r/searchandrescue • u/Aromatic_Razzmatazz • 15d ago

There have been far more hoist rescues this summer than in previous years in CO. Any ideas as to why?

https://youtu.be/_5cifR-aa-k?si=3s4SH2EaSfoFjQP2
22 Upvotes

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u/drewts86 15d ago

He said it right there in the video - more people getting into the outdoors. Covid got a lot more people getting into the outdoors and you might be seeing some of these people that initially started then and have been pushing their limits ever since, right up until they get to the point where they are in over their head and wind up injured.

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u/[deleted] 15d ago

[deleted]

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u/drewts86 15d ago

I’d assume the same people from Covid, who are now pushing harder and getting higher into the backcountry. Some of them are probably suffering from Dunning-Kruger to some point, where their own lack of knowledge and experience leads to them overestimating their abilities. Being socially distanced during Covid meant a lack of mentoring for all these people new to the outdoors. So they went out and did what worked, whether it was the right way or not, with no one to correct them and address their bad habits.

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u/GoodWillHiking 14d ago

This comment is so very correct.

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u/NoodledLily 15d ago

Seems like - reporter says this during the lede as well - that as pilots and SAR teams do more alipine helicopter rescues it compounds their skill set and prob gives decision makers another option that previously would have been hail mary?

Like remember this video? which is only 3 years old... btw worth a re-watch the video is sick. wish it was like 3d 8k.

Video makes it seem like it was a first of the kind high risk operation. They talked about taking weight off the heli etc.

Though obviously they've been doing this a while (🗣️🗣️ mt massive. also see asia our mountains are tiny in comparison to what they fly there)

And now seems like they're on 14ers multiple times a month.

IIRC I think in the crestone needle video they also talked about a rotation stabilized winch being new. Kind of referenced that in OPs link. Can imagine reducing 200 lbs of spinning next to talus with 40mph winds increases the safety risk/benefit thinking

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u/drewts86 15d ago

When I saw the link in your comment I was hoping it was the Crestone Needle rescue and I was right. From the moment this post went up I had that one on the back of my mind. Such a sick, well-documented pick off. That had to be absolutely butt-puckering at that altitude, those guys were really kind of at the limit of that machine.

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u/NoodledLily 15d ago

It's such an awesome watch.

From: let's meet on fb, climb something that's too hard for me (like if 5.easy is a struggle than maybe dont do something that exposed and big lol) and then semi f over my partner 😂

To: OMG that footage is THE SHIT how do I get into SAR?! And what alpine adventures can I come up with this weekend!?

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u/RidgeOperator 10d ago

I’m tagging this to watch tomorrow and your comment is driving me nuts to have to wait that long.

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u/RemusExMachina 14d ago

As the creator of that video, I’m happy to see that it’s still be talked about haha.

One thing I was nervous about at the time when making it was that perhaps it could lead to more rescues as opposed to less. Meaning that what I meant as a cautionary tale could lead to more people climbing in extreme situations since they’d think extreme hoist rescues were a phone call away. Not sure if that’s true or not but something that crossed my mind…

For my part, the video did have a large impact on my life and I’m actually at flight school right now with the intent to join the group a few years down the line once I have more experience in the cockpit.

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u/NoodledLily 14d ago

that's amazing! So cool.

IMHO the ven diagram of people seeking out SAR content and v3 climber meetups on FB deciding to trad some crazy line on the diamond are two circles lol

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u/MtnRsq84 15d ago

Curious about the impact of helo availability, ie, the development and maturity of the high altitude hoist program and partnership with Alpine, Aspen, Rocky Mtn et al mountain rescue teams supplying the hoist/rescue techs making teams more comfortable making the request for a hoist. In my experience, if helicopters are widely available they will get used and the bar for use creeps down because the ‘copter is such a good tool.

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u/GrvlBkr 13d ago

Helo availability for these comes directly from the national guard, either in Colorado or Wyoming. Colorado does have HAATS (https://co.ng.mil/Army/Schoolhouse-HAATS/) which does help with having some airframes already in the mountains. 

If I recall correctly, when I was part of one of the CO teams that would request a hoist or even just a stronger helicopter than a medical one, the process to greenlight was … extensive and went through several layers of federal gov approvals before flights were approved. 

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u/Ruth-Stewart 11d ago

It’s still fairly extensive (we get the HAATS guys out of Eagle for our joists) but pretty doable as long as we get the ball rolling relatively early.

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u/TheBoatyMcBoatFace 14d ago

Less outdoor staff. The budgets have been slashed and there are fewer people to provide guidance

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u/Ruth-Stewart 11d ago

I think a lot of it is that more and more people have the ability to call for help. With increased cell phone coverage, then things like the inReach, and now satellite texting, and automated crash/fall detection SOS stuff there are more calls. More calls means more of everything including hoists probably. Plus as teams get busier and start popping multiple calls in a short time people start looking for faster, less labor intensive ways to get the job done.

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u/Few-Ear-1326 11d ago

When your Bluetooth speaker flashes red on your hike and you're only 6 songs into your ascent playlist...

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u/The_frogs_Scream 15d ago

best guess is they got a new hoist system

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u/Werd2 13d ago

Better awareness of the resource and better coordination between local teams/sheriffs, state resource org, and the NG itself. The requirements for when a hoist is greenlit are high, and have remained the same. And, more people doing 14’ers and getting up high on peaks

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u/Cold-Professional-73 13d ago

Weaker humans mostly. AND increases in communication capabilities.

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u/Aromatic_Razzmatazz 13d ago

Everybody has an Inreach now.

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u/Simple_Display_1312 9d ago

Global warming.