Background Statement
RCSAR started years ago with a small group of people who would be called by their friends to come and help them get unstuck in the backcountry when they were snowmobiling. After several years of this, they decided to make an official group of members who would meet and train in other aspects of the backcountry to help not only their friends but others who might need their assistance. The concept of helping strangers as though they were friends is the same concept that drives today's official RCSAR team.
Routt County Search & Rescue (RCSAR) was incorporated in 1968 as a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization under the jurisdiction of the State of Colorado and the Routt County Sheriff's Department. RCSAR functions as a volunteer agency providing search and evacuation services in the Routt County backcountry. We provide assistance to the Routt County Sheriff's Department, all five Fire and Ambulance districts serving Routt County, Civil Air Patrol and the Steamboat Ski Patrol. As a member of the Colorado Search and Rescue Association (CSRA) we also provide assistance to other Search and Rescue (SAR) units in and out of Colorado.
RCSAR consists of a group of volunteers who are on call 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, in any type of weather. We are sent out on rescues for injured or ill parties. We are also called on searches for people who are completely lost, or for those who have become disoriented and just need some help and directions to get back to their car.
We conduct an average of 60 missions each year. In 2022 we've already had over 70 missions. . . a 20% increase. Last year's mission hours were 1580 and volunteer training hours 2131. Calls included all aspects of our SAR services, including: search, rescue, assist, and recovery calls. Many of these missions involved technical transport (ropes, ATV, and snowmobile).
All RCSAR services are provided FREE of charge. The only charges that may be incurred by an individual would be for transportation of injured or ill parties by aircraft or ground ambulance, which are services provided by separate organizations. A large percentage of RCSAR's funding comes from individual donations.