Idaho Mountain Search & Rescue Unit

On Wednesday, August 7, IMSARU received a formal request from Boise County Sheriff's Office to assist in locating a resident of the Robie Creek area who had been reported by a family member as not having been heard from in 12 days. 15 members of the unit responded to begin the search.

This was an extended search that ultimately spanned three days covering a wide area in the south part of Boise County. As part of IMSARU's search planning and training, we make extensive use of evidence-based statistical tools that guide many aspect of the operation. In cooperation with the deputy detective, clues led a ground team to an area of thick, spiny vegetation where the subject was found, sadly deceased. The subject was in a highly obscured location that made him very difficult to locate. Partnering with Robie Creek VFD, the heavy vegetation was cleared, the subject successfully recovered, and the family notified. This marked the second recovery for the IMSARU team in a short span of days.

As always we thank Sheriff Turner and the BCSO for the opportunity to assist the subject's family and the Boise County community in bringing this tragic event to closure.

Send a message to learn more

This past Monday night, like many of you IMSARU learned that young Matthew Glynn had gone missing from his home. At approximately 6:30PM IMSARU was paged by Idaho State Communications with a request from Boise Police to aid in the search.

30 members responded to the mission, with teams and skills ranging from ground search, K9, UTV, and drones. Thorough searches were conducted until 1:00AM Tuesday with no outcome.

Tuesday morning at approximately 8:30AM a second search period was requested, with 17 members responding. One of our members, teaming with BPD, launched an inflatable kayak in the canal near Collister and State. As has been reported, our team located and recovered Matthew shortly thereafter, at approximately 11:30AM.

Our deepest condolences go out to the Glynn family for their unfathomable loss. We humbly appreciate BPD, Boise Fire, and their joint efforts as well as the opportunity to provide assistance in providing closure for young Matthew’s family.

Tragic ending in search for missing boy Idaho Mountain Search and Rescue reported volunteers, and BPD found a body they believe to be 5-year-old Matthew Glynn.

July, July, it never seemed so strange 🎶 I am sure all of you in the area have noticed this orange-grey nearly apocalyptic wildfire smoke world we now live in. That did not stop IMSARU from training! Unfortunately for you supporters, our members seemed too engaged in training this month to snap many photos! The Technical Rescue Team steals the show in this month's photos, having trained in our garage, in the Boise foothills, and in an excellent joint exercise at Grimes Creek with County Search & Rescue and East Boise County Ambulance District.
🔥
Our K9 Team trained along the shores of Arrowrock Reservoir and had several joint training sessions with Ada County Sheriff's Office out on the water at Lucky Peak! We also said goodbye to one of our [former] K9 Team leads as she as and K9 Raven move on to new opportunities in Washington.
🔥
Additionally, our tracking team reviewed material in the classroom and held field training near Banks. Lastly, our full-unit training this month was Swift Water Awareness along Mores Creek and Landing Zone Officer training, with great thanks to a unit member who works for St. Luke's - he even arranged a field trip to visit Air St. Luke's!
🔥

At approximately 10:15PM this past Saturday night, IMSARU was called by Elmore County to assist in rescuing a hiker in the Sawtooths who had broken her lower leg. She and her partner were deep in the backcountry, more than 11 miles from the trailhead and were able to communicate through their satellite communicator.

At the time, the air quality conditions were such that a hoist rescue was not possible, so members of IMSARU left our compound at approximately 2:00AM bound for the town of Atlanta to meet up with rest of the rescue team at first light.

As the team was preparing for a rugged multi-day ground rescue with a litter and support gear, we received word that the Idaho Army National Guard had accepted the mission due to clearing conditions. The Guard helicopter team was able to successfully rescue the subject with a hoist and get her much needed medical attention.

Thank you as always to our partners in supporting backcountry rescue for those who love the outdoors as we do. And if that description applies to you, don't forget to always carry your personal emergency communications gear with you and make sure it's fully charged before you leave!

Fantastic day of technical rescue training with our partners at East Boise County Ambulance District and Boise County Search & Rescue!

Very special thanks to for hosting IMSARU this past Friday at their Sip2Give event!

Happy Independence Day to all, Idahoans and visitors alike!

For those of you enjoying our beautiful outdoor weather this long holiday weekend, please be safe. Don't take this the wrong way, but we'd just as soon NOT see you! ☺️

One of our favorite community activities here at IMSARU is safety education. Here's our own Jim Findley talking backcountry safety with youth at Garden Valley District Library Adventure and Survival Day this past weekend.

Hello July! If you're curious what training IMSARU was up to in June to keep honing our search and rescue skills, read on! Our regular unit training was Air Operations (with a huge thanks to the National Guard for collaborating with us on our field session) and Track and Clue Awareness that included a small mock mission. Several members also attended a mock search planning exercise, thinking through what we have learned through other courses in Lost Person Behavior and Managing the Inland Search Function, as well as important tools available in SARTopo by CalTopo .
🚁
Regarding medical training, we had an IMSARU member who is an ER Veterinarian teach an excellent K9 First Aid classroom session. Additionally, several IMSARU members refreshed their CPR and First Aid certifications through an external provider, but taught by some of our own!
🚁
Checking in on some highlights from our specialty teams, several members of the Tracking Team attended an external training weekend, and two members of our MTB Team got some downhill runs in on our new IMSARU e-MTBs during the Boise MTN Bike Festival to become more familiar with downhill handling on these steeds. The Technical Rescue Team did pike and pivot training in the garage and out near Grimes Creek, and the RPT Team hosted joint training with Police Department. The K9 Team was busy as always with plenty of field training and all the work handlers do with their dogs that isn't "officially" scheduled.
🚁

IMSARU would like to thank Horseshoe Bend Corner Cafe for providing food support for several missions in the area recently.

Send a message to learn more

Friends and community:

Our law enforcement partners in Juntura, Oregon have asked us to keep a lookout for a military veteran named Eric Westfall who has gone missing en route to Payton, Arizona from the Seattle area.

Please review the images attached and if you have any information, please let us know and we will pass along.

Plenty of training to review from May! Unit training was Search Operations and Basecamp: learning about search techniques and how to set up all the tools and equipment we bring to larger missions.
🕵️
Our specialty teams were busy training, as always! The Tracking Team hosted an Awareness course for other unit members and additionally had classroom and field training. The Technical Rescue Team learned about and practiced artificial high directionals, patient packaging, and litter assembly for high and steep angle rescue. Among the additional work handlers and K9s do outside of IMSARU-specific training, the K9 Team trained on safely handling human remains, live find, and scent theory. And lastly, the MTB Team started its training year by testing out various pieces of equipment, including finally taking the new IMSARU e-MTBs out on trail!
🕵️

This Memorial Day, we at IMSARU thank all service members who paid the ultimate price in service of our country and the freedoms we enjoy, and we support their families as they carry on.

A very warm thank you to all emergency medical personnel this EMS Week!

Celebrating EMS Week

Happy EMS Week to the dedicated individuals who support East Boise County Ambulance and our patients!

We extend our heartfelt thanks to the EMTs, Paramedics, First Responders, Sheriff Deputies, Police department, Search and Rescue teams, Dispatchers, and support staff. Your unwavering presence and assistance are invaluable to our patients and staff in times of need.

Your commitment to our community's well-being does not go unnoticed. Thank you for all that you do!

Our partners in Ada County getting ready for summer!

In preparation for warmer weather and an increase in outdoor river activities, Eagle Fire Department provided a swift water rescue refresher for North County and Eagle Police deputies.

Deputies had the opportunity to practice deploying rescue throw bags, differentiate roles for law enforcement and fire on water rescue calls, and discuss several water rescue tabletop scenarios.

As a reminder, don’t swim in canals. Keep a safe distance from the sides of canals, which are slick and difficult to exit.

If you choose to recreate on the Boise River, tell someone where you plan to go and when you anticipate returning. Currents can be stronger than they appear, so please make sure inexperienced swimmers are wearing a personal flotation device.

If you notice someone in distress, call 911.

Rest in eternal peace, Deputy Bolter.

Stella Blue
And the rest of the crew
Couldn't have done it
Without YOU!

Thank you for making 2024 our best Idaho Gives yet and raising more than $11,000 for Idaho Mountain Search and Rescue! Your generous donations help us continue to support the Idaho outdoors community with the very best in search and rescue readiness, skills, and equipment.

There are many worthy organizations to support through Idaho Gives and we celebrate all of the great work happening in Idaho. We are especially grateful for the generous people in our state that support Idaho Mountain Search and Rescue.

Thank you from all of us.

🐾 : Stella Blue

Thank you to KTVB for highlighting our mission and helping to share our story!

Idaho Gives 2024: Idaho Mountain Search and Rescue Idaho Mountain Search and Rescue is joining the annual online donation campaign that provides a way to connect with more than 600 Idaho nonprofits.

We're just over halfway to our goal of $10,000 for Idaho Gives!

As an all-volunteer organization, IMSARU relies on fundraising for our annual budget. In order to offer the Idaho outdoors community with the very best in search and rescue readiness, skills, and equipment, we need your support.

Please consider IMSARU in your plans for Idaho Gives. You can do so by clicking the link below. THANK YOU so much in advance for your donation!

https://www.idahogives.org/organizations/idaho-mountain-search-and-rescue-unit

🐾 : Stella Blue
👣 : Brian M.

We've already posted some teasers about April IMSARU training, but there is always so much more!
🏔
This month, our regular unit training included classroom and field sessions for Communications and Three Season Vehicle Operations, and our specialty teams were busy, as always! Members of our K9 Team worked on live find, roaming subjects, and burials, and our Tracking Team did aging exercises. These two teams also held a joint training day at Swan Falls. Our Tech Team worked on anchors and mechanical advantage systems in the garage, at the Black Cliffs, and at Jump Creek. Our Remote Pilot Team hosted an RPT Awareness course for all IMSARU members to learn more. Two members additionally attended an external Basic Inland Search and Rescue course in Nevada!
🏔
Remember to support IMSARU if you can through Idaho Gives. We are an all-volunteer team funded by grants, donations, and our own members, and we never charge for our services or educational events.
🏔

Idaho Gives begins today!

Did you know that Idaho Mountain Search and Rescue NEVER charges for our services? We hope that you will consider donating to Idaho Mountain Search and Rescue this week so that we can continue saving lives through search, rescue and mountain safety education.

https://www.idahogives.org/organizations/idaho-mountain-search-and-rescue-unit



🐾 : Stella Blue
📸 : Jim Findley

Idaho Mountain Search & Rescue Unit Serving the community through outdoor education as well as search and rescue efforts.

Congratulations to IMSARU’s own Mike Rowe who earned his Journeyman tracker certification!

Congratulations to Mike Rowe of Idaho Mountain Search and Rescue Unit on having earned his Journeyman certification today.

Additional information for those what would like to further support the family of Ada County Sheriff's Office Deputy Tobin Bolter.

Statement from the Bolter and Wells Family:

"Tobin’s life has been a reflection of God’s grace. He was a selfless man of conviction, giving God the glory in all circumstances. Tobin sacrificially loved his wife, Abbey. As a peace officer, Tobin was able to faithfully serve and protect his community because his foundation was deeply rooted in the hope of the gospel; he lived without fear. Tobin’s vivacious spirit and selfless care for others were an encouragement to all who knew him. The Bolter family would like to thank the community for their support during this difficult time."

We would like to share an additional avenue to support Deputy Bolter's wife, Abbey. Here is the official Deputy Bolter GoFundMe link: https://gofund.me/8da0ae3a

More details regarding Deputy Bolter's memorial service, including how the community can participate, will be shared in the coming days.

To all those embarking on the adventure known as Race to Robie Creek tomorrow, we’ll be there to cheer you on and help with any first aid needs that may come your way! Good luck to all competing!

A beautiful training day for our technical rescue team, fresh off of successfully re-certifying in technical rescue with the Mountain Rescue Association.

Training day!

We had two training sessions in the field today, with this group visit Idaho’s unique and impressive State Communications facility. StateComm, as we call it, has 41 mountaintop radio repeater towers around the state for EMS, Transportation, and other emergency communications needs across the state.

We have slipped into April, and spring officially sprang and sprung: Let's recap IMSARU training that happened in March!
🐕‍🦺
As always, our K9 Team trained hard in various disciplines, including a joint training day with Civil Air Patrol, a classroom session to learn about K9 fitness, and another classroom session to introduce other IMSARU members to the important work of our Handlers, K9s, and Flankers. Our Tracking Team was out for a full Saturday in the field and had an evening session working through a crime scene scenario, and the Tracking Team Lead attended an advanced course in Washington. Our Technical Rescue Team put the finishing touches on training for our Mountain Rescue Association Winter Recertification. Full unit training included classroom and field sessions for Trailer Operations and Navigation.
🐕‍🦺
Additionally, please join us in welcoming four new members, who successfully worked through four intensive days of our SAR Academy!
🐕‍🦺

On April 2, IMSARU was called out by Ada County Sheriff's Office to assist three local hikers who needed assistance getting back to their vehicle after getting disoriented on the Dry Creek Trail off of Bogus Basin Road. Many of our members were on-site at our compound when the call came in, and we were able to insert teams at the trailhead and accompany the hikers safely back.

These images were taken shortly before that callout by some members of our mountain bike specialty team while on a training ride in Dry Creek. Note that there remains a significant amount of snow on the upper parts of the trail, which has historically created challenges for hikers, bikers, and runners who underestimate the changes in temperature and hazards related to lingering winter conditions. And this was before the additional snowfall this weekend on the mountain.

As you're planning your spring hikes, please make sure you pack additional clothing, good footware, and if you venture into snow-covered areas, consider turning around.

Thank you again to ACSO for calling us and trusting us to support the community.

Save the date for Idaho Gives!

Idaho Mountain Search and Rescue is excited to participate in this year's annual statewide giving event, Idaho Gives, April 29-May 2, 2024. During this event, we hope you'll consider making a donation to support our search and rescue efforts. Every gift, no matter the size, makes a meaningful impact.

Thank you for your support!