Central Arizona Mountain Rescue Association

Last weekend, Mountain Rescue’s training covered a rescue technique known as a pick off. Pick offs are a technical rescue technique used by the team to gain access to a Subject and connect them to the rescuers rope system on a vertical or near vertical surface. Pick offs can either be done by the team lowering the rescuer to the Subject or the rescuer rappelling to the Subject.


Arizona Volunteer

03/17, aviation, MCSO SAR deputies, and Mountain Rescue conducted night vertical surface hoist training. This training is highly technical and with the added challenge of low visibility. With the expert skill of the pilots, systems operators, and rescue specialists, the training was completed safely and efficiently. While this is a low frequency scenario, regular trainings ensure MCSO SAR is ready to execute rescues anytime, anywhere, and in any weather!

Saturday, Mountain Rescue joined and in Flagstaff, AZ for the snow and ice re-accreditation. All teams performed to a high level, exceeded the standard, and showed that though they live in the desert, they still know their way around some snow!

A huge shout out to for assisting in the scheduling the location, as well as providing evaluators and patients. Without their assistance none of this would have been possible!

Last weekend, Mountain Rescue’s recruit class conducted their initial steep angle training under the watchful eyes of their instructors. One weekend each month the recruit class will train a mountain rescue discipline in technical rope rescue, swiftwater, alpine, wilderness search, helicopter operations, and underground rescue. This training will culminate in a three day test in all disciplines know as Rescue Trials. Those who successfully complete Rescue Trials will become Rescue Technicians on the team.