Nancy Phillipe sat poised, the short and steady clicking of the keyboard kept beat to the frantic voice on the other line. Her partner, referencing the notes, began putting out a call to rescuers. “All available SARsiters needed for a technical rope rescue on Half Dome. More details to follow.”

When recreating outdoors your safety is first and foremost your responsibility. Carrying the 10 Essentials can’t prevent adverse events, but they can help mitigate risk when adverse events happen.

But the reality is, nothing is better than being prepared with the appropriate gear and an educated understanding of what you are doing and where you are going. So many people come into the park expecting that they can “just wing it,” but that can be a recipe for disaster. Winter conditions can be unforgiving and the human body is not made to survive and move in these cold, snowy environments. Having the right gear is an absolute must.

FOYOSAR’s feature on Helicopter Rescue Team member Tom Healy.

Moose Mutlow discusses the importance of FLOs, compassion, and and the powerful impact of selfless acts.