Rope rescue techniques require specialty training, and Golden and District Search and Rescue brought in the "rope rescue guru" to make sure their technicians had the most up-to-date skills they could get.
Ten members of the GADSAR team joined Kirk Mauthner for a week-long training session in the backcountry.
"We've been trying to do this course for years," said Shauna Speers, one of three GADSAR managers. "We do a lot of rescues in the Bugaboos, so these are very valuable skills for us to have. It improves the group's ability to rescue in these environments."
The group has seen a high number of rescues this summer, many of which required rope rescues. It is important for GADSAR, which is already very fortunate to have the level and breadth of skill amongst their members, to stay ahead of the curve.
On top of the new skills they developed over the week, Speers says the experience also proved how much cohesion there is amongst the members.
“We definitely got close out there. That’s what happens when everyone shares one little outhouse for a week,” said Speers.