When youâre standing at the trailhead, boots laced, and the air filled with the scent of pine or eucalyptus, thereâs nothing like the anticipation of a great hike ahead. But hereâs the thing: no matter how stunning the scenery or how well-worn the path, the backcountry has a way of surprising you. A...
The Invisible Skill That Determines Everything
Ask any experienced Search and Rescue (SAR) operator what saves lives in the field, and youâll get a variety of answers: training, teamwork, communication, grit. But press further â past the gear and tactics â and the real answer surfaces: situational ...
Letâs be honestâchoosing a GPS device isnât just about screen size, battery life, or brand loyalty. If youâre heading into the wilderness, where a wrong turn could lead to a night in sub-zero temperatures or an unplanned rescue mission, y
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Search teams can sometimes be assigned by the Search Manager to search areas that involve heavy or thick bushland. It is these types of areas that can involve a different approach by search teams. Heavy bushland has a lot of vegetation which makes it difficult to get through and it also limits how f...
When you're deep in the wilderness, thereâs one truth that every seasoned survivalist understands: Nature doesnât care if you have a gadget. You can carry the latest GPS unit, packed with maps and features that would make a Navy SEAL smil
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The Terrain Trap â Mistakes 1â3
When youâve been doing this long enough, you begin to recognize patternsânot just in lost person behavior, but in the behavior of rescuers themselves. And one of the most common mistakes made, even by seasoned operators, is underestimating the terrain they think they...
Thereâs something romantic about a map and compass. The old-school feel of navigating with the sun on your back and the wind in your face. But letâs be honestâwhen you're miles deep into the backcountry with shifti
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The Illusion of Safety â Why GPS Can Give You a False Sense of Security
Itâs easy to fall into the trap. You buy a state-of-the-art handheld GPS, spend a small fortune on topo maps and accessories, and feel unstoppable. That screen lights up with your exact location, and suddenly it seems like noth...
A call comes out that a person has fallen off a cliff and your rope rescue team has been requested to respond. As you start driving towards the rescue site with your team you receive more information about the incident via the radio. This includes the information that a helicopter rescue team is als...
In todayâs tech-driven world, itâs easy to fall into the trap of thinking your smartphone can do everythingâespecially when it comes to navigation. But when youâre deep in the wilderness, relying solely on a smartphone for GPS can be a dangerously flawed strategy. Yet countless hikers do it every ye...
A patient needs to be rescued after falling off a cliff. You and your team are called to attend. But do you have the right amount of people in your team to conduct a rope rescue?
What is the correct number of rescuers required to successfully complete a rope rescue?
Well the truth is the exact numbe...
In this instance, when we talk about rescuing people in a canyon, we are talking about âwet canyonsâ. The type of canyon that involves waterfalls and water continually flowing through the canyon (sometimes it can be a lot of water that is flowing), unlike âdry canyonsâ where the water is minimal.
W...
Your Safety in the Wild Starts with These 10 Essentials!
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