From the Field: Packing the Whitney 2.0™

We met with Jason Watts at Sac Metro Fire – Rescue 21 to talk about how they use the Whitney 2.0 for technical rescues, how they pack it for rapid deployment, and how it performs year after year.

How is it used?

The Whitney 2.0 is used to carry the full compliment of essential equipment for technical rescues, including rope rescue, tower rescue, and requests to assist nearby departments.

Each bag is pre-packed and stowed on the truck for easy access and quick deployment. The packs come off the truck and are assigned to the rescuers on the response team.

How is it packed?

Sac Metro Fire prepares their Whitney 2.0 with equipment for technical rescues in accordance with the following packing plan and gear list.

Packing Plan:

Gear List:

• Compartment #1
  • 2 CLUTCH
  • 1 CAPTO
  • 1 SQUID Rig Plate
  • 2 ASAP Lock
  • 1 Gibbs Ascender
  • 1 Knee Ascender
  • 1 Foot Ascender
  • 2 Hand Ascenders on a Carabiner
• Compartment #2 (outside loops)
  • 6 Carabiners
• Compartment #3
  • 1 AZTEK System
  • 1 Bypass Lanyard
  • 3 Quick-Draws
  • 2 BOOST Foot loop
  • 2 Micro pulleys on a carabiner
  • 2 Cow’s tails with a foot loop each
• Compartment #4
  • 1 CMC Victim harness
  • 1 Petzl Grillon
  • 1 Pick off strap
  • 1 Gear mat
  • 1 Folding hand saw
• Compartment #5
  • 2 Yellow webbing
  • 2 Orange webbing
  • 2 Green webbing
  • 2 Blue webbing
• Compartment #6
  • 2 CMC Green prusik
  • 2 CMC Red prusik
  • 1 Black Mamba, 1 Meter
  • 1 Black Mamba, 2 Meter

How does it perform?

According to Jason Watts, “What we like about the Whitney is the thicker material that’s being used, which prevents us from blowing through these bags as we’ve done with other manufacturers. On top of that, for the compliment of gear that we carry per rescuer, it fits all that equipment. That compliment comes down to: 2 CLUTCHES, a SQUID, 2 CAPTOs, 2 cows tails, 2 hand ascenders, and foot loops. We’ve got webbing, we’ve got mambas, we’ve got Victim Harnesses. Any rope rescue that we’re going to do, or tower rescue, those bags come off the truck and they are assigned to the rescuers that are going along. It works for us. As far as the size of the bag, and the construction of the bag, it is holding up for our needs.” Learn more by watching the video and visiting the Whitney 2.0 product page.