Search and Rescue
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A storm rolled into Riverside County on October 22, stranding the duo high on a famed rock climbing route
Meet one of the winners of the 2021 Defender Service Awards—and the rescue vehicle that helps them get the work done
Two days after Nelson went missing on Manaslu, details about the ski mountaineer’s accident are emerging
A mare named Oriana is lucky to be alive after a terrifying tumble down a ravine in Oregon
A group of researchers from University of California at Irvine investigated the link between SAR incidents, park visitation, and Twitter posts. Their conclusions could inform how hikers portray their own adventures—and view those of others—online.
How people get lost (and found) in the outdoors
When Cody Sheehy was six years old, he disappeared into the Oregon wilderness. More than three decades later, he insists the experience gave him an invaluable life lesson.
He was an environmentalist versed in the dangers of our warming world, an expert trail runner, and eminently capable of moving far and fast outside. The heat killed him all the same.
The accident highlights an industry at a crossroads and raises a crucial question: As safety schools boom, who is responsible for making sure the students come home?
While climbing Alaska’s Eagle Peak, Joe Yelverton’s life changed in a single moment. His account of the experience won our inaugural survival-stories essay contest.
What it feels like to rescue a surfer from the massive winter waves that crash into the Hawaiian island
A fatal avalanche near Hoosier Pass, Colorado, is a reminder that dangerous slides can occur on gentle terrain
The ‘Row of Life’ drifted for nearly 4,000 miles across the Pacific Ocean until, one day, it washed ashore
Hikers rescue stranded dog on Pico de Orizaba, Mikaela Shiffrin ties World Cup wins record, New Zealand MP bikes to childbirth
California rescue aided by drone, Mikaela Shiffrin chases ski record, and turkey trot Strava art
Climber charged for Denali SOS call, woman is youngest to run 100 marathons, Bearsun takes Manhattan
Another reminder that you shouldn’t believe everything you read on the internet—especially when your life’s at stake
If you get lost or injured in the woods these days, aid might come from above—in the form of small-propeller drones that are revolutionizing SAR and saving lives
The remarkable survival story of Claire Nelson, whose solo hike in the desert turned into a desperate fight for her life
What it takes to be a part of the rescue team on one of the world’s most dangerous mountains
Need to add knot-tying skills to your life but don’t know where to start? Follow along with professional tree climber Waldo Etherington.
What should do you if an avalanche strikes? Pro skiers Chris Rubens and Greg Hill discuss basic scenarios and rescue techniques.
Skiers are claiming that there are issues with Pieps DSP backcountry safety devices
What to do when you're on an outdoor adventure and disaster strikes
A slab of snow fell and trapped her in a streambed in a place where few skiers dared to go
In Oregon's Clackamas County, a fight between a sheriff and an elite search and rescue unit reveals how local politics can collide with recreational safety for residents and visitors alike
One person was killed and another seriously injured at Alpine Meadows in California
With Americans surging onto public lands like never before, search and rescue operations are becoming overwhelmed—and help is not on the way
After losing the trail and his shoes, hiker Nick Noland descended 4.5 miles in 16-degree weather
Jackson Hole Mountain Resort created this video to celebrate the women of its ski-patrol team
How witnessing a bad fall changed my perspective on climbing
What could have been a fatal fall is just a stepping stone on Harrington's path to become the first woman to free climb one of El Cap's hardest routes in a day
When the climber took a fall, Alex Honnold caught her with his bare hands
Two years after he was saved in a remote canyon, our host talks with one of his rescuers about coping with life-altering trauma
What happens when you find yourself on El Cap with a badly injured partner? Former Yosemite Search and Rescue (YOSAR) worker Josie McKee and climber Quinn Brett found out.
It took an epic effort to get him out. Two years later, the healing for him and his rescuers continues.
The gear and the skills you need to get home safely
In April, alpinists David Lama, Jess Roskelley, and Hansjörg Auer went silent during a harrowing expedition in Canada. The climbing community mobilized, first for a search and then for a memorial. In the wake of the tragedy, writer Nick Heil examines the motives of cutting-edge climbers and wonders: How close should we stand to our own mortality to feel alive?
Five days after an ad hoc army of volunteer searchers rescued hiker Amanda Eller, the yoga teacher missing for 17 days on Maui, the same crew located missing person Noah "Kekai" Mina just 20 miles away. This time, the ending was not so happy.
The bodies of Daniele Nardi and Tom Ballard have been located after 14 days of searching
For some climbing rangers in Wyoming's Grand Teton National Park, every ridgeline holds the memory of a rescue, every peak a body bag. It's more than they can handle alone.
For years, three old friends from California had been making an annual pilgrimage to fish Alaska's wild and pristine waterways. But in 2018, only two came home.
A slide off Kachina Peak—steep, rowdy terrain at the New Mexico ski resort—buried two men on Thursday
John Pascoe and his wife, Jan, had lived in their beautiful Napa home for 38 years when the Tubbs Fire arrived suddenly at their door in October 2017
Kelsey Malin and a friend were chasing powder at Colorado’s Monarch Mountain resort when a wrong turn sent them into the wild for 52 frigid hours
David McMahon and Sydnie Uemoto, young pilots for Mokulele Airlines, were just trying to log some hours flying between Oahu and the Big Island. Then the engines went out.
As a child, Cody Sheehy made headlines when he vanished into the freezing wilderness of Northeast Oregon, making it out safely after 18 hours of determined slogging. Retracing his steps 32 years later, Sheehy says that getting lost was one of the best life lessons he ever had.
10 percent of the revenue will go to the volunteers who rescue climbers from El Cap.
Statistics from Los Angeles County demonstrate just how deadly doing it for the ‘Gram can be
The crash occurred Saturday, August 4, 14 miles southwest of Denali’s summit
Last year we featured this bike, calling it “the ultimate toy for big kids.” Now it’s going to be used by law enforcement.
One-upmanship on social media reaches its logical conclusion. Again.
When Kyle Dickman set out on a month-long road trip with his wife and infant son last spring, he was fueled by a carefree sense of adventure that had defined his entire life. Then he got bit by a venomous snake in a remote area of Yosemite National Park, and the harrowing event changed everything.
The handheld satellite communication device is significantly smaller than its predecessor but has almost the same functionality
Alaska State Troopers called off a six-day search after finding the climbers' ropes on the Mendenhall Tower
The two world-class alpinists haven’t been heard from since Monday afternoon, when they summited the Mendenhall Towers
Big-wall climber Quinn Brett fell 100 feet while climbing El Capitan. Now paralyzed, she thinks back to her accident and reimagines her future.
Being able to call for help from his watch helped saved John Zilles, but will wearable tech be a help or burden to search and rescue?
Some of the industry’s best-known brands are doing whatever they can to aid those affected by the floods
A new photo book documents the diverse community behind the original national park
Aaron Smith has been a member of the storied Yosemite Search and Rescue team for over 15 years. He’s also on the park’s elite helicopter rescue squad. Here’s a list of the gear he relies on most during his missions.
When 18-year-old Joe Keller vanished from a dude ranch in Colorado's Rio Grande National Forest, he joined the ranks of those missing on public land. No official tally exists, but their numbers are growing. And when an initial search turns up nothing, who'll keep looking?
We break down the differences between various off-the-grid communication devices. Getting the right one could save your life.
The Flir Duo captures thermal images so rescuers can locate hikers, skiers, or anyone else who might have gotten stranded outside at night
At just 6,288 feet, this would be considered a hill anywhere else
Last year’s avalanche reignited a debate about the complicated role of helicopters in getting gear up the mountain and mitigating the danger to Sherpa. Outfitters weigh in on whether more helicopters will make Everest safer or even more dangerous.
When Robert Wood Jr. disappeared in a densely forested Virginia park, searchers faced the challenge of a lifetime. The eight-year-old boy was autistic and nonverbal, and from his perspective the largest manhunt in state history probably looked like something else: the ultimate game of hide-and-seek.