Partner Rescue at Looking Glass Rock Pre-Conference
Essential Climbing Skills for the Medical Provider



July 19 , 2026
8:00 am - 6:00 pm 
Price: $375 per person  
Price includes: IFMGA/AMGA guided partner rescue workshop for experienced climbers at Looking Glass Rock in Pisgah National Forest, 8 hours of AMA category 1 CME, and lunch.
Price does not include: Required personal gear including approach/hiking shoes, climbing shoes, personal harness, personal belay device (e.g. Petzel GriGri, Reverso, BD ATC guide), 4-6 locking aluminum carabiners, personal tether, 6 mm accessory cord for prusik, sun protection, helmet, water, transportation to and from the course site.
Travel: Meet at Pisgah Climbing School, 3526 Asheville Highway, Pisgah Forest, NC 28768
Course site: Sunwall/The Nose trailhead, Headwater Road (FS 475B), Canton, NC 28716

This hands-on course is designed for medical professionals with rock climbing experience who seek to expand their capabilities in managing emergencies in vertical environments. Set in the natural climbing areas of Pisgah National Forest, the course provides immersive, real-world training in anchor systems, risk management, and rope rescue techniques specific to single-pitch and multipitch settings. Participants will develop practical skills in belay station assistance, weighted and unweighted takeovers, counter-ascension, and counter-balance lowering, while applying mechanical advantage systems using standard climbing equipment. Addressing a critical gap in traditional medical education, this course emphasizes experiential learning in small groups, allowing for personalized instruction and skill mastery. Developed in alignment with AMGA competencies and WMS guidelines, and led by expert instructors, the course equips providers to deliver effective, timely care in challenging vertical rescue scenarios.

 

Schedule:
July 19, 2026
08:00-08:30   Welcome, Introductions, Waiver/Risk Management, Safety Briefing
08:30-12:00 Belay Escape and Pick Offs
12:00-01:00 Lunch Provided. Rockside discussion - Trauma in a Vertical Setting
01:00-05:00 Anchor Building and Mechanical Advantage
05:00-06:00 Group Debrief, Wrap-Up, Evaluation

Faculty

    Sylvia Brandenberg, DMSc, PA-C, CAQ-EM, FAWM:  Sylvia is an emergency medicine PA practicing in western North Carolina who lives and breathes wilderness medicine as a member of the Transylvania County Rescue Squad, which is the primary SAR and mountain rescue team for Pisgah National Forest in Brevard, NC. She has a doctorate in emergency management and global health and is excited to have completed her FAWM this year. In her free time, she likes to hike, climb, bike, and watch Baltimore sports.
   


Dan McGuire, PA-C, EMT-P: Dan is a critical care and trauma PA and paramedic practicing in western North Carolina.  He is excited to be completing his FAWM this year. He is a member of the Transylvania County Rescue Squad, which is the primary SAR and mountain rescue team for Pisgah National Forest in Brevard, NC. His interests include airway pressure relief ventilation, mechanical circulatory support, and light roasted yirgacheffe. He enjoys climbing, biking, skiing, and cardioversion.
   

Karsten Delap, IFMGA Licensed Mountain Guide, W-EMT/ EMT-B, SPRAT Level 3: Karsten is the only licensed IFMGA Mountain Guide working in the southeastern US. As a professional athlete he climbs and guides all over the world. Karsten has served on local rescue teams for 20 years and is the technical director for mountain rescue on Transylvania County Rescue Squad. He also helps with curriculum, training, and development for military mountaineering programs within the Army and Marines Special Operations communities. Karsten picks up shifts on the local ambulance service as well as works ski patrol for a local ski hill. Karsten is the owner and chief guide at Pisgah Climbing School, the premier guide service in North Carolina.
   

Anna Marie Alewine, AMGA Multi Pitch Instructor, Single Pitch Instructor, & Lead Climbing Wall Instructor, SPRAT Level 2, Wilderness First Responder: Anna Marie grew up in the foothills of South Carolina. She has climbed not only in the beautiful granite walls of North Carolina, but also in the sandstone cliffs of Kentucky, the deep canyons of New Mexico, the jagged peaks of Colorado, the rugged peaks of the Tetons, and the South American range of Patagonia. After graduating from college, she received her Single Pitch Instructor certification in Horseshoe Canyon Ranch, AK. Since then she continues to perfect her craft as a professional climbing instructor. When she is not climbing, she spends her time trail running, doing yoga, or drinking obsessive amounts of coffee.


CME
The Wilderness Medical Society (WMS) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The WMS designates this live activity for a maximum of X  AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Each physician should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

All educational content presented in this activity has been reviewed and validated as appropriate in keeping with sound scientific principles. 

Faculty Disclosure 
The faculty and staff involved with this live activity have signed disclosure statements indicating they have no conflicts of interest or relevant financial relationships with any commercial interest with respect to this course content.