BoCo search and rescues trending to second highest year on record

As summer winds down, you might be looking for a few last outdoor adventures. And you wouldn't be alone.

Labor Day weekend is prime time for outdoor recreation, as many families take one last trip before school gets going in full swing. But don't expect to find too much peace and quiet on your next outing, whether you are sticking local to Boulder County or heading somewhere else in the state.

Colorado, and Boulder County specifically, is known as an outdoor recreation mecca. As the state's population grows, Colorado's popular outdoor spaces will only continue to see increased use.

In 2019, according to the United States Census Bureau, 67,000 people moved to the state of Colorado, a decrease from the 80,000 people who moved to the state in 2018. According to the Bell Policy Center, Colorado's population is projected to grow from 5.6 million people in 2017 to 8.7 million by 2050. And in 2019, SmartAsset ranked Longmont as one of the fastest growing cities in the country in a study conducted on top U.S. boomtowns.

If it seems like local trailheads are more crowded, and your favorite trails are seeing an increase in traffic, it's probably more than just your perception.

COVID-19 appears to have accelerated that trend across the United States. According to the Outdoor Industry Association, monthly data from an annual study on outdoor recreation showed that Americans took up new activities in significant numbers in April, May, and June of 2020. Running, cycling, and hiking were the most popular activities to top the list.

With people out recreating in record numbers, Boulder County is seeing an increase in search and rescue calls, which poses an interesting set of challenges for a specific group of volunteers in Boulder County - the Rocky Mountain Rescue Group (RMRG).

Drew Hildner, the principal information officer for RMRG, said the search and rescue group, which currently consists of about 72 volunteers, are dispatched similarly to police and fire responsders. "We get activated from 911 calls for the most part. Occasionally, we do get contacted by the Air Force if someone sets off their Garmin inReach or other satellite messenger. And there's always one of us that's on call to answer dispatch."

Once activated, the volunteers self-select based on availability, expertise, and the severity of the call. According to Hildner, it's like a flash mob that shows up to the closest trailhead.

"One thing we like to say, because it's the reality, is that every rescue starts with a search," said Hildner. He pointed out that this is different from fire or police responses in the respect that most times the RMRG volunteers are responding to a call for help in a reported area, but not necessarily a specific location.

"Even when we have a pretty good idea of where they are, we aren't 100% sure until we get one of our members on scene," he said.

Most rescues, Hildner said, are an isolated lower extremity injury, usually an ankle. Those types of rescues, on average, take about 14 to 15 volunteers. "People are always surprised at how incapacitated you can be and how many people it takes to get folks out of even just the foothills when they're on trail and hurt their ankles," he said.

Hildner said the majority, ranging from 60 to 75%, of their rescues are people out hiking. The group also frequently responds to climbing rescues.

"We do have a very high percentage of climbers and, especially this year, we've had a particularly high number of climbers," said Hildner, who estimated about 10 to 15% of their rescues are climbing related. The remainder of their rescues fall into an "other" category covering activities like four-wheeling and paragliding.

RMRG is responsible for all search and rescue operations in Boulder County, covering territory that ranges from the foothills to the Continental Divide. Hildner noted that this means their area encompasses a lot of climbing routes. "[We] have more climbing than the rest of the state. So, relatively, we do a lot of climbing-related rescues which can be full-blown vertical rock face evacuations," he said. These types of technical rescues can take anywhere from 25 to 50 people and can take hours.

RMRG does not use search dogs, water rescue, cave/confined spaces rescue or equine or urban rescue. It is responsible for any rescue more than 100 feet from the road and technical in nature. This area represents some pretty significant terrain when you consider that Boulder County alone has 65,897 acres of public land and over 100 miles of trails, all of which are getting busier and more popular every year.

"Our highest call volume was back in 2018," said Hildner. That year, the organization had 234 search and rescue calls which Hildner said was a noticeable increase over previous years. "We had never crossed over 200 before that," he said.

2020 appears to be on track to exceed 200 calls. "We're having our second-busiest year by far, and we're about a month ahead of our second-busiest season and only about 15 rescues behind our busiest season. So we've definitely been busy this year," said Hildner.

Speaking specifically to COVID-19, Hildner said the coronavirus pandemic hasn't slowed the number of calls. "We actually didn't see any drop off in rescues and have certainly been quite busy, not only with our numbers, but this year has been a particularly acute year for injuries," said Hildner, noting that there have also been several fatalities.

To stay safe, Hildner said there are some precautions you should always take before heading out. Specifically, be prepared with the 10 essentials and do your research. Leave your plan with someone and make sure your phone is charged if you are using that for navigation.

If something does happen, Hildner offers this advice: "Try to get yourself sorted out, sit down, breath through it. If you're lost, really try to reorient and reset. But if you're not able to get out on your own, we're happy to come help you out."

If you do have to call 911, know that RMRG won't charge you for their search and rescue services, but if you need an ambulance or other emergency evacuation services you may incur charges. "It's important for us to let the community know that we don't charge for rescue," Hildner said. "If you do need rescue, just give us a call, don't worry about getting any kind of charges."

Hildner also encouraged everyone to do their part to stay safe while recreating, this year especially. "Be safe out there, especially in times of COVID. That's something we're having to navigate. Don't go out to the outdoors if you're feeling ill or have a cough," he said.

If you're looking for ways to support the work of this non-profit, Hildner had a few suggestions. "We get about one-third of our funding from donations. We do get a little bit of support from the city and county of Boulder, but we're all volunteers. The Colorado Search and Rescue Board has estimated that each one of us spends about $2,500 per year in terms of equipment, gas, basic maintenance on vehicles, stuff like that. Donations are always very welcome," he said.

The organization does take on new volunteers, usually on a yearly basis, although COVID-19 may change the normal recruiting and training process for 2021. Hildner also mentioned that as a non-profit organization, they also appreciate volunteers who can help with administrative tasks as well as those willing to go out in the field.

He recommended that people consider purchasing a CORSAR card. Not to be confused with "rescue insurance" which it is not, this card is a way for people who are not hunters and fishers to support search and rescue funding.

"We do get some state funds from hunting and fishing licenses. For non-hunters and fishers, the CORSAR card allows us, at the end of the year, to request money from state funds, for reimbursement for equipment that is worn out or broken from rescues," he said. You can purchase a Colorado CORSAR card online or at a local outdoor retailer like REI.

Regardless of how you might support the group, whether by doing your due diligence before heading out on a hike or by making a donation, the 100% volunteer non-profit is happy to be of service.

"Part of the reason we're members of the rescue group is we love going out and doing the same things as the people who we rescue," said Hildner.

You can learn more about the Rocky Mountain Rescue Group at rockymountainrescue.org or follow them on Facebook or Twitter for the latest updates.