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You might never have heard that CSAR had a DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) Program, let alone an OD program.  The DEI program began in 2023 and was formed under the leadership of then-CSAR director Ryan White, from Western Mountain Rescue Team.  The program’s four additional members are passionate about making sure teams have access…

by Mo Mullenax and Kyle Griffin. Photos by Howard Paul. Scenarios at SARCon provide an opportunity to apply new skills learned at the conference in a live, hands-on setting. What’s better, attendees get the opportunity to apply these skills in a mutual aid setting with other teams from across the state of Colorado. These are…

By now, you’ve likely heard the story of Alpine Rescue Team’s lightning strike on Torreys Peak.  In the words of ART president Jake Smith, it was a routine, common call that suddenly escalated to a critical one in less than a second, demonstrating the fact that BSAR volunteers  must always be ready for anything. It…

Did you know that CSAR’s Public Information and Education Program has eight members from seven different teams?  The PIE program has existed in its current format since 2022, when it expanded from public information to include public backcountry safety education.  Its acronym came about when Jeff Sparhawk said, “Because who doesn’t like PIE?”  CSAR members…

It was 2019, and Summit County Rescue Group (SCRG) had just been asked by Summit County to raise $1.575 million toward the total for a badly needed new headquarters building, many years in the planning.  The team was dumbfounded.  They had never had an organized fundraising program, committee or process before.  How could they raise…

On July 19th of 2024, Alpine Rescue Team (ART) called for assistance from FFL to transport an injured hiker who had fallen on St. Mary’s Glacier.  The weather was good, although storms were forecast to move in that afternoon.  The Lifeguard 1 pilot circled to burn fuel while ART members packaged the patient.  But upon…

As part of CSAR’s strategic visioning and planning efforts earlier this year, we developed an operational philosophy that says we will navigate our constantly changing world by using a phased approach to everything we undertake.  During regularly scheduled “decision points,” we will evaluate all new initiatives and decide whether to move forward, change course or…