Only once have we called Mountain Rescue (Search and Rescue or SAR). A group member left camp in the evening to hike on the ridge. We assumed he would stay within eyesight and a reasonable distance, but he made the decision to continue and scramble up icy terrain toward Hadley Peak. Darkness began to fall, and the winds increased. When he didn’t return, we searched for him until we decided it was unsafe to continue. Seeing no headlamp light anywhere on the ridge, a team member decided to call Mountain Rescue. They informed us that they could not safely assist us due to the harsh winter conditions and high winds—a search would need to wait until the following day. Had he been injured on the ridge, he would likely have died of hypothermia before the morning. We returned to camp, secured his gear, and waited. Thankfully, he returned safely. Never separate from the group or your gear.
Prioritize safety. Communicate with team members. Keep an eye out for each other. If you are caught in an avalanche or fall into a tree well and no one sees it, they can’t know to rescue you. By the time someone realizes something may be wrong, it could already be too late. Try to make sure someone in the group is aware of what you are doing if you leave the camp area. For more about group safety, see Creating a Group Safety Culture
