San Miguel Search & Rescue: Backcountry Awareness + Fundraiser, 12/1

20 Nov San Miguel Search & Rescue: Backcountry Awareness + Fundraiser, 12/1

The 3rd Annual Backcountry Awareness for Telluride’s San Miguel County Search and Rescue is the biggest single fundraiser for the hard-working, life-saving nonprofit. The goal of the event is to start the winter season with greater awareness of backcountry touring opportunities, challenges and safety protocols and to support SAR. It is all happening on Saturday, December 1, 5 – 9 p.m. at High Pie Pizzeria, 100 Colorado Ave. The centerpiece of the evening is Teton Gravity Research‘s latest film, “Ode to Muir. Please scroll down to watch the trailer.

Also, Jeremy Jones has a guide to backcountry safety on his web site. Check it out here.

Image, courtesy Nick Kalisz.

Combining fun with facts, the Backcountry Awareness fundraising evening starts with socializing, beverages and food, a silent auction, and a chance to learn about volunteer opportunities and pick up informations about avalanche preparedness, Search and Rescue services, SAR cards. A screening of Teton Gravity Research’s latest film “Ode to Muir ” follows.

The evening culminates with a drawing for great prizes: backcountry guided adventures, safety equipment for backcountry trekking and ski and snowboard gear. Fun ski and snowboard shorts round out this community celebration and express gratitude to search and rescue volunteers.

In 2017, the event was 100% sold out. Funds for SAR came from ticket sales, a percentage of High Pie food and beverage sales, direct donations and silent auction sales. And thanks to sponsorship, donations and underwriting by BootDoctors, High Pie, Faction Skis, Mountain Trip, 100% of the proceeds went to SAR.

Background:

Photo, credit Nick Kalisz.

San Miguel County Search and Rescue (SAR) is a volunteer-based organization dedicated to saving lives and providing rescue services throughout the county. SAR covers approximately 1,200 square miles, ranging from high desert at an altitude of 5,000 feet to high alpine at an altitude in excess of 14,000 feet. SAR covers every eventuality from lost hikers to technical rock rescues, helicopter extractions and avalanche rescues.

By Colorado statute, the county sheriff directs and is responsible for all search and rescue activities. The San Miguel County Search and Rescue team has extensive training and skill sets involved in patient assessment and medical, high- and low-angle rescue, waterfall and ice rescue, avalanche rescue, swift-water rescue and high-altitude diving.

BootDoctors’ events planner, Bryce Young, felt such deep gratitude to SAR for their brave efforts in rescuing many of his friends, athletes and visitors over the years, he wanted to give back.

“I realized that too many of our friends are losing their lives in avalanches and in the backcountry. We need to, as a community, increase our awareness and preparedness for backcountry exploration. I want to emphasize the importance of making good decisions, being patient, and knowing where to get the information to be educated enough to make the right decision. I also saw the incredible time, energy and expertise that locals dedicated as SAR volunteers and wanted to celebrate them.”

“Ode to Muir,” Telluride premiere:

Teton Gravity’s newest film, “Ode To Muir, pairs professional snowboarder, adventurer and founder of Protect Our Winters Jeremy Jones with two-time Olympian Elena Hight as they embark on a 40-mile, foot-powered expedition deep into California’s John Muir Wilderness. Their journey balances the challenges of winter camping, grueling climbs up the Sierra’s biggest mountains, and aesthetic first descents, with personal reflections on the importance of the natural world and those who first traveled it generations ago. The doc shares perspectives gleaned from what it truly means to explore a great American Wilderness.