Rescue Talk™
What’s on Your Bucket List?
(Summer achieved another one!)
Featuring Roco Chief Instructor Eddie Chapa
At Roco Rescue, we believe safety skills aren’t just for the job site. They can be life-changing, even life-saving, anywhere you go. Just ask Summer Black, our Training Coordinator, who recently took a bucket-list trip to Costa Rica. It was here in the jungle that she found herself applying lessons learned at the Roco Training Center with Chief Instructor Eddie Chapa.
Ahead of her trip, Summer and her husband Jayson signed up for a waterfall rappelling adventure. Five rappels through the Maquique Forest, located deep in the Chachagua Rainforest (which appropriately means “plenty of water” in local Tico Spanish). With her trip day fast approaching, Summer wanted to be sure they were prepared and safe.
That’s where Roco instructor Eddie Chapa and crew member Cameron Chiasson stepped in.
On May 1st, Eddie and Cameron stayed after hours at the Roco Training Center (RTC) to offer some extra hands-on training. By 5:30 p.m., Summer and Jayson were geared up, on-rope, and learning the ropes of special rappel techniques using the CMC Clutch and other familiar equipment.
“Thanks to her preparatory training, instead of being fearful and anxious, she felt confident that if her gear was on correctly, she was safe.”
A few days later, the couple touched down in Costa Rica. After a scenic hike and a long zip line, Summer stood at the edge of her first waterfall rappel. Thanks to her preparatory training, instead of being fearful and anxious, she felt confident that if her gear was on correctly, she was safe. A common theme in the world of ropes.
Each rappel grew more impressive, culminating at “Number 5.” A breathtaking 160-meter waterfall that required a zipline launch followed by a controlled descent on a figure 8. “Chief Eddie had advised me to take my time and enjoy it,” she said. “So, I slowed myself down to take in a set of scarlet macaws perched in the treetops below. It was the coolest moment of my life.”
A special shout-out to Darrio and Waughy of Maquique Adventures, who guided the trip. They were unfamiliar with the CMC Clutch, using figure 8s for all descents, but much of their gear was Petzl. A nice surprise for someone used to seeing it at Roco.
“Roco instructors go above and beyond to ensure our team understands both the how and the why of rope safety.”
Rope rescue is serious business, but it can also unlock a once-in-a-lifetime view, one careful step at a time. Rescue training isn’t just for industrial settings. These skills translate into real-world confidence anywhere. Roco instructors go above and beyond to ensure our team understands both the how and the why of rope safety. And when you know your gear and your limits, even the most intimidating challenge can turn into an unforgettable experience.
