Anytime is a good time to say “thank you.”  But there are some times when those two words are meant in a very special way.  

As many of us have learned again recently, even the hardest among us are frail, or at least susceptible as humans to injury and death. Even the most disciplined emotional warriors have our moments.  

We have hearts, too. The combination of toughness and compassion is a beautiful thing. Throw in intelligence and expert skills, and you have an exceptional person.  And it doesn’t stop there.  

Add to this generosity and selflessness and you are looking at an outstanding individual. These folks are all around us. They are our neighbors, acquaintances, friends, fellow residents and part of our group of enthusiastic outdoor recreationalists.  

Throughout communities in the Rocky Mountain West, teams of these guardians slip out of their warm beds and secure homes to help you and me out when we need it most. Truly, a friend in need, and we need to thank them.

Search and rescue (SAR) organizations are made up of many dedicated individuals.  Our David Thompson Search & Rescue is one of the finest.  

Named after a young Scotsman, who was taken under the wing of a surveyor, and named “He Who Looks at the Stars” by native peoples, this individual also excelled beyond belief.  Maps of the greater Northwest made by Thompson were used by Lewis and Clark as a reference.  His explorations encompassed what is now the Northwest U.S., Alberta, and British Columbia.  

David Thompson trailblazed through the Kootenai Territory and started up one of the first Hudson Bay fur trading posts at the intersection of the Fisher and Kootenai rivers.

But he did not do this on his own. The Thompson party was a team. A team that also recieved help from the native peoples. In this same light, our search and resuce folks work as a team. They must, or lives can be lost.  

The organization is divided into groups according to expertise, and some talented individuals overlap their skills working with the combinations that blend best for efficiency. Units include: ATV/snowmobile, boat, canine, communication, dive, 4x4, medical, mountain and junior. Training is intense. A sampling of training sessions might include courses and certifications in radio and GPS qualifications, belay systems, search and rescue ready packs, patient transport, land navigation, medical training, route search, rope skills, tracking and wilderness first aid.  

These folks must maintain the certifications necessary to perform missions as diverse as missing persons, overdue hunters, avalanche and snowmobile rescue, water travel mishaps and extraction of rock and mountain climbers.  

Additional assignments may also include kayak rescue, vehicle recovery, injured wood cutters, and sometimes assisting and saving professional outdoor career workers.  

For more information, questions, donations, applications, please see:  [email protected].

On a personal note, I must say this: During my long and lucky careers as an outdoor educational instructor, hike leader and recreationalist, I have always been thankful that you folks are out there. I’m thankful every day I lace up my boots in the early hours of the morning. And I’m thankful every time I come out alone late or at night.

So folks, if you see one of these individuals out and about, just give them a “Hey, thanks!” The ones I know personally will probably just give you a humble smile. But they will appreciate it. Like we appreciate them.

(Brian Baxter is a surveyor, forester, wildlife researcher, instructoor and hike leader.)