Mountain Rescue

Mountain rescue is the specialized search and rescue operation focused on assisting people in remote, rugged, and high-altitude environments. It involves responding to emergencies such as lost hikers, injured climbers, and avalanches, often in extreme weather and challenging terrain. Rescuers are trained in medical aid, technical rope systems, and navigation to safely locate, assist, and evacuate individuals in distress. These teams, made up of volunteers and professionals, work closely with emergency services to provide life-saving support in the wilderness.

Interested and new members should be aware of the following:

• Membership is not specific to students, community members are welcome.
• Training includes classroom lectures, field training, and scenarios between September and April.
• Training takes two years minimum, but new members will be called for missions as early as the second month of their first year.
• New members commonly put in more than 200 volunteer hours during their first year on the team, and hours only increase as team members train for higher certifications and participate more in the general function of the team.
• At times, classes and workdays are missed and normal lives interrupted, but it’s a sacrifice that all members acknowledge and wholeheartedly accept.
• The team averages 40-60 calls a year.

Students who join WMRT gain lifelong skills that are rarely achieved through involvement in other clubs on campus. Members have the opportunity to be an active voice on a voting board, are responsible for their personal position, and develop a voice on the team. Team members work with several agencies, including, but not limited to, local and state law enforcement, Emergency Medical Services, fire crews, the National Park Service, and other SAR operations throughout the state.