Outbound Dan's Outdoor Musings

The air is getting a little chillier, and hunting season is coming: it's the busy season for Search and Rescue teams.  Thinking back to November in prior years, this is the time when resources are stretched looking for lost hikers, missing hunters, and those who have wandered away in the night. Search and Rescue in Winter I also recall heading out to searches where searchers were vastly unprepared to deal with the weather, terrain, and other issues of conducting SAR in a winter environment.  I've seen people show up for searches in snow wearing sneakers and jeans - of course, they aren't carrying any water or basic survival supplies either. Yes, though it is hard to control what the myriad of volunteers bring with them, as SAR team members - we must do our best to be prepared for all conditions. Though clothing and footwear is a huge component for venturing out into the woods, what I think we should talk about first is the 24-hour pack.  Yes, we could load all...

Perhaps the problems with SAR teams, is that we respond after the event happens.  By the time we get the call out, arrive, organize, and venture out  - the subject is severely hypothermic and out of lifelines.  So what if we worked to prevent these wilderness accidents in the first place?  I like to call this activity Preventative Search and Rescue. Yes, our team has started doing outreach, letting people know they should carry the " 10 Essentials " and always file a trip plan.  But -could we, as SAR volunteers, be doing more?  With over 4,000 acres of rugged terrain, the Zoar Valley Unique Area and  MUA (Multiple Use Area) is a treasure of Western New York and a place where one can experience pristine forests.  It is the perfect place to recharge from the stresses of the work week and reconnect with your natural self. However, over the years it has also become a favored place to "party."  (I'm not sure why I used quotation marks ar...

Being up here in the somewhat frozen North and being a member of a SAR team, means that emergency bivouacs in the winter are a potential reality.  Yes, I could take the big Gregory Baltoro, throw in my Marmot Alpinist 4-season tent and my Marmot Col sleeping bag, but now my 24-hour pack is 12 pounds heavier.  Of course, it is a lot harder to walk through all that brush. So, what I needed was a lightweight shelter system, mainly because we don't PLAN on being out overnight.  Sure if we were planning on spending the night, I'd hump all that stuff back there, but realistically most of our SAR missions don't last overnight.  Generally IC, likes to bring everyone in and prevent further injuries. So, I've developed a system which is highly packable, lightweight, and that I've used in temperatures below freezing.  My test nights could be called - ALMOST comfortable. My shelter contains the following: Weather Protection:  Waterproof breathable bivy sack - ...

After feeling a little sick for the last two weeks, I haven't been out hiking too much at all.  Finally though, I am feeling a little better and decided to hit up some of Western New York's gorges in the last couple days.  It felt good to return to the trails and experience the beauty of our region.  Friday, February 17th, Niagara Gorge : I jut needed a quick walk, something to get my blood pumping and feel the invigoration that the outdoors offers.  It wasn't going to be a long walk, maybe just a few miles - it was just what I needed. I parked at Whirlpool, grabbed my pack with " The Ten Essentials " and headed down the rim trail toward the stairs to the gorge.  It was overcast, nothing uncommon for winter in the Buffalo area. Albeit the temperatures, today around 33 degrees, have been all too warm this winter.  I can't remember a winter with this little snow.  The trails were a little icy though so I slipped my kahtoola microspikes on for tractio...

Search and Rescue teams must be able to respond safely and effectively in cold weather search operations.  The following is a collection of resources for SAR teams responding to emergencies in winter environments.  If you have any resources that should be included on this list, leave a link in the comment section and I'll post it.  WINTER SAR RELATED LINKS: Carbon Country SAR winter gear list  US SAR Task Force Avalanche Safety  US SAR Task Force Cold Weather Injuries  US SAR Task Force Blizzards Firefighter Nation:  Preparation for Lengthy Rescue Ops in Cold Weather GENERAL WINTER RELATED LINKS:   Princeton Outdoor Hypothermia and Cold Weather Injuries  Princeton Outdoor Guide to Winter Camping  Military Medical Operations in Cold Environments  FM 3-97.61 Military Mountaineering  REI: How To Go Winter Camping and Backpacking WINTER ARTICLES FROM OUTBOUND DAN: "Winter Backpacking and Hiking Gear ...