Mountain rescue refers to search and rescue activities that occur in a mountainous environment, although the term is often also used to apply to search and rescue in other wilderness environments. The difficult and remote nature of the terrain in which mountain rescue often occurs has resulted in the development of a number of specific pieces of equipment and techniques. Helicopters are often used to quickly extract casualties, search dogs may be used to locate them.

Mountain rescue services may be professional or voluntary. Professional services are more likely to exist in places with a high demand such as the Alps and many ski resorts. In the United States, for instance, professional and volunteer ski patrols at established ski resorts, and national park service units undertake mountain rescue as part of their activities. However, the labour-intensive and occasional nature of mountain rescue, along with the specific techniques and local knowledge required for some environments, means that mountain rescue is often undertaken by voluntary teams, these are frequently made up of local climbers and guides. Often professional services may work in co-operation with voluntary services. For instance, a professional helicopter rescue team may work with a voluntary mountain rescue team on the ground. Mountain rescue is often free, although in some parts of the world professional organisations may charge for their services. In more remote or less-developed parts of the world organised mountain rescue services are often negligible or non-existent.

In the five national parks of the Canadian Rockies, mountain rescue is primarily the responsibility of Parks Canada wardens. Voluntary self-registration is available at information centres and warden offices whereby if a climbing party does not contact Parks Canada by a pre-determined day and time, Parks Canada will initiate a search. However, parties should be self-reliant and not expect a search to begin until the next day (Parks Canada will usually initiate a search the same day if weather and daylight permits). Search and rescue costs are currently paid for by park entrance fees.

See Also

• Avalanche
• St Bernard (dog)
• Wilderness first aid

External links

• Mountain Rescue Association (US voluntary mountain rescue)
• Web sites for Mountain Rescue Association member teams
• Mountain Rescue in England and Wales
• Mountain Rescue Committee for Scotland
• New Zealand Search and Rescue