California Search and Rescue

We responded to the call for resources to help on this search and deployed 14 members. We are thankful that they were found and able to get home safely.

We’d like to extend our heartfelt condolences to the family.

⛑️ Yesterday we deployed 4 Type-I and 5 Type-II resources in the field to assist in a mutual aid search for a missing hiker in the Ventana Wilderness.

🥾 The terrain was steep and rugged, many places the trails had been replaced by washouts and dense underbrush. Helicopter insert was needed to make many of the search areas accessible.

🦺 Thank you to unit members and candidates-in-training: Angelo L., Celine B., Craig V., Helena W., Kaitlin M., Mike D., Preston C., Ryan M., Sean S.
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📸 by unit members: Joe T., Helena W., Celine B. . . . .

🐾 Last Sunday, we collaborated on a joint mock SAR event with CARDA K9 teams in the Morgan Territory hills.

📍CALSAR members practiced running the Incident Command Post, and flanking for the trailing and area search dogs. We learned a lot from the dog handlers about flanking techniques, and being support for the K9 teams in the field.

🐶 It was a really fun day training alongside CARDA! And we had a group of volunteers from a Bay Area company donate their time, and learn about K9 teams and search and rescue overall. Thank you to all the participants!

📸 by unit member: Stephen B.

California Search and Rescue CALSAR responds as mutual aid volunteers for search & rescue efforts throughout Northern CA.

🧭 We hosted an Intro to Navigation course for our prospective candidates today. They learned how to shoot bearings with a compass, and basic functions of navigation in the field.

🗺️ We are excited to continue with our recruiting funnel and share more about search and rescue with this group!

📸 by unit members: Beccy V., Rob W.

🪢 We had our Tech Skills training this weekend where our candidates were introduced to basic rope technical skills in knots, ascending, and rappelling. Our Type I members learned about advanced rope rescue techniques.

⛑️ During Saturday training, we received a mutual aid request from Marin County to assist in finding a missing person. Our Type I members in the training rerouted and deployed along with other unit members who answered the call. The missing person was found alive.

🔦 Back at candidate training, they continued with a night search module where they performed a mock hasty in the dark and learned night time search practices and safety precautions.

🙌 Great work this weekend candidates and members!

📸 by unit member and candidates: Kim L., Will Y., Drew M., Maryam N.

🔎 CALSAR put on a double blind Unit Mock Search and Rescue training exercise where our Training Director, Joe T., created a search scenario for our ICP (Incident Command Post) team to plan overhead and send teams of members and candidates out on Mt. Diablo to mock search for a live subject in the field.

🧭 This was a solid opportunity to practice our ICP capabilities, as well as refresh member and reinforce candidate field search skills.

📸 by unit members: Will M., Craig V., Carl R., Ed F.

🏕️ Last Saturday, our candidates completed SAR Skills training. They learned about hasty, area, and evidence search methods, as well as tracking, litter packing and carry, and lots more!

🌧️ The candidates and instructors endured rain, slick mud, and wind - and they all said it was a grand ol’ time! We did have nicer weather for our team mock SAR exercise on Sunday.

👏 Great job candidates for another successful training weekend and to all the staff that came out and made it happen.

📸 by unit members: Andre C., Will Y., Lucie H., Sam S., Satchel W., Ryan F.

👋 Are you interested in joining California Search & Rescue? We have our Recruitment events happening in February 2024!

👀 Check out our website and learn more about the Unit, what it takes to join, and fill out the CALSAR Recruitment Interest Form:
https://www.cal-esar.org/join

🩹 We held Wilderness First Aid training this past weekend. This WFA class was unique in that we had both trainees and members take the course together.

⛑️ This was a great way to mix the experience levels of current and future CALSAR members and create a very productive learning environment. Huge thanks to Dan F., Angela A., Angelo L., Bill L., Bob F., Ed F., and Levis I. for preparing the team well to provide first aid and basic life support out in the field!

🥾 We also responded to a call-out from Mendocino County on Sunday and deployed a CALSAR team out there. Thank you to those who made the trek out there! (Angelo L., Jason P., Joe T., Ryan F., Ryan M.)

📸 by unit members: Carl R., Ed F., Joe T.

⛑️ We responded to a call-out from Cal OES on Thursday for a missing hiker in the Arnold area. We’ve been out in the field alongside numerous other SAR teams joining the search efforts.

🥾18 CALSAR members showed up on scene over the past few days. Calaveras County Sheriff’s Office has expanded the search effort to locate Missing Person Ann Herford, and the operational period is still ongoing.

➕ Additionally, we are also responding to another request for mutual aid out of Sonoma County. It’s been a busy week, and we are thankful for our members in the field as well as the coordinating duty officers behind-the-scenes.

📸 by unit members: Helena W., Joe T., Levis I., Ed F.

Our current trainee class just completed Nav Skills over the weekend and Outdoor Skills last month. We’ve got a solid set of candidates - keep up the great work!

🏕️ In the Outdoors course, they developed the skills and knowledge needed to operate safely, comfortably, and unassisted for 72 hours in the wilderness backcountry.

🧭 The Nav course taught the fundamentals of terrain interpretation, route selection, and improvised direction-finding.

📸 and by unit members: Preston C., Steven K.

👋 Welcome to the new CALSAR candidate class!

🏕️ We kicked off our first training for the new class last weekend. They spent two days and one overnight learning the skills for operating safely and comfortably, unassisted for 72 hrs, and the search & rescue actions expected from a “ground pounder” during operations.

⛑️ Excited to have another great group and looking forward to the next training weekends!

😄 Shout-Out Member Spotlight on Luke B! When we talk about one of the most important qualities a member has, we talk about showing up.

🙋‍♂️ Luke has gone above and beyond demonstrating this; whenever there is a sign up or an ask for help, Luke always has a hand up.

🥾 Over the summer Luke has logged a grand total of 156 volunteer hours of Yosemite Training Ops. He always has a smile and a great attitude. Thank you Luke, for all you do!

⛑️ On Tuesday evening we received a request for mutual aid from Cal OES for Tulare County. Our team responded quickly and we deployed 7 members into the field for a 2-day op period.

🥾 The missing person was found safe on Thursday morning and extracted from the area.

🙌 Thank you to Mike D., Preston C., Lucie H., Angelo L., Ewelina L., Steve H., Sean S. for your dedication! . . . .
📸 by unit members: Preston C., Angelo L. . . . .

🏞️ We wrapped up our Yosemite Training Ops where we had a group of CALSAR members in Yosemite National Park every summer weekend from 4th July to Labor Day helping out in the park, being present on the popular trails for preventative search & rescue. and assisting YOSAR with carry-outs.

👏 Thank you to all the team members that spent their weekends volunteering and educating park guests! . . . .
📸 by unit members: Levis I., Joe T., Lucie H., Sam S.

⛑️ Last weekend we sent 4 team members down to L.A. County to assist Sierra Madre SAR in the search for a missing hiker in the Monrovia hills.

🚁 They were inserted by helicopter to their assignment and hoisted out at the end of the day. Both days were spent searching the ridge line in steep terrain at altitude with high heat and humidity.

🙌 Our team is entirely all volunteers, and we are always ready to support mutual aid searches across California. Thanks to Skyler C., Sean S., Steve H., Preston C. for making the long drive down. . . . .
📸 by unit member: Preston C. . . . .

⛑️ Last weekend we had 13 team members assisting in a mutual aid search put out by the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office. This was a large-scale search effort involving many SAR units across CA, and covered territory that was previously under high water. . . . .
📸 by unit members: Ed F., Levis I. . . . .

👏 Congratulations to our newest Type 1 Resource team training members! . . . .
🙌 Helena W., Steve H., Ashlyn D., Beccy V., Erik J., Sean S., Angelo L. . . . .
⛰️ They went through a 3-day/2-night mock SAR exercise in the Yosemite backcountry in elevations above 7k feet, demonstrating self sufficiency and search skills. . . . .
⛑️ Our Type 1 members are deployed in situations where they’re required to self sustain for up to 3 days in the field, search in high elevations, and have medical training WFR or higher. . . . .
📸 by unit member: Joe T. . . . .

🌳 We participated in a mock-SAR mutual aid training over the weekend held by Santa Clara County Search and Rescue. . . . .
🌻 Our team represented really well during the day! We were grouped into mixed teams with other units from Santa Clara and Santa Cruz. There were MCI (multiple casualty incident) scenarios with instances where the patients exceeded the number of rescuers, and opportunities to work with rope teams. . . . .
😎 Members across all the SAR units showed solid team work, decision making, and medical leading. Great work to everyone! And a big thank you to SCCSAR for hosting! . . . .
📸 by unit member: Joe T.
📝 by unit member: Ed F. . . . .

We responded to a mutual aid request from Marin County (via Cal OES) early Wednesday for a same-day deployment. CALSAR deployed 8 ground pounders to the search for missing a 61 Y/O male who had walked away from a care facility in Novato. Our search area varied consisting of creeks, open spaces, and dense vegetation. . . . .
The missing person was found alive ~20 mi from the facility. . . . .
We are always happy to assist, and even happier this search had a good outcome. . . . .
📸 by unit members: Brooke S., Ryan F.

🐣 Welcome to the new 2023 CALSAR candidate class! 👏 . . . .
📜 We had a full day of candidate onboarding and orientation followed by the Annual Unit Meeting and BBQ Picnic Potluck. 🍖🥗🧁 . . . .
🧑‍🏫 Excited for this coming operational year, teaching new candidates and refreshing member skills on: PSAR, Outdoor Skills, Basic & Advanced Nav, Wilderness First Aid, SAR Skills, Technical Rope Skills ⛑️⛺️🧭🩹🔍

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🐳💦 The Mist Trail to Vernal and Nevada Falls in Yosemite Valley is one of the most popular trails. With all the snowmelt this year, it’s gotten more waterfall per waterfall. Waterfalls for days! . . . .
☔️🥾 It’s more than a little misty on the trail. Be prepared with good shoes and waterproof gear - or enjoy the free shower! . . . .
⛑️👋 We’ll be back out there on the trails doing PSAR (Preventative Search and Rescue) starting July 4th weekend. . . . .
📸 by unit members: Ariel P., Joe T., Tom C., Colleen K.

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🧊💦 Assisting at Yosemite National Park to clear out ice floes across the trails so the park rangers can open them up for safe hiking. . . . .
👋 Come say hi and tell us your favorite Yosemite trail! . . . .
📸 by unit members: Ian H., Tom C.

🏞️ We do PSAR (Preventive Search & Rescue) in Yosemite National Park every summer weekend. . . . .
🦺 We’re there to help and advise park visitors on the busy trails because the best search and rescue is one you don’t have to do! . . . .
📸 by unit members: Joe T., Ian H., Eric C., Tom C., Colleen K., Ashlynn D.

⛑️ Our SAR unit has a mix of Type 1 and Type 2 “ground pounders”. We’re trained and prepared for all sorts of terrain - and encounter many different landscapes in our searches. 🏔️🌳🏕️🌦️ . . . .
🥾 Type 2 searchers: Terrain from 3k to 7k ft.
🥾 Type 1 searchers: Steep and treacherous terrain above 7k ft of elevation. They are capable of sustaining in the field for up to 72 hrs without support.

🧭 Intro to Wilderness Navigation 🗺️ . . . .
A sun-filled weekend for the intro to nav course with our upcoming new candidate class. They learned compass bearings, declinations, terrain and route readings, and had lots of fun learning more about what it takes to be a CALSAR member. . . . .
📸 courtesy of our Recruting Director, Rob W.