January 6, 2025

Lost Snowmobiler in North Routt County

RCSAR was paged to assist a snowmobiler who had gotten stuck in a drainage north of Farwell Mountain, near the headwaters of King Solomon Creek, and had spent the night. The next day RCSAR dispatched 16 team members into the field, where they located the snowmobiler and hiked out with him. RCSAR thanks the following for assisting with this call: Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control, North Routt Snow Riders, and Rocky Mountain Sled Rentals. Once again, great teamwork from multiple partners.

January 25, 2025



Injured Snowmobiler in North Routt County

While six team members were participating in a snowmobile training on Rabbit Ears Pass, RCSAR was paged to assist an injured snowmobiler in the Slater Park area in North Routt County. The team quickly transitioned from training to mission mode and headed north to assist the injured snowmobiler. West Routt Fire Protection District also responded and were first on scene to begin providing aid to the injured snowmobiler. When RCSAR arrived on scene, the teams packaged the injured snowmobiler for transport in a toboggan to an ambulance waiting at the trailhead.

February 19-20, 2025



Lost Snowmobilers in North Routt County

RCSAR was initially paged on Wednesday evening regarding two overdue snowmobilers in the area near Farwell Mountain in North Routh County. Two teams responded that evening, attempting to locate the overdue riders. The reporting party knew the BCA channel used by the riders, and the RCSAR teams worked their way along separate routes trying to establish radio communications. After several hours, one of the teams reached the riders on the BCA radio, and they advised they were stuck, but they had a fire going and were prepared to spend the night. Given their location, RCSAR made the decision to return at first light to assist the riders. The following morning a team of snowmobilers and skiers set out to assist the riders. While they were making their way to the riders’ location, the two snowmobilers were able to get themselves unstuck and out of the field. 

February 21, 2025



Lost Snowmobiler on Buffalo Pass

RCSAR was paged regarding a snowmobiler who had been separated from his group and was last seen in the North Fork drainage of Fish Creek around sunset. The next morning, two teams consisting of snowmobilers and skiers deployed to locate the missing snowmobiler. The snowmobile team was able to make contact with the subject and ride to within a short distance of his location. Given the terrain and avalanche conditions, they proceeded on snowshoes and assisted the rider with getting turned around and out of the drainage. Classic Air Medical and firefighters with WRFPD assisted during the mission. 

March 21, 2025



Injured Snowmobiler on Buffalo Pass

RCSAR responded to a page for an injured snowmobiler on Buffalo Pass. A hasty team of two snowmobilers quickly reached the injured snowmobiler to begin providing assistance. A second team of four snowmobiles brought a paramedic from Steamboat Springs Fire Rescue to the scene to assist with getting the injured rider ready for transport to a waiting ambulance. Routt Powder Riders played a crucial role in this mission, grooming the whooped-out trail, building a snow road with a large platform through wind drifts, and transporting the injured rider to the ambulance in their heated snowcat. We are always grateful for the assistance we receive from Routt Powder Riders and SSFR.

Keep SAR Truckin'!



Help Routt County SAR reach our primary fundraising goal this year! We are working to replace our outdated Rescue Truck by 2026. Our current Rescue Truck 2-5 has been an incredible workhorse for 26 years and it's time to upgrade to a modern vehicle which will deliver our team and equipment safely and timely to search and rescue missions. Join us in this challenge and become part of the RCSAR extended family by donating today!

When and How to Call for Help:

What Happens When You Dial 911 in the Backcountry

“The first step, of course, is knowing when to make that call. Backcountry search and rescue (BSAR) teams in Colorado do not charge for their services and they are available for anyone lost, injured, or ill in the backcountry. They are staffed by caring and experienced volunteer responders who would rather you call sooner than later if you truly need assistance.” Source: Colorado Search and Rescue Association (CSAR)

When you do have an emergency, one of the most important things you can do is call for help—but what happens after you text or dial 911? Here's a behind-the-scenes look at how Routt County Search and Rescue (RCSAR) mobilizes to assist when someone needs help in the backcountry.

Step 1: Call 911 or Press SOS on your satellite communication device

Whether you have full bars or just a faint signal, the first step is always to try calling 911. Even with spotty service, your phone may be able to connect with any available network to complete an emergency call. When you get through, stay calm and be prepared to provide:

• Your location: GPS coordinates are best if you have them (many smartphones can share this from a maps app or compass). If not, landmarks, trail names, or descriptions of the area help.
• The nature of the emergency: What happened? Who is injured? What are the current conditions?
• Your contact information: A callback number in case the connection drops.
• In Routt County you can also text to 911 if you cannot get a call to go through

Tip: If you’re using a satellite communication device (like a Garmin inReach or SPOT), follow the device's procedure to initiate an SOS. These systems link directly to emergency dispatch centers. With iPhone 14 or later (all models), you can use Emergency SOS via satellite to text emergency services when you're off the grid with no cellular and Wi-Fi coverage. You may need to move to an open area to ensure connection to a satellite. 

Tip: Do not call family or friends and ask them to call 911. This may cause confusion and will likely delay the response. 

Tip: CSAR offers additional tips for making the perfect 911 call in this article.

Step 2: Dispatch will activate Search & Rescue

Once your call is received, the 911 dispatcher will coordinate with the Routt County Sheriff's Office, which is responsible for managing search and rescue operations. If SAR assistance is needed, the sheriff will activate Routt County Search and Rescue (RCSAR). Note, the team cannot self-deploy and can only respond at the request of the RCSO or another official agency.

At that moment, RCSAR volunteers—your neighbors and community members—are alerted via a paging system. Within minutes, team members leave their jobs or families and begin assembling, gathering gear, and heading to a staging location.

Step 3: The Mission is Planned

Before anyone heads into the field, the RCSAR Incident Commander gathers critical details and formulates a plan of action:

• Your last known location
• Pertinent medical information and details of the situation
• The best access points to reach you
• Weather and terrain conditions
• Necessary rescue equipment (ATVs, snowmobiles, medical supplies, ropes, etc.)

Safety for everyone involved—both the people needing help and the rescuers—is the top priority.

Step 4: Rescue in Progress

Once the plan is set, RCSAR teams deploy into the field. Communication continues throughout the mission via radios, GPS tracking, and sometimes aerial support, depending on the situation.

Incidents can take anywhere from a couple of hours to multiple days, depending on location, weather, and complexity. Rest assured, once we’re on the way, we’ll keep working until everyone is safely out of the backcountry.

Step 5: Back to Safety

Once you’ve been reached, RCSAR teams provide medical care if needed, help with transport, and ensure you and your group are safely returned to civilization or passed on to higher level medical care. After the mission, RCSAR volunteers return to base, debrief, clean and check gear, and get ready for the next call.

A Final Reminder

RCSAR services are always free of charge, no matter the time of day, the location, or the circumstances. We are a 100% volunteer team dedicated to helping our community and visitors stay safe in the outdoors, and we are available 24/7.

As we detailed in our January 2025 newsletter, we largely rely on donations to fund our operations. If you'd like to support our mission, please visit https://routtcountysar.org.

Stay Safe, Be Prepared, and Know We're Here to Help.