Revelstoke’s SAR team tests its skills

With winter well on its way, Revelstoke Search and Rescue recently spent a cool  and invigorating night in the woods near the Alkokolex Gorge on a training exercise.

“This exercise is a requirement for new SAR members as part of their ongoing commitment to learning about search and rescue techniques,” SAR member Giles Shearing said later.

He said the seven members of the team who participated in the exercise could use only those things they had in the ready packs they would normally take with them if they were called out for a search.

“For some it was not that uncomfortable,” Shearing but for a couple of us, well, let me put it this way: we stayed as close to the fire as we could.”

The group erected tents or other kinds of shelters (see the images below), practiced map and compass orienteering work and other survival skills.

“Winter’s coming fast and we’ll probably be called out,” Shearing said.

Revelstoke SAR is purely volunteer-based and is funded primarily by in-kind donations from non-profit groups and private and corporate donors. Shearing said it welcomes new members. The SAR team’s meetings are held every second Thursday starting at 7 pm at the SAR office housed within the RCMP Building on 3rd Street.

Buck Corrigan, Greg Brule, Scott Waddingham, Chris Hrabb, Aaron Mcland, Karin Wahlstrom and John Todds recently held a cool overnight exercise to test their survival skills. Photo courtesy of Revelstoke SAR
Buck Corrigan, Greg Brule, Scott Waddingham, Chris Hrabb, Aaron Mcland, Karin Wahlstrom and John Todds recently held a cool overnight exercise to test their survival skills. Photo courtesy of Revelstoke SAR
Greg Brule prepares wood to start a much-appreciated fire. Photo courtesy of Revelstoke SAR
Greg Brule prepares wood to start a much-appreciated fire. Photo courtesy of Revelstoke SAR
Scott Waddingham collects firewood. Photo courtesy of Revelstoke SAR
Scott Waddingham collects firewood. Photo courtesy of Revelstoke SAR
Karen Wahlstrom gets the fire roaring. Photo courtesy of Revelstoke SAR
Karin Wahlstrom gets the fire roaring. Photo courtesy of Revelstoke SAR
The Revelstoke SAR team enjoys their fire. Photo courtesy of Revelstoke SAR
The Revelstoke SAR team enjoys their fire. Photo courtesy of Revelstoke SAR
Chris Hrabb and Karen Wahlstrom's shelter looked pretty cozy — even comfy. Photo courtesy of Revelstoke SAR
Chris Hrabb and Karin Wahlstrom's shelter looked pretty cozy — even comfy. Photo courtesy of Revelstoke SAR
John Todd's shelter would do the trick, particularly if the ground was really wet. Photo courtesy of Revelstoke SAR
John Todd's shelter would do the trick, particularly if the ground was really wet. Photo courtesy of Revelstoke SAR
Buck Corrigan's shelter had that professional look. Photo courtesy of Revelstoke SAR
Buck Corrigan's shelter had that professional look. Photo courtesy of Revelstoke SAR

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