bibliography has gotten so large, the list of books is broken up by their intended audience (e.g., firefighters, cavers, canyoneers, etc.). Readers are encouraged to read through the citations intended for other disciplines so you can find other useful resources.
Canyoneering/Canyoning Technique Books: (Intended for those moving through canyons, all books have short sections on small party rescue techniques)
- Black, D., 2013. Canyoneering: A Guide to Techniques for Wet and Dry Canyons,
- Corpo Nazionale Soccorso Alpino E Speleologico, 2013, Manuale Tecnico Do Soccorso In Forra, Progressione E Soccorso In Canyon, Direzione Corp Nazionale Soccorso Alpino e Speleologico, Milano, Italy
- Jeffrey, Darren, McDaniel, Travis, 2010, Canyoneering Anchors and Basic Rope Systems, AuthorHouse, Indiana
- Prattley, Grant, Clearwater Daniel, 2020, Canyoning Technical Manual, Over the Edge Rescue
- Van Tilburg, Christopher, 2000, Canyoneering: Beginning to Advanced Techniques, The Mountaineers, Seattle, WA
Single Rope Technique Books: (Intended for cavers, most have short sections on small party rescue techniques)
- Ecole Francaise de Speleologie, 2013, Caving Technical Guide, English Edition, Federation Francaise de Speleologie, France
- Elliot, D., 1986. Single Rope Technique: A Training Manual, Troll Safety Equipment, Oldham
- Federation Francaise De Speleologie, 2014, L'utilisation des techniques <<legeres>> en speleologie, Les Cahiers De L'E.F.S. No. 14
- Marbach, G., and Tourte, B., 2002. Alpine Caving Techniques: A Complete Guide to Safe and Efficient Caving, First English Edition, Urs Widmer, Switzerland
- Meredith, M., and Martinez, D., 1986. Vertical Caving, Second Edition, Lyon Equipment, Dent, United Kingdom
- Montgomery, N. R., 1977. Singe Rope Techniques: A Guide for Vertical Cavers, Sydney Speleological Society, Sydney, Australia
- Smith, B., and Padgett, A., 1996. On Rope: North American Vertical Rope Techniques, New Revised Edition, National Speleological Society, Huntsville Alabama
- Warild, A., 2007. Vertical: A Technical Manual for Cavers, Fifth Edition, Published by Alan Warild, Newtown, Australia
Cave Rescue Books: (Intended as guides for those interested in cave rescue specifically)
- Cartaya, Eddy, Speact, Rick, 2019, SPAR, Small Party Assisted Rescue: Expedition and Small Party Rescue Techniques, First Edition, Vertically Speaking, Printed in China
- Corpo Nazionale Soccorso Alpino E Speleologico, 2015, Cave Rescue Techniques, Corpo Nazionale Soccorso Alpino e Speleologico, Milano, Italy
- Corpo Nazionale Soccorso Alpino E Speleologico, 2013, Tecniche di soccorso in grotto, Corpo Nazionale Soccorso Alpino e Speleologico, Milano, Italy
- Federation Francaise de Speleologie, 2006. Cave Rescuer’s Manual, English Edition, Beta, France.
- Hempel, John, Fregeau-Conover, Annette, 2001, On Call, A Complete Reference for Cave Rescue, 2001 Edition, National Speleological Society, Inc., Huntsville, Alabama
- Hudson, Steve, Lawrence, Judi, 1988. Manual of U.S. Cave Rescue Techniques, Second Edition, National Speleological Society, Inc., Huntsville, Alabama
- Merchant, D., 2007. Life On A Line: The Underground Rope Rescue Manual, Published by Lulu.com
- Mirza, Anmar, 2015, Manual of U.S. Cave Rescue Techniques, 3rd Edition, Version 2.0, National Speleological Socitey, Huntsville, Alabama
Arborist Books: (Books designed to teach rope access for tree workers)
- Jepson, Jeff, Kotwica, Bryan, 2000, The Tree Climber’s Companion, A Reference and Training Manual For Professional Tree Climbers, 2nd Edition Revised and Expanded, Beaver Tree Publishing, Longville, Minnesota
Slacklining Books: (Books that teach how to rig and use slacklines)
- Ashburn, Haley, Rogers, Scott, 2013, How to Slackline! A Comprehensive Guide to Rigging and Walking Techniques for Tricklines, Longlines, and Highlines, FalconGuides, Guilford, Connecticut
Climbing Books: (Here I cast a wide net for books on any type of climbing; sport, trad, big wall, etc.)
- Gaines, B., 2013. Rappelling: Rope Descending and Ascending Skills for Climbing, Caving, Canyoneering, and Rigging, Falcon Guides, Guilford, Connecticut
- Fasulo, David, 1996, Self-Rescue, Falcon Guides, The Globe Pequot Press, Guilford, Connecticut
- Fasulo, D., and Clelland, M., 2011. Self-Rescue, Second Edition, Falcon Guides, Guilford, Connecticut
- Long, John, Croft, Peter, 2014, The Trad Climber’s Bible, Falcon Guides, Gilford, Connecticut
- Long, J., and Gaines, B., 2013. Climbing Anchors, Third Edition, Falcon Guides, Guilford, Connecticut
- Long, J., and Gaines, B., 2007. Climbing Anchors: Field Guide, Falcon Guides, Guilford, Connecticut
- Long, John, and Gaines, Bob, 1996, More Climbing Anchors, Chockstone Press, Evergreen, Colorado
- Luebben, C., 2007, Rock Climbing Anchors: A Comprehensive Guide, Mountaineers Books, Seattle, Washington
- Luebben, C., and Soles, C., 2011. Knots for Climbers, Third Edition, Falcon Guides, Guilford, Connecticut
- McNamara, Chris, 2012, How To Big Wall Climb, SuperTopo, Mill Valley, California
- Shepherd, N., 2007. The Complete Guide to Rope Techniques: A Comprehensive Handbook for Climbers, Falcon Guides, Guilford, Connecticut
- Tyson, A., and Loomis, M., 2006. Climbing Self-Rescue: Improvised Solutions for Serious Situations, Mountaineers Books, Seattle, Washington
Snow and Ice Climbing, and Glacier Travel Books: (Most intended for recreational users)
- Gadd, Will, Chayer, Rodger, 2003, Ice & Mixed Climbing, Modern Technique, The Mountaineers Book, Seattle, Washington
- Selters, Andy, 1999, Glacier Travel & Crevasse Rescue, Second Edition, The Mountaineers, Seattle, Washington
- Tyson, Andy, and Clelland, Mike, 2009, Glacier Mountaineering, An Illustrated Guide to Glacier Travel and Crevasse Rescue, Falcon Guides, Guilford, Connecticut
Rope Rescue Books: (Most of these books are primarily written for the Fire Service)
- Brennan, K., 1999. Rope Rescue for Firefighting, Fire Engineering Books
- Briggs, Tom, 2013. Vertical Academy, Briggs, Milton Keynes, UK
- Brown, M.G., 2000. Engineering Practical Rope Rescue Systems, Delmar, Thompson Learning, United States
- CMC Rescue, 1997. Rope Rescue Manual Field Guide, Third Edition, CMC Rescue Inc., Santa Barbara California
- Frank, J.A., 2014. CMC Rope Rescue Manual, Revised Fourth Edition, CMC Rescue Inc., Santa Barbara, California
- Frank, J.A., 1998. CMC Rope Rescue Manual, Third Edition, CMC Rescue Inc., Santa Barbara, California
- Frank, J.A., and Patterson, D. E., 1997. CMC Rappel Manual, Second Edition, CMC Rescue, Inc., Santa Barbara, California
- Frank, James A., Smith, Jerrold B., 1987, Rope Rescue Manual, California Mountain Company, Ltd., Santa Barbara, California
- Hirst, Ben A., 2006. Exam Prep: Technical Rescue Ropes and Rigging, Jones and Bartlett, Massachusetts
- Hirst, Ben A., 2008. Exam Prep: Technical Rescue High Angle, Jones and Bartlett, Massachusetts
- Lipke, R., 1997. Technical Rescue Riggers Guide, Revised Edition, Conterra Technical Systems Inc., Bellingham, Washington
- Matthews, J., 2009. Technical Rescuer: Rope Levels I and II, Delmar, Cengage Learning, Clifton Park, New York
- Pendley, R., 2003. The Essential Technical Rescue Field Operations Guide, Third Edition, Desert Rescue Research, Arizona
- Prattley, Grant, 2021, Rope Rescue & Rigging Field Guide (3rd edition), Over The Edge Rescue
- Rhodes, Pat, 2013. A Practitioner’s Study: About Rope Rescue Rigging, Rhodes
- Rhodes, Pat, 2014. Rhodie’s Guide to Rescue Knots, 3rd Edition of Knots for the Rescue Service, Rhodes
- Rhodes, Pat, 2015, Seeking Equilibrium in the Belay System, Fall Protection For Rope Access and Rescue, Rhodes
- Roop, M., Vines, T., Wright, R., 1998. Confined Space and Structural Rope Rescue, Mosby Inc.
- Vines, T., and Hudson, S., 2004. High Angle Rescue Techniques, Third Edition, Elsevier Mosby, St. Louis, Missouri
- Vines, T., and Hudson, S., 2004. Field Guide to Accompany: High Angle Rescue Techniques, Third Edition, Elsevier Mosby, St. Louis, Missouri
- Weber, Rick, 2012, Technical Rope Rescue: Technician Level, Rescue 3 International, Inc., Wilton, California, Version 4.04 4-4-2012
Swiftwater Rescue Books: (Most of these books are primarily written for the Fire Service)
- Ferrero, Franco, 2009, Whitewater Safety and Rescue, Essential Knowledge for Canoeists, Kayakers, and Raft Guides, A Falcon Guide, Morris Book Publishing, LLC
- Ray, Slim, 1999, Animal Rescue in Flood and Swiftwater Incidents, CFS Press, Asheville, North Carolina
- Segerstrom, Jim, Edwards, Barry, Hogan, Mark, Turnbull, Phil, Turnbull, J. Michael, 2010, Whitewater Rescue Technician, Rescue 3 International, Inc., Wilton, California
- Walbridge, Charles, Sundmacher, Wayne, 1995, Whitewater Rescue Manual, new Techniques for Canoeists, Kayakers, and Rafters, Ragged Mountain Press, Camden, Maine
Industrial/Rope Access: (Intended for people who employ workers at height, or people who work at height)
- McCurley, Loui, 2013. Falls from Height: A Guide to Rescue Planning, John Wiley and Sons, Inc. New Jersey
- NSL Safety Awareness & Training Materials, 2011, The International Working at Height Handbook, International English, 4th Edition, North Sea Lifting Limited
- Rhodes, Pat, 2015, Seeking Equilibrium in the Belay System, Fall Protection For Rope Access and Rescue, Rhodes
General On Line Resources:
- Proceedings of the International Technical Rescue Symposium (ITRS)
http://itrsonline.org/papers/ - The Nylon Highway (periodical devoted to SRT):
www.caves.org/section/vertical/nylhi.html - Corpo Nazionale Soccorso Alpino E Speleologico, 2015, Cave Rescue Techniques, Corpo Nazionale Soccorso Alpino e Speleologico, Milano, Italy
https://formazione.cnsas.it/download/handbook/caving-rescue/ - Merchant, D. F., 2002/2003, Life on a Line: A manual of modern cave rescue ropework techniques:
www.speleo.no/redning/Life%20on%20a%20line%20part1.pdf
www.speleo.no/redning/Life%20on%20a%20line%20part2.pdf
www.speleo.no/redning/Life%20on%20a%20line%20part3.pdf
It is also posted here as well:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0PLtJjhTxnkYjkzMTAyMzEtOWNlNi00MTIyLTg2YjgtOWMwZWVmNjBmZTQ1/view?sort=name&ddrp=1&layout=list&pid=0B0PLtJjhTxnkMDUwZTE3OTEtN2ViMC00ZmUyLTkwNDQtM2Q0NmNmZWQ4NjVk&cindex=20# - Merchant, D. F., 2007, Life on a Line: The Underground Rope Rescue Manual, Second Edition:
http://www.orionriggers.com/doc/life_on_a_line.pdf - Federation Francaise De Speleologie, 2014, L'utilisation des techniques <<legeres>> en speleologie, Les Cahiers De L'E.F.S. No. 14
http://www.efs.ffspeleo.fr/index.php/component/phocadownload/category/1-cahiers-efs# - Warild, A., 2007. Vertical: A Technical Manual for Cavers, Fifth Edition, Published by Alan Warild, Newtown, Australia
http://cavediggers.com/vertical/ - Laidlaw, K.N., 2016, Considerations for Rope Rescue in 2016:
http://sarconsiderations.com/documents/Considerations%20for%20Rope%20Rescue%20-%20042216.pdf
Considerations for Rope Rescue in 2012:
http://sarconsiderations.com/documents/Considerations%20for%20Rope%20Rescue%20in%202012.pdf
Considerations For Rope Rescue in 2009:
http://www.mcftoa.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Considerations-of-Rope-Rescue-2009.pdf
Or
http://kristinandjerry.name/cmru/rescue_info/Technical%20Rescue%20Research/Considerations%20For%20Rope%20Rescue%20In%202009%20-%20Laidlaw.pdf
Considerations For Rope Rescue in 2002:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/41314344/Rope-Rescue-2002
Or
http://kristinandjerry.name/cmru/rescue_info/Technical%20Rescue%20Research/Considerations%20For%20Rope%20Rescue%20In%202002%20-%20Laidlaw.pdf