Alaska Search and Rescue

[klickitat]

All you guys up in Alaska. How about some Search and Rescue stories. I was watching "Tougher in Alaska" and there was a small quip about a search and rescue team.

What are the search and rescue events really like? What kind of conditions are people trying to survive? What gear do people usually have with them in the different seasons? What kind of? Do you have any personal stories?

[Winter]

Well, more often then not, the victim is fond less then 10 yards from the trail or found their way out themselves.

3 times I went out the victim was recovered less then 30 minutes after I got off the helicopter.

Once, some guy took off in an open canoe across the channel. Drift patterns determined he would end up in Helm bay about 20 miles NW of where he was last seen.

We searched all day and all we found was 8 of his beers. He was never recovered.