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This section highlights the financial support given to the volunteer members of Park County Search & Rescue through the Park County Search & Rescue Foundation. Please check back to see how these funds are used to support Park County Search & Rescue in the futherance of their mission to improve the quality of life and public safety.
Motorized Level 1 Snowmobile Training- February 2025
From February 7-9, 2025, numerous PCSAR members attended the “Motorized Level 1” training course for snowmobiles and snowbikes instructed by Eric Knoff of Six Points Avalanche Education and Jake Skeen of Beartooth Rides and Guides. The 3 day course (24 instruction hours) was held in Crandall and focused on the six points of avalanche education: Avalanche Terrain, Mountain Snowpack/Weather, Avalanche Forecast & Problems, Companion Rescue, and Decision Making. The instructional setting occurred both in the classroom and in field training sessions. The course instruction follows the guidelines set by the American Avalanche Association. Park Co. Search & Rescue Foundation covered all costs associated with the training course and believes that highly trained and qualified volunteer members are the cornerstone of all completed missions.
Photographs courtesy of PCSAR members Jake DeWilde, Elise Lowe, and Jared Stevenson.
Backcountry Readiness Series: Wilderness Adventure Essentials- February 2025
On February 8, 2025, local residents braved the winter weather to participate in the first community training session facilitated by PCSAR members. PCSAR members Gigi Budd, Dr. Aaron Billin, Mike Guy, and George Dillman instructed session attendees about the “Ten Essentials” suggested for embarking on any type of wilderness activity. The session also included the recommended items for cold weather/hypothermia, warm weather, and medical/first aid scenarios. The event was sponsored by the Park Co. Search & Rescue Foundation and Black Hills Energy. We are grateful for the community support and attendance and look forward to the next session. Stay tuned!
Wilderness First Responder (WFR) Training- January 2025
In mid-January 2025, several volunteer members of PCSAR attended a Wilderness First Responder training course with members of South Big Horn County Search and Rescue. The course was presented by Wounded Bear Medicine from Wilson, Wyoming. The course provides essential training in wilderness medicine, leadership, and critical thinking for professionals and leaders working and traveling in outdoor, low-resource, and remote environments. The WFR curriculum is both comprehensive and practical and involves a minimum of 70 hours of instruction when taught in the United States (hours vary slightly in other countries). During the course, students learn the essential principles and skills required to assess and manage medical problems in isolated and extreme environments for days and weeks if necessary (woundedbearmed.com). *Please note that the patients photographed in the field training exercises are not actual patients. These individuals are trained PCSAR volunteer members acting in different scenarios for the purpose of instruction and training.
Heat-Seeking Infrared Scopes
Each year, the volunteer members of Park County Search & Rescue determine what additional equipment would increase the quality and safety of each mission. Recently, the Park County Search & Rescue Foundation was able to purchase two heat-seeking infrared (thermal) scopes for PCSAR members to utilize in future missions. These infrared scopes allow PCSAR members to detect and visualize heat emitted by objects in low-light, darkness, dense, and obscured environments.
Big Horn Cavern Cave Training- October 2024
Several Members of Park County Search & Rescue participated in the Big Horn Cavern Cave Training hosted by the members of Big Horn County Search and Rescue. The training was well attended by other SAR team volunteers from across Wyoming.
An essential role of the Foundation is to provide funding for training, through which Search and Rescue volunteers are able to attend world class training. This particular training was held last summer in Salt Lake City at the world famous
Petzl facility.
The session was taught by members of Peak Rescue in association with
Rich Delaney of Ropelab International. Our volunteers joined others from across the country for five days of full immersion into the art of lightweight backcountry rope rescue.
As a result of trainings such as this, efficiency, professionalism, and success are enhanced during a real rescue.
