$36,000 in Awards for SAR Teams!

Congratulations to the 2023 award winners! These teams were selected to highlight the unbelievable skill, dedication, and bravery of volunteer SAR members, and remind us of the critical role they play in keeping us safe in the backcountry.

Join us in recognizing and celebrating volunteer SAR by watching their stories and voting for the rescue that most inspired you. By voting, you’ll be automatically entered to win free Rocky Talkies and American Alpine Club memberships. Voting ends August 11th.

2023 Award Winners

Portland Mountain Rescue
Over the Edge: Uncontrolled Slide into an Active Volcanic Fumarole

After a snowboarder fell 30 feet into an active volcanic fumarole on Mt. Hood, Portland Mountain Rescue and Hood River Crag Rats combined forces to rescue him from prolonged exposure to potentially lethal toxic gasses. Learn more about this rescue through the film and podcast.

Inyo County Search and Rescue
Overnight Multi-Pitch: Stranded on a Cliff with a Broken Leg

When a helicopter evacuation on Mt. Emerson became impossible, Inyo County Search and Rescue worked through the night to rescue a stranded climber with a broken leg from rockfall. Incoming weather conditions and a technical rescue from a rock face, put this team’s tenacity to the test. Learn more about this rescue through the film and podcast.

Chelan County Mountain Rescue
Race Against Time: Trapped Under a Boulder in the Enchantments

Pinned beneath a refrigerator sized boulder, a hiker’s condition was declining rapidly. Chelan County Mountain Rescue, in a multi-agency collaboration, raced against time to free the hiker without causing further injury and rendezvous with heli-evac in high winds. Learn more about this rescue through the film and podcast.