Who We Are
The Placer County Mountain Rescue Team was formed in December 1997 as a part of Placer County Search and Rescue, and has been registered with the State of California Secretary of State’s Office as a 501(c) (3) (Public Charity) Domestic Non-profit Corporation since February 2000. The organization received its Letter of Determination from the Internal Revenue Service as such in April 2000. The Mountain Rescue Team is comprised entirely of unpaid professional volunteers who are highly trained in Search and Rescue. Placer County Mountain Rescue Team is accredited in mountain search and rescue operations by the Mountain Rescue Association, which has rigorous requirements for membership, training and accreditation. The mountain rescue team specializes in technical rescue in California’s rugged mountains, foothills and communities on all types of terrain and in virtually all weather conditions. An additional part of the mission of the Placer County Mountain Rescue Team is wilderness safety education for the public through the National Association of Search and Rescue’s Hug-A-Tree program for children and our work with Girl and Boy Scouts in our local communities.
WHO WE SERVE
In cooperation with our fellow Search and Rescue teams in Placer County, the Mountain Rescue Team serves the people and communities of Placer County and surrounding counties under mutual aid agreements. Placer County is located in northern California and borders the city of Sacramento to the south and Lake Tahoe at the northern end of the county. Covered with rugged mountains and deep river canyons, the area provides a favorite destination for backcountry enthusiasts from throughout California and around the world. Placer County includes several world-class ski resorts, the Tahoe National Forest, and the Granite Chief wilderness area. Placer County’s Mountain Rescue Team is often called upon to locate and rescue lost or distressed backcountry users such as climbers, hikers, skiers, hunters, or campers.
OUR VOLUNTEERS
As a non-profit organization, Placer County Mountain Rescue Team depends on the generosity of both volunteers and sponsors to continue our mission of technical rescue and service to persons in distress. At any given time, our team is comprised of approximately 14-20 volunteers who come from all walks of life including teachers, engineers, medical workers, self-employed, and retired persons. Our volunteers come from the communities of Central and Northern California. Cumulatively, our volunteers donate thousands of hours of their personal time each year for training and rescue missions.
TRAINING
Once they become mission-qualified, volunteers are required to participate in a minimum of 20 hours of training each month in order to maintain and sharpen their technical skills. In addition to the required minimum training, many volunteers undergo additional, optional training in specialized disciplines such as Emergency Medical Technician, Rope Rescue, Man Tracking and Avalanche training. Each volunteer is expected to purchase their own equipment in order to be properly equipped for missions. Once our volunteers have completed their mandatory technical training and have acquired the required equipment, they are on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. This is truly a remarkable commitment by any standard.
MISSION TYPES
- Missing person search, rescue and recovery operations in all terrains and all weather conditions
- Evidence searches in rough terrain (Wilderness and urban areas)
- Technical rescue and recovery in both high angle and low angle situations
- Disaster response
- Search and Rescue mutual aid support
- Team members provide medical, communications, and logistical support at special events / emergency incidents
- Backcountry Safety and lost-person education for the public