Search and Rescue

AirFlare Is the Safety Locator You Already Carry—and the Search Tool Ski Patrols Trust

Getting lost, hurt or stranded in the mountains while skiing or hiking can be a person’s worst nightmare. Every year, many outdoor enthusiasts become disoriented or injured, potentially unable to find their way home. AirFlare is the peace of mind for these situations, by turning your smartphone into a rescue locator, making it ready to respond if something goes wrong […]
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Avatar photo Gregg Frantz |
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Man Accused of Manslaughter for Leaving his Girlfriend to Freeze to Death Atop Austria’s Highest Mountain

A 36-year-old Austrian man has been charged with manslaughter by gross negligence after leaving his 33-year-old girlfriend in the unrelenting high alpine terrain 165 feet from the summit of Austria’s highest mountain. At dusk on January 18, 2025, the novice climber was struggling and unable to continue the ascent when her more experienced partner left her “unprotected, exhausted, hypothermic, and […]
Post Tag for ClimbingClimbing
Zach Suffish |
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Colorado Proposes Quadrupling Backcountry Search and Rescue Surcharge to Support Volunteer Teams

An increased surcharge is being proposed to help fund Colorado's search and rescue teams. | Photo: Grand County Search and Rescue

The Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission is considering a significant increase in the surcharge that funds volunteer backcountry search and rescue (BSAR) teams, reflecting the rising demand and costs of these critical services. Currently, a $0.25 surcharge is assessed on the majority of wildlife licenses and registrations, such as vessel, snowmobile, and off-highway vehicle permits. This fee helps reimburse the […]
Post Tag for BackcountryBackcountry
Avatar photo SnowBrains |
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2 Hikers Rescued from Iconic Climbing Route on 3rd Pillar of Dana, a Notorious Eastern Sierra, CA, Ski Line

search and rescue

Two hikers were rescued late Sunday night after becoming stranded while scaling the 3rd Pillar of Dana, a dramatic granite buttress rising above the Eastern Sierra near Lee Vining. The incident occurred on the final pitch of the Regular Route, a classic technical climbing line known for its exposure, complexity, and alpine setting. The Mono County Sheriff’s Office said it […]
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Martin Kuprianowicz |
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The Hidden Costs of Search and Rescue: Why Getting Rescued Always Ends up Costing More

Why do search and rescue operations end up being so expensive? Since 2020 and the COVID-19 pandemic, outdoor recreation has spiked among Americans. As more and more people have gotten out into the wilderness, the number of emergencies have risen as well. Alongside increasing extreme weather events, this has caused a perfect storm of conditions putting pressure on Search and […]
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Elliot LeBlanc |
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Initial Search for Missing Southern California Hiker Ends Without Success

Monica Reza, 60-year-old hiker remains missing. Photo Credit: Crescenta Valley Weekly

Monica Reza was last seen on June 22, hiking near Mount Waterman in the Angeles National Forest, which is just outside of Los Angeles, California. Over the past week, several search efforts have been conducted in the area to locate Reza, but all have been unsuccessful. Montrose Search and Rescue and several other search teams including Altadena Mountain Rescue, Antelope […]
Post Tag for HikingHiking
Luke Guilford |
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Ski Resorts Slash Rescue Response Times with AirFlare, a Mobile Search Tool That Helped Locate Nearly 2,500 Guests This Season

breckenridge

A growing number of ski areas across North America are turning to AirFlare, a mobile-based location platform that helps resort staff quickly pinpoint the whereabouts of guests on the mountain. During the 2024–25 winter season, ski resorts initiated nearly 2,500 searches using AirFlare’s tools — a 27% increase from the previous year, the company announced. Related: [PHOTOS] Skier Injured in […]
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Martin Kuprianowicz |
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Injured Czech Mountaineers Rescued After 2 Nights on Austria’s Tallest Mountain

  Two Czech mountaineers were rescued on Tuesday morning, February 6, by a Dragonfly (c9) police helicopter of the Kärnten police in Austria, after having spent two nights in a bivouc on the Grossglockner, Austria’s tallest mountain at 3,798 meters (12,460 feet). The pair had sustained injuries from a rock slide during a hike on Sunday, February 4. The two […]
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Julia Schneemann |
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Fun Fact: Harrison Ford is a Teton County, WY, Volunteer Search and Rescue Helicopter Pilot and Has Saved Lives (In Real Life)

Harrison Ford is both a hero on the screen and off the screen.  The 80-year-old movie star and 800-acre Teton County ranch owner is a volunteer search and rescue helicopter pilot who’s saved stranded hikers on more than one occasion. With a helicopter, though — not the Millenium Falcon.  Related: Why the Rich are Flying to Jackson Hole, WY, to […]
Martin Kuprianowicz |
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2 Skiers Rescued After Becoming Lost and Exiting Sugar Bowl Resort, CA, Boundaries

Sugar Bowl Resort

Sugar Bowl Resort is located in California, Northwest of Lake Tahoe. On Sunday, February 5th, a couple in their early 50s became lost and accidentally left the ski area’s boundary. Harsh weather conditions decreased visibility, causing the two skiers to become disoriented as they made their way toward Crow’s Nest from the Disney Express lift. The couple continued skiing down […]
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Luke Guilford |
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Drones to the Rescue? How Drones are Changing the Landscape of High Mountain Rescue Efforts

drone assisted mountain rescue

Imagine for a moment that you were this unfortunate snowboarder trapped on the side of a cliff for two hours, frightened, cold, and not understanding what’s going to happen next?  Related: Snowboarder trapped on cliff-face at Whistler Blackcomb Now imagine how it might feel to be in that same position (yes as frightening as it was!) but also able to […]
Post Tag for AvalancheAvalanche
Ryan Kime |
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Colorado Search and Rescue Team “Crippled” After $10,000 Theft of Their Equipment

rampart

A Colorado Search and Rescue Team has started a GoFundMe to raise funds to replace the $10,300 worth of equipment they had stolen before Christmas. Related: The SnowBrains Podcast | Episode #12 | Randall Osterhuber – Winter Survival Instructor, Search & Rescue Badass, Snow Scientist, Avalanche Forecaster, Mountain Guide The Rampart Search and Rescue had equipment and belongings stolen after […]
Avatar photo SnowBrains |
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