Mountain rescue in the United States

In the United States, mountain rescue is handled by professional teams within some national parks and by volunteer teams elsewhere. Volunteer teams are often members of the Mountain Rescue Association (MRA).

Under the National Incident Management System, mountain rescue unit qualifications are standardized.

Occasionally there are editorials or legislative bills suggesting that climbers should be charged for rescues, particularly after a sensational high-profile rescue. The American Alpine Club has released a report explaining the costs of a rescue and the potential problems resulting from charging for rescues. The MRA has issued a similar defence of climbers interests.

Mountain rescue in the National Parks

Parks with professional teams include Denali National Park, Yosemite National Park, Grand Teton National Park, and Mount Rainier National Park.

Mountain Rescue Association

File:MEMBERS OF THE CRAG RATS CLIMBING CLUB MAKE WINTER SNOW SURVEYS FOR THE U.S. SOIL CONSERVATION SERVICE AT TILLY JANE... - NARA - 548046.jpg

The Crag Rats helping with a snow survey at Tilly Jane Campground on Mount Hood (March 1973).

The Mountain Rescue Association is an organization of teams dedicated to saving lives through rescue and mountain safety education. It does so by improving the quality, availability, and safety of mountain search and rescue through;

• Creating a framework for and accrediting member teams
• Promoting mountain safety education
• Providing a forum for development and exchange of information on mountain search and rescue techniques, equipment, and safety
• Representing member teams providing mountain search and rescue services to requesting governmental agencies

The Mountain Rescue Association was established in 1959 at Timberline Lodge at Mount Hood, Oregon making it the oldest Search and Rescue association in the United States.

MRA founding members: The AFRCC (then known as the Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Center); The U.S. Army 10th Mountain Division; The National Park Service; The National Ski Patrol; The American Alpine Club; The Mountaineers; The Hood River Crag Rats, Oregon; The Portland Mountain Rescue Unit, Oregon; The Corvallis Mountain Rescue Unit, Oregon; The Seattle Mountain Rescue Council, Washington; The Everett Mountain Rescue Unit, Washington; The Olympic Mountain Rescue, Washington; The Tacoma Mountain Rescue Unit, Washington; The Idaho Mountain Search and Rescue Unit, Idaho; The Altadena Mountain Rescue Unit, California.

External links

• Mountain Rescue Association Oral History Project - University of Washington Digital Collection