SAR

Latest Stories

Hiking

A Georgia Hiker Tried to Walk Up a Climbing Route in Sneakers. Rescuers Saved His Life.

Wearing running shoes and a backpack, a hiker attempted an unroped ascent of Mount Yonah, a popular climbing crag in Georgia. Rescuers plucked him from a tiny ledge.

Frederick DreierAugust 27, 20262

News and Analysis

Teton County Is a Brutal Place for Backcountry Rescue. Volunteers Use a Ford Bronco® to Get It Done.

Steep slopes, harsh weather, and unforgiving terrain make Teton County one of the toughest places in the country to get rescued. But it just got a little easier thanks to this first-response vehicle.

Corey BuhayMay 6, 2026

News and Analysis

Why Ford Donated a Bronco® SUV to this First Response Team

When this California fire department got called on for backcountry rescues, just reaching those in need was a challenge. Until now.

Corey BuhayApril 23, 2026

Exploration & Survival

This Advice from Search and Rescue Experts May Someday Save Your Life

We asked SAR personnel to offer simple tips that every hiker, climber, or skier could someday use in a backcountry emergency.

Jayme MoyeMarch 5, 20264

Exploration & Survival

Do You Want to Save Lives in the Backcountry? Here’s How to Join a SAR Team.

SAR squads across the country rely on volunteer manpower to save lives. Experts share tips for how to join your local team.

Jayme MoyeFebruary 27, 2026

Exploration & Survival

Drones and AI May Soon Be the Most Important Tools in Search and Rescue

Rescue teams across the country are rapidly integrating flying drones and artificial intelligence programs into their processes and procedures. But one major hurdle is stymying the new tech.

Frederick ReimersFebruary 12, 2026

Exploration & Survival

18 Days in a Cave, Weeks Lost at Sea—Here Are the Rescue Missions We Still Talk About

Outside editors recall the search and rescue missions unlike any others. Here are the stories that will stay with us forever.

Emilee CoblentzFebruary 11, 2026

Exploration & Survival

Behind the Scenes of Search and Rescue Outdoors

Inside the world of search and rescue—from what it’s really like on the ground to the harrowing rescues that stay with us forever.

Emilee CoblentzFebruary 11, 2026

Hiking

Michelle Vanek Vanished on a Hike 19 Years Ago. This Is How We Finally Found Her Remains.

She was the only hiker ever to die while seeking the summit of central Colorado’s most famous 14er. A member of the successful search team investigates who she was, how her death—and her recovery 19 years later—impacted her family, and what we all need to consider before heading into the alpine.

Ted KatauskasSeptember 23, 20259

SAR

Latest Stories

A Georgia Hiker Tried to Walk Up a Climbing Route in Sneakers. Rescuers Saved His Life.

Teton County Is a Brutal Place for Backcountry Rescue. Volunteers Use a Ford Bronco® to Get It Done.

Why Ford Donated a Bronco® SUV to this First Response Team

This Advice from Search and Rescue Experts May Someday Save Your Life

Do You Want to Save Lives in the Backcountry? Here’s How to Join a SAR Team.

Drones and AI May Soon Be the Most Important Tools in Search and Rescue

18 Days in a Cave, Weeks Lost at Sea—Here Are the Rescue Missions We Still Talk About

Behind the Scenes of Search and Rescue Outdoors

Michelle Vanek Vanished on a Hike 19 Years Ago. This Is How We Finally Found Her Remains.

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