Our new instructor Morgan has since the start in May been busy with trainings and projects at C2 Vertical Safety. We caught up with him between two course blocks to get a short presentation of the guy from Uppsala who in recent years has chosen to spend the winters north of the Arctic Circle.
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Hi Morgan,
Tell us more, what have you done so far up the country?
Among other things, I work as an avalanche specialist for the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency and for various ski resorts such as Riksgränsen, Björkliden and Narvik, as well as for the private sector.
But now you are at C2, how did you end up here?
I did some assignments in Rope Access for C2 about eleven years ago when I originally come from Uppsala. Last spring, in connection with my electrician training to broaden my expertise in rope access, I came into contact with C2 again. I then asked if they needed instructors and it turned out that they were in the middle of a growth phase.
Do you benefit from your experience as an avalanche specialist at C2?
Absolutely, recently I was up in Idre Fjäll and carried out a lift evacuation training as an instructor on C2. During the courses we talk about how to handle a pressured and stressful situation where many resources have to be organised. My experience as a rescue leader comes in handy here. I have worked in several severe avalanche scenarios and lift evacuation operations.
Can you tell us more about your visit to Idre Fjäll?
It was a stage 2 lift evacuation training that was carried out there. The staff at the facility already know how to perform evacuations, but they wanted some people at the facility to have very good detailed knowledge and know how to practise evacuation on their own. When you run a facility that has a chairlift or gondola, you have to be able to evacuate the lifts on people. For this, there are different techniques to use.
Can you tell us how an evacuation works?
C2 has a ready-made set of methods for this type of training where staff work in teams of two. One person climbs the mast and hooks up a wheel. With the help of a rope, the person rides the wire in a controlled manner to the basket to help the people sitting in it. The second person in the team secures, and depending on the situation, this is done from the ground or up the mast. The people are brought down one by one in a safe way. Aerial evacuations usually go well, but can take time and can be uncomfortable for the occupants.