Training rope rescue in the Utah desert sounds extreme — until you realize it's the best way to actually learn. No trees, limited anchors, and unforgiving terrain force you to build clean, redundant systems and understand why they work. That's exactly why we keep coming back to Hanksville for our annual REMS training with Prevail Rescue Solutions.

In this episode, we break down what a full week of desert rope rescue training looks like on the ground — from day-one cobwebs to day-four momentum — and why the night slot canyon run has become our favorite confidence test for the whole crew.

🪢 IN THIS EPISODE:
Why limited anchors make better riggers
Night slot canyon travel as a team-building tool
How reps on shoddy anchors actually build real confidence
Patient packaging details that matter when it's dark and everyone's tired
What we like (and question) about the KOBUS RollUP Litter
Marlow Tactical rope impressions and strength talk
How multi-day scenarios sharpen communication and leadership
What we're tracking from NWSA and WEMS conferences
VIPER ordering changes and REMS typing questions heading into fire season
Why The Journeyman is more than a recruiting tool — and how teams use it for resource tracking, shift tickets, and season history

🔥 CONNECT WITH PREVAIL RESCUE SOLUTIONS:
You can reach Brian and the Prevail Rescue team directly through the app.

📲 SUBSCRIBE for weekly wildland fire content. If this episode helped you think differently about training, gear, or the coming season, share it with your crew and leave a review so more wildland firefighters and medical teams can find the show.

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livetjm.com/home

KOBUS RollUP Litter
https://www.narescue.com/

Hill People Gear
https://www.hillpeoplegear.com/

Prevail Rescue Solutions
https://www.prevailrescue.com/

[00:00:00] Why Train Where There Are No Trees
[00:03:55] Testing The COBUS Litter System
[00:06:27] New Rope Options And Strength
[00:14:52] Conferences And Big Industry Changes
[00:23:10] Track Your Season Then Get Back To Work

That sinking feeling when a state letter says you owe tens of thousands of dollars is not rare, it is the hidden tax on running a small business across state lines. We sit down with the Caputo Group to unpack why wildfire contractors and mobile EMS teams get hit so hard by multi-state payroll compliance, workers’ compensation requirements, HR law changes, and safety regulations. When the work is dangerous and time-sensitive, you should not be forced to choose between guessing and paying attorney rates just to understand basic admin.

You will also hear why being present at industry events like NWSA matters for education and advocacy, plus why transparency on cost and a non-pushy onboarding process can make or break trust. If you are tired of admin stealing time from training, operations, and growth, this conversation gives you a clear framework for evaluating payroll and HR outsourcing options. Subscribe, share this with a business owner who needs it, and leave a review with the biggest compliance question you want answered next.

Find The Journeyman App here:
Google Play Store:
play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.livetjm.thejourneyman&pli=1

Apple App Store:
apps.apple.com/us/app/tjm-the-journeyman/id6503902863

Visit Our Website
livetjm.com/home

Find Caputo Group here:
https://www.caputo-group.com/

[00:00:00] When You Are Not Sure
[00:03:44] Multi State Rules And Surprise Bills
[00:06:22] What A PEO Actually Is
[00:15:52] PEO Versus Payroll Providers
[00:21:33] Why They Show Up At NWSA
[00:25:33] Transparency On Cost And Support
[00:31:51] Free Quotes And Final Takeaways

John of Backcountry Medics gets specific about capability, not just labels. What’s the real operational difference between Type 1 ALS and Type 2 ALS? Why does vehicle extrication keep coming up when we talk about firefighter fatality risk from auto accidents and cardiac events? We also dig into why assumptions like “the local structure department can handle it” can fall apart in remote wildland settings where time, tools, and staffing are never guaranteed.

From there, we zoom out to what actually raises the bar: better MedL education, more transparency and accountability across contractors, and smarter planning between REMS teams so complementary gear and staffing show up when a single patient turns into three. We swap hard earned lessons from long field care and backcountry rope rescue, where lightweight systems and real experience beat overloaded packs and textbook answers.

If you care about REMS, wildland fire medical care, UTV based response, rope rescue, or incident medical planning, this one is for you. Subscribe, share this with a teammate, and leave a review so more people ordering and delivering care can find it.

Find Backcountry Medics here:
https://backcountrymedics.org/

Find Backcountry Instagram here:
https://www.instagram.com/backcountry_medics?igsh=MTZsMTB3ZnNyMzgxMQ%3D%3D

Find The Journeyman App here:
Google Play Store:
play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.livetjm.thejourneyman&pli=1

Apple App Store:
apps.apple.com/us/app/tjm-the-journeyman/id6503902863

Visit Our Website
livetjm.com/home

[00:00:00] The Viper Transition Problem
[00:07:59] Why NWSA Conference Matters
[00:15:07] Real Rescues And Rope Systems
[00:18:03] Staffing Standards And Team Coordination
[00:19:59] Hiring Bar And Where To Apply