Man Hunt By The Search & Rescue Team

If you get lost in Yosemite, the Yosemite Search And Rescue Team will go on a man hunt to find you. The men and woman on the Yosemite Search and Rescue Team are some of the very best in the world. They are trained extensively to climb and repel the mountains, the waterfalls and the granite cliffs. This team goes on over 200 rescue missions each and every year.

With over 4 million visitors a year to this National Park, it doesn't take very long for a visitor to get lost, hurt or stuck and require help. Climbers and hikers get stranded, motorists get in accidents on the two way roads in and out of the park, tourists get to close to the edge of waterfalls and out of shape people take on more hiking than their bodies can handle. Hikers lose site of the trail and people do have encounters with bears. Tired muscles do get pulled and ankels do get twisted. People also get careless with fires and children wander off when adults are not paying attention, the water is colder and faster than people realize and the hang gliders really do crash into the trees!

There are as many reasons for the Yosemite Search And Rescue team to be deployed on a man hunt as there are visitors to the park! A man hunt can be called any day and at any time. The most busiest time is summer and fall. Fatalities and serious injury are as common as lost children and trees unexpectedly falling down.

Yosemite has its own helicopter, fire truck, ambulance, medical clinic, search and rescue dogs, a trained swift water team and a team that is excellent at climbing and repelling. This team of rescue workers are not National Park Service employees. They are trained specialist who are on call 24/7. They are paid and hourly wage and make on the average of $4,000 a year. They pay for much of their own specialized training in learning rope systems, climbing techniques and furthering their skills. You may make donations for them by clicking here.

60% of Yosemite's Search and Rescue missions involve hikers. Hikers who get lost or injured. The duration of a man hunt or rescue can last for hours or a month. 10% of rescue missions involve those that rock climb.

For more incredibly awesome pictures click here! Then click on start slide show.

Here is an interesting fact: Swift water rescue is 470 times more dangerous than fire fighting!

If you know that you are going on an extensive hike, there are some measures that you can take so that you will reduce your chance for being the center of a man hunt.

Here is a list of 10 essential things that you should carry with you in your pack:

1. Map
2. Compass
3. Flashlight/headlamp (be sure to have an extra set of batteries that fit your flashlight/headlamp)
4. Extra food (enough for one extra day)
5. extra clothing
6. Rain gear ( jacket and pants-always carry rain gear even if the sun is out)
7. First aid supplies (be sure to include an extra day of any medication you are taking or might need in an emergency)
8. Pocket knife
9. Matches (stored in a water tight container in addition to matches or a butane lighter)
10. Fire starter (can be candles, chemical fire starter, backpack size fire logs)

You may want to consider these items as well:

11. Space blanket (windbreaker, heat reflector, signaling device)
12. Sunglasses
13. toilet paper
14. Extra socks/liners
15. Head covering (for rain/warmth)
16. Duct tape
17. Insect repellent
18. Iodine tablets or water pump (carry extra water if water location is a potential problem)
19. Trash bag
20. "In case of emergency" card (list name and number to call in an emergency, medications, medical conditions and whether or not you are a contact lenses wearer). You may want to pack your driver's license and insurance card in a plastic bag for protection.

As hikers we have some responsibilities that we need to know about ahead of time. Here they are:

1. Acquaint yourself with the outing and verify with the scheduled leader that the outing is within the participant's capability and experience.
2. Arrive on time at the designated meeting spot.
3. Show up for the outing properly clothed and equipped.
4. Leave all trails, camps and surrounding areas in as good or better condition than found.
5. Completely extinguish campfires before leaving site.
6. Remain in the trip area until all party members have returned unless otherwise agreed upon with the leader.

***Thank you to the Fresno County Search And Rescue team member Dave Calvert for supplying me with pictures and information!

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