About Our Team
Inyo County Search and Rescue is a non-profit corporation incorporated in 1952. Inyo County Search and Rescue team works under the authority of Inyo County Sheriff's department. On average we generally have 20 very active SAR volunteers and 50 SAR volunteers on our roster.
Inyo SAR responds to approximately 25 - 50 missions a year, with the majority of those missions taking place in the summer. Our missions are take place all across Inyo County, with the occasional mutual aid mission with other counties.
We specialize in high-altitude mountain and technical rescue, however we also search for lost hikers in the mountains or desert and respond to the scene of climbing falls, avalanches, base jumping accidents and paragliding crashes.
Most of our missions involve patient care, injury or illness treatment. Because of this basic first aid and a CPR certification are strongly recommended for all team members and guests. The majority of Inyo SAR members have or eventually obtain even higher certifications. Wilderness First Responder or EMT are the most common certification among team members although we highly value any working medical professionals including doctors, nurses, and paramedics.
Other skills that will help you stand out are efficiency with topo maps, using a compass and GPS, computer mapping (such as SarTopo), tracking, search strategy, rock climbing, winter travel and survival, 4wd, and much more.
An advanced backpacker will have most of the equipment required for basic operations, however those wanting to work in winter conditions, or on technical operations may need to augment their gear. You must own and maintain your own equipment, although the team does have some gear that may be borrowed for specialized missions.
