Western Mountain Rescue Team

10/15/2026

On October 14, 2026, at 1459, Western Mountain Rescue Team was paged for a missing hunter in the Waunita Hot Springs area.

After establishing phone contact with the hunter, team members were able to determine their approximate location using a phone GPS ping. A team of five was deployed to the area, where they located the hunter and assisted them back to the road.

We would like to thank the Gunnison County Sheriff's Office for their support on this mission.

Search and Rescue services are FREE in Colorado, so never hesitate to call if you find yourself in a predicament in the backcountry. We will always be there to help!

WMRT relies heavily on donations from our community to support our operations and keep the backcountry safe for all. Please consider donating to support our mission. Link to donate is in our bio.

09/18/2026

This week, Western Mountain Rescue Team welcomed our newest Field Class members for their first night of training!

Field Class started with the foundations, covering basic knots and personal packs as they begin developing the skills they’ll use throughout the semester and in the field.

Meanwhile, Support Class continued their training by working with our high-angle single main, separate belay system, getting hands-on practice with the systems used during technical rescues.

We’re excited to welcome our new Field Class and watch both classes continue building their skills throughout the semester!

Search and Rescue services are FREE in Colorado, so never hesitate to call if you find yourself in a predicament in the backcountry. We will always be there to help!
WMRT relies heavily on donations from our community to support our operations and keep the backcountry safe for all. Please consider donating to support our mission. Link to donate is in our bio.

09/15/2026

On Saturday, September 12, WMRT members provided standby coverage for the Gunni Grinder, supporting riders throughout the event.

Later that afternoon, at 1513, the team was paged for a stranded climber/hiker in Taylor Canyon near the plane crash. Members located the subject uninjured but unable to safely return to the trail. The subject was placed on belay and assisted back up the steep terrain before walking out to the vehicles with team members.

From supporting community events to responding when someone needs assistance in the backcountry, it was a full day for WMRT members.

Western Mountain Rescue Team is a volunteer organization and never charges for rescue services. If you would like to support our team, donations help us purchase and maintain the equipment needed to continue serving our community.

GunniGrinder

08/31/2026

This past Saturday, Western Mountain Rescue Team returning members took to the field for a day of technical rescue training. Members practiced patient packaging, litter movement through steep and technical terrain, and rope-assisted patient movement.
Training scenarios like these allow returning members to refresh technical skills, practice working together as a team, and prepare for the upcoming year.
A special thank you to our volunteer patient for helping make the training possible! Keep an eye out in the future for how you can volunteer to be a patient.

08/27/2026

Are you interested in joining the western mountain rescue team? Join us for our information meeting Thursday September 10th at 6pm in the Rady building. Both students and community members are welcome!

08/12/2026

On August 9, 2026, at 1139, Western Mountain Rescue Team was paged for an injured climber on Spring Creek Tower.

Team members climbed approximately 35 meters to reach the patient and provide initial care. Due to the patient’s location several pitches up the climb, the team coordinated with assisting agencies for a helicopter short-haul evacuation. The patient was successfully extricated, and team members returned to town at 2059.

We would like to extend our appreciation to Gunnison Valley Paramedics, Gunnison County Sheriff’s Office, CareFlight, and the Colorado Hoist Rescue Team for their assistance on this mission.

Search and Rescue services are performed by volunteer SAR teams are FREE in Colorado, so never hesitate to call if you find yourself in a predicament in the backcountry. We will always be there to help!

WMRT relies heavily on donations from our community to support our operations and keep the backcountry safe for all. Please consider donating to support our mission. Link to donate is in our bio.

07/01/2026

On June 23, 2026, at 1730, Western Mountain Rescue Team was paged to assist with a search in the area of the Van Tuyl trail.
Team members responded alongside the Gunnison Police Department, Gunnison Fire Department, Gunnison Valley Paramedics, and resources from Crested Butte Search and Rescue. Through the coordinated efforts of all responding agencies, the operation was successfully concluded.
We would like to thank our partner agencies for their professionalism, teamwork, and collaboration throughout this mission.
Search and Rescue services are FREE in Colorado, so never hesitate to call if you find yourself in need of assistance in the backcountry. We will always be there to help!
WMRT relies heavily on donations from our community to support our operations and keep the backcountry safe for all. Please consider supporting our mission. The link to donate can be found in our bio.

06/24/2026

On June 21, 2026, the team was paged at 1216 for an injured dirt biker in the Taylor Park area.

One group responded via ATV over Taylor Pass while a second ground team, accompanied by Gunnison Valley Paramedics, hiked in via the Taylor Divide Trail. The patient was assessed and treated before being evacuated by helicopter. The team returned to Gunnison at 0048 on June 22.

We would like to extend our appreciation to Gunnison Valley Paramedics, our aviation resources, and our partner agencies for their assistance on this mission.

Search and Rescue services are FREE in Colorado, so never hesitate to call if you find yourself in a predicament in the backcountry. We will always be there to help!

WMRT relies heavily on donations from our community to support our operations and keep the backcountry safe for all. Please consider donating to support our mission. Link to donate is in our bio.

06/07/2026

At the end of May WMRT celebrated the end of the 2025-2026 academic year with awards and a SARbecue! Check out our list of awards and awardees.

Vonnie Laudick: Liam Rimbach 
The Vonnie M. Laudick award is presented to the Western Mountain Rescue Team member who displays the outstanding qualities of leadership, enthusiasm, and compassion for all living things. Created to perpetuate the memory of Yvonne Laudick (’83)

Heather O’Connor: Sydney Yelton 
The Heather O’Connor award is awarded to the most outstanding field class member in memory of Heather O’Connor.

Highline Award: Chaffee County Search 
Recognizes team members outstanding performance on a specific mission during the year. 

Junkin Stokes Award: Dylan MacKenzie 
Awarded to the team member with the best attitude throughout the year. Awardee is someone who raises the morale of the team and is always willing to lend a hand and support their peers. 

Bent Clipboard: McKenzie McConnell 
The bent clipboard is awarded to the Mission Coordinator who ran the most missions in the prior calendar year.

Hélmütt/ Code Kearns: Ryan Largent
Recognizes a Mission Coordinator who made a “Big Goof” on a mission or training in the prior year.

WMRT Service Award: Liam Rimbach (Not pictured)
Recognizes a team member who has contributed significant service to the team.

Congrats to all of the awardees and a huge thanks to all team members who put in countless hours of work this year. As school ends WMRT is getting ready for the summer we are always here and ready to help!

04/15/2026

Thank you to all the amazing telecommunicators across the nation who make our work possible, you are incredible!

WMRT deeply values our relationship with Gunnison Regional 911 Center. Thank you to our first-first responders.🫶

💛This week, we proudly recognize National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, April 12–18.

Behind every call for help is a calm, steady voice guiding the way. Our 911 professionals are the first, first responders, providing life-saving instructions, coordinating emergency response, and supporting our community through some of its most critical moments.

Their work is often unseen, but never unimportant. We are incredibly grateful for our team's dedication, professionalism, and commitment to serving Gunnison and Hinsdale counties every single day.

To all 911 Professionals, thank you for being the voice that makes a difference. 💛