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I was told once when doing a WFA practicum that if search and rescue were called it would take several hours before I could expect to see a helicopter or have a

I was told once when doing a WFA practicum that if search and rescue were called it would take several hours before I could expect to see a helicopter or have a team at the trailhead. This is mostly because it's a volunteer organization and whoever is at the phone doing dispatch has to call people and get them to go from where they're at to the headquarters to get gear, and then from there to wherever they're needed. Because of typical weather conditions in Washington it's also not unusual for the helicopter to not be able to take off or search. So a medical emergency on a day hike or climb could easily turn into a frantic overnight in the backcountry. So you have to be able to control arterial bleeds and take care of lots of stuff that in the city you may not need to worry about because an ambulance will be there in 30 minutes.

mbostleman 6y ago
That probably depends on the team and the level of resources. I'm on my local SAR team and we can generally have the first hasty team at the trailhead in less than an hour assuming good coordinates and details on the situation. But I think wilderness SAR in general is assumed to be a long process of getting to the ambulance at the trailhead.
sandworm101 6y ago
In the pacific northwest, helicopters are almost never used for searching. The are just too expensive/dangerous and often useless as they cannot see through fog/cloud/trees etc. Everyone heading into that backcountry should be prepared to spend a night or two in the woods. That doesn't mean hauling a tent but it does mean hauling some warm rain gear, a proper flashlight (not a cellphone) boots and some basic first aid training.
- jschwartzi 6y ago
  Yeah this was my point.They do have a helicopter at the Snohomish County SAR but they advised us that we shouldn't count on it and that we especially shouldn't count on it being sortied very quickly relative to a suburban ambulance service. I think that's one of the reasons cited for Emergency Shelter being part of the 10 Essentials. If you have to do extensive first aid or one of your party is incapacitated you will probably be overnighting in the backcountry here even if you're on a day hike or climb.
- knaq 6y ago
  Are those helicopers lacking IR capability? They should have it, and that should work in most conditions.
hindsightbias 6y ago
Even in perfect weather at popular locations not far from major services. At Eagle Creek in Oregon a hiker ran past me headed to the trailhead (no cell coverage) at around 2pm after a hiker fell into a ravine at Seven Mile Falls. While there were multiple doctors who happened to be hiking, the rescue crew and paramedics didn't arrive until after 10pm.

mbostleman 6y ago

That probably depends on the team and the level of resources. I'm on my local SAR team and we can generally have the first hasty team at the trailhead in less than an hour assuming good coordinates and details on the situation. But I think wilderness SAR in general is assumed to be a long process of getting to the ambulance at the trailhead.

sandworm101 6y ago

In the pacific northwest, helicopters are almost never used for searching. The are just too expensive/dangerous and often useless as they cannot see through fog/cloud/trees etc. Everyone heading into that backcountry should be prepared to spend a night or two in the woods. That doesn't mean hauling a tent but it does mean hauling some warm rain gear, a proper flashlight (not a cellphone) boots and some basic first aid training.

jschwartzi 6y ago
Yeah this was my point.They do have a helicopter at the Snohomish County SAR but they advised us that we shouldn't count on it and that we especially shouldn't count on it being sortied very quickly relative to a suburban ambulance service. I think that's one of the reasons cited for Emergency Shelter being part of the 10 Essentials. If you have to do extensive first aid or one of your party is incapacitated you will probably be overnighting in the backcountry here even if you're on a day hike or climb.
knaq 6y ago
Are those helicopers lacking IR capability? They should have it, and that should work in most conditions.

hindsightbias 6y ago

Even in perfect weather at popular locations not far from major services. At Eagle Creek in Oregon a hiker ran past me headed to the trailhead (no cell coverage) at around 2pm after a hiker fell into a ravine at Seven Mile Falls. While there were multiple doctors who happened to be hiking, the rescue crew and paramedics didn't arrive until after 10pm.