As the leaves change color in Eugene, people look to the outdoors for crisp weekend walks, mushroom foraging opportunities and hot springs camping getaways.
No matter the size or shape of the adventure, always prepare for the unexpected before heading out. Fail to do so and you might find yourself calling on Lane County’s Search and Rescue team.
Approximately 200 volunteers make up the organization tasked with responding to reports of injured and missing people.
Ground SAR teams work to canvas physical terrain by foot, sometimes in tandem with specialty vehicle, horse, rescue dog and rope teams.
Joe Swinehart, a research assistant at UO, has been working with Lane County’s GSAR for two years. Swinehart said the unpredictability of shoulder season weather is a main concern for people caught unprepared. Summer and winter have fairly well established dress codes, but the hour-by-hour shifts of spring and fall make it harder to plan ahead.
“Dressing in layers so you can adjust to (the weather is) key, especially in the fall,” Swinehart said.
A whistle is another underrated necessity — people can typically only yell for help for a few hours before their vocal cords give out. “As long as you can breathe you can whistle,” Swinehart said.
Radek Aster, a former software engineer now volunteering with GSAR, cites adventurers’ desire for complete independence as potentially problematic.
“Many young people who end up having to call for help simply believe bad things won’t happen to them,” Aster said. “You want to go adventuring and you don’t want anyone to know where you are.”
When missing subjects don’t leave behind details of their trip plans, SAR’s job gets harder.
“Let somebody know what trailhead (you are) going to and when (you) think you’ll be back,” Swinehart said. “Should anything go wrong on your trip, SAR will have a place to start looking.”
Carrying maps is essential to staying oriented and on-trail. Digitally, ensure maps are downloaded and phone batteries are charged. Keep physical maps in plastic bags to protect them from the elements.
In the event you do get lost, having a satellite communication device like a Garmin or SpotX means you can alert search and rescue teams and provide your GPS location.
SAR’s work extends far beyond just canvassing and extracting people lost in the wilderness, though. They are also responsible for supporting criminal investigations through evidence collection, disaster response and wilderness medical aid.
“Some of the things we do are really ugly,” Swinehart said.
He is referencing recovery calls where subjects are presumed to be deceased. Suicides and body extractions can be the harsh reality of SAR’s work.
But, a love of the outdoors and dedication to community service motivates volunteers to show up even in the rougher moments.
“If you’re looking to be part of something bigger, you don’t have to join the military. Join SAR,” Aster said.
Interested in getting involved? Check out Lane County Search and Rescue’s Facebook page to stay up to date on their annual winter membership drive.
