Vertical Training Course Level 1 – Huntsville, AL

This is the Level 1 course created by the NSS Vertical Training Commission. The course objective is to prepare cavers new to vertical, or cavers wanting to gain better skills, to safely enter and explore vertical cave passages. The course will train and evaluate students on basic equipment, safety, and vertical techniques. After completing this course, students should be able to safely attend and follow on a basic vertical caving trip.

Students will practice skills on the training tower, which will be reinforced with a day of practice in vertical caves. The course will be physically demanding at times, but will provide participants with valuable skills that can be used to safely explore and enjoy vertical caving trips.

Personal vertical gear: All students should bring their own helmet, gloves, lights, and personal vertical gear. If your system does not pass safety inspection for completeness, condition or function, you will not be allowed to participate in the course.

Pre-course reading and practice: Students will be expected to have read and studied all written course materials before the start of the course, including learning and practicing the required knots.
Basic Vertical Techniques is available from the NSS Bookstore

Attendance: Students will be expected to attend ALL course sessions it order to pass the course.

Debrief and evaluation: To complete this course, students will need to pass a performance evaluation consisting of two elements - a skills demonstration and a written exam. The skills demonstration includes knot-tying, basic techniques on a rope treadmill, dealing with unexpected obstacles on a rope treadmill, and entering a cave using vertical caving techniques. The multiple- choice written exam is closely linked to the student evaluation questions at the end of each module of the materials. Students are required to obtain a minimum passing score of 80% in this exam.

All students must purchase (and read!) a copy of the VTC Level 1 student handbook Basic Vertical Techniques prior to the start of the course. Basic Vertical Techniques is available from the NSS Bookstore Your registration confirmation will include a 25%-off promo code that you can use during checkout at the NSS Bookstore. If you are an NSS member, the discount stacks on top of the regular NSS member discount!

The course will begin on the evening of Thursday, December 5 at NSS Headquarters, with introductions and gear check-off. VTC trainers will be on site by 5 PM, and we ask that you arrive before 7 PM. 
Friday and Saturday (December 6-7) will be spent using rope treadmills at NSS Headquarters, with a skills assessment on Saturday evening.
We will then head to Stephens Gap Preserve on Sunday, December 8 with the cave portion of the course. Students who complete the in-cave skills assessment may then have the opportunity to descend Stephens Gap, finishing the course by 5 PM.

Camping will be available at the NSS Headquarters for those interested for $20 ($40 for non-NSS members).

To keep costs down we will not be providing food – participants should bring what they need for the course; however, there will be time in the schedule to eat dinner at any of the numerous local restaurants.

VTC events require ample preparation by our team of volunteers - while we understand that individual circumstances and plans change, we have implemented the following cancellation policy to respect their efforts and your fellow prospective students:
Cancellation 15+ days before course - full refund
Cancellation 10-14 days before course - 50% refund
Cancellation less than 10 days before course - no refund