Editor’s note: This article has been changed to correct the name of Colorado Outdoor Recreation Search and Rescue cards.

Backcountry search and rescue services in Colorado are free. Thanks to Keep Colorado Wild funding, we’re better able to keep it that way.

The Summit County Rescue Group tells the story of a young hiker who became stranded on Colorado’s 14,270 foot Quandary Peak. She called 911, but asked the search and rescue coordinator just to “talk her out of the area,” which was a dangerous, technical part of the mountain. The sun had already set and it was getting cold, but she repeatedly insisted the team should not come to help her. The coordinator finally asked why she didn’t want help, and she replied, “I can’t afford it.” He explained there would be no charge and she happily agreed to be rescued.

Volunteer responders are often asked why backcountry search and rescue teams don’t charge their subjects for services. Most teams have had little to no government funding historically, but they still have to fund equipment, training and operational expenses. So, why not charge? 

The State of Colorado has declared that backcountry search and rescue is an essential service in Colorado. We believe it is a service that should be provided to anyone, regardless of ability to pay.  The civic-minded volunteers of rescue teams do what they do for many different reasons, including simple humanitarian support for their neighbors and visitors. They enjoy being outdoors, and many of them talk about the personal pride that comes from working as a team.

We know from experience that when people think they’re going to be charged, they often delay calling or even intentionally evade rescuers.  A rescue that might have been accomplished on a sunny afternoon and had rescuers home in time for dinner perhaps now has them getting out of bed at 3 a.m. in bad weather.  This delay can make the incident more dangerous for the subjects as well as the rescuers, as injuries worsen, hypothermia sets in, cell phone batteries die and subjects become disoriented. In some cases, what could have been a live rescue becomes a body recovery. 

Law enforcement organizations don’t charge when a child goes missing in a city. The Coast Guard doesn’t charge when they respond to a boat accident. FEMA doesn’t charge when a building collapses. Why should backcountry search and rescue be any different? The National Association for Search and Rescue takes the position, “The mission of SAR organizations is to save lives, not just the lives of those who can afford to pay the bill.”

So how do all-volunteer, nonprofit search and rescue teams handle their operational expenses?  Methods vary across the state, and many teams have expressed frustration that their members must take time for fundraising events or self-fund their costs on top of their rescue responsibilities.  In 2019, the Colorado Search and Rescue Association decided to tackle the problem and seek a means of statewide funding to help teams with some of their expenses. Colorado Search and Rescue Association approached Colorado state agencies and legislators with the problem and together, they brainstormed possible solutions. Their discussions eventually led to the passing of a bill which created the Keep Colorado Wild pass. Colorado residents have the opportunity to purchase a heavily discounted state parks pass with their vehicle registration every year, and the proceeds go to fund state parks, the Colorado Avalanche Information Center, and the Backcountry Search and Rescue Fund, which is a $2.5 million fund administered by Colorado Parks and Wildlife.  Funds from the program are being distributed to Colorado’s sheriffs to support search and rescue teams for the first time as of this writing.

What about the funding through Colorado Outdoor Recreation Search and Rescue cards and hunting, fishing and off-highway vehicle licenses? Many outdoor recreationists are aware these cards provide money to search and rescue teams, but often they are under the misconception that this is rescue insurance.  In fact, when you buy one of these, a portion of the fee goes into the Backcountry Search and Rescue Fund administered by Colorado Parks and Wildlife and is available for teams to use for equipment and training. If you don’t already have a hunting, fishing or off-highway vehicle license, buying a Colorado Outdoor Recreation Search and Rescue card is a good thing to do and helps support rescue teams. Other ways to support backcountry search and rescue in Colorado include buying your Keep Colorado Wild pass every year, making direct donations and staying safe in the backcountry.  

Anna DeBattiste is a volunteer public information officer with the Colorado Search and Rescue Association and a former public information officer with Summit County Rescue Group. The Colorado Search and Rescue Association provides advocacy, resource coordination, member education and collaboration forums for backcountry search and rescue teams and other partners across the state.