Mason County Search & Rescue

06/17/2026

Meet Tania. 🌲❤️

Tania joined Mason County Search & Rescue in 2020, driven by a simple mission in life:
Love God, and love people.

Outside of SAR, she loves spending time with family and being outdoors—but admits SAR has become much more than just a hobby.

“Is there life outside of SAR? Kidding… not kidding.”

For Tania, Search & Rescue is one of the most meaningful ways she can serve her community alongside an incredible group of selfless, committed volunteers.

One of the biggest lessons she shares with new members is this:
Avoid assumptions. If you see something, say something.

A disturbed patch of moss or a discarded soda can may seem insignificant, but small details and shared information can make all the difference during a search. Even when clues seem to point one direction, it’s important to stay open to other possibilities.

Tania also wants people to know that SAR is an accessible volunteer opportunity.

“Yes, it takes the right kind of person—but that person might be you.”

She also highlights how important community support is to the work MCSAR does. From communications equipment and rope rescue systems to training and instructors, donations directly impact the team’s ability to respond effectively when people need help most.

We’re grateful for Tania’s heart for service and the steady leadership she brings to the team. You too can make an impact on your WA State Community by supporting MCSAR through donation. Follow the link below to make our day: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/donation-form/mason-county-search-and-rescue

06/17/2026

Sometimes it takes years to find resolution.

A family member submitted DNA more than 20 years ago, hoping for answers about Patricia L. Colyer's 1986 disappearance. That sample brought closure this week when remains found in Chelan County were positively identified as the missing Tacoma woman: https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/remains-found-chelan-county-identified-tacoma-woman-missing-since-1986/281-ba048b6a-1c2a-43ef-b88c-e4ceec550465?utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook_KING_5

06/17/2026

Please be on the lookout for juvenile Quemiah Rich. Missing since 6/14. See the flyer for details.

We are requesting the public's help with locating runaway juvenile Quemiah Rich. Please see the attached flyer for details.
~1i27

06/11/2026

Our hearts go out to the family and loved ones affected by this incident.

If you or someone you know is struggling, please reach out. You are not alone.

988 Su***de & Crisis Lifeline — call or text 988

Thank you to all the agencies working together on this.

:::UPDATE::: 9:45AM 6/11/26

Last night, recovery teams successfully recovered the remains of a male believed to be in his early 20s from below the High Steel Bridge.

The initial call came in after a citizen observed what appeared to be a body in the area below the bridge. Other citizens nearby used a drone to confirm the presence of a deceased individual and notified authorities.

Out of respect for the family and pending next-of-kin notifications, no identifying information will be released at this time. The investigation remains ongoing.

We appreciate the assistance of our partner agencies and the citizens who promptly reported what they observed.

~40
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Recovery Operation Underway Near High Steel Bridge

Mason County Sheriff’s Office personnel are currently on scene below the High Steel Bridge after a body was discovered in the area. The location was later confirmed through drone imagery.

Members of Jefferson Search and Rescue, Olympic Mountain Rescue, Mason County Search & Rescue MCSO SORT personnel, West Mason Fire - WA deputies, and detectives are actively working together on a recovery mission.

We ask the public to remain away from the area while emergency personnel safely conduct recovery operations. Additional information will be provided as it becomes available and appropriate for release.

We appreciate the assistance of our partner agencies and the public’s cooperation during this ongoing operation.

~40

06/10/2026

Meet Graydon. 🥾🌲

Graydon joined Mason County Search & Rescue in 2023 after realizing he wanted to be more prepared, more capable, and more useful in emergency situations.

Like many SAR volunteers, his path started with a simple Facebook post about an MCSAR open house. He showed up to learn more, heard what the team was about, understood the commitment involved—and getting involved became an easy decision.

At the center of Graydon’s life is his faith and his family. He and his wife are raising two daughters, and he describes those relationships as the foundation of who he is. Everything else—the hobbies, interests, and activities he enjoys—simply fills the gaps around what matters most.

One of the biggest lessons SAR has reinforced for him is something both practical and deeply grounded:

“Being trained is better than simply being confident.”

Search & Rescue has a way of teaching humility quickly. There is always more to learn, another skill to sharpen, another perspective to gain. The wilderness doesn’t care about ego—and neither does effective teamwork.

Graydon sums up his approach simply:
Be kind. Be humble. Be ready.

Honestly? That feels like a pretty good philosophy both on and off the mountain.

We’re grateful to have Graydon as part of the team. If you'd like to support Graydon and the rest of our SAR team, please click the link below to make a donation. Your support is what allows our important work to continue: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/donation-form/mason-county-search-and-rescue

06/07/2026

06/07/2026

K9 Thuja and the MCSAR K9 team want to send a huge thank you to Kitsap County Search Dogs for welcoming us for a joint training today!

A special shoutout to our handful of motivated hiders — what started as a beautiful day turned into a full-on deluge, and you stuck it out like champs. We couldn’t train without you! ☔ Thanks for being game to help set up some challenging scenarios!

Thuja is seen here enjoying her well-earned reward after making a find. (The clothes were just a prop — it was a different odor she was after! 🐽)

Cross-team training keeps our dogs sharp and our partnerships strong!

06/04/2026

JSAR rocking the water side!

Our swiftwater capability is growing! We just wrapped up a 3-day Swiftwater Rescue (SWR) Technician course on the Elwha River, adding 6 new certified JSAR personnel to our SWR roster. Olympic National Park Rangers and Mason County Search and Rescue also had members get certified through this course.

SWR is a dynamic and challenging rescue environment, and JSAR has very carefully developed our team's swiftwater capability over the past three years. From very generous donations from our community that allowed us to purchase the inflatable rescue boat pictured, to a structured and purposeful training program, our team's ability to operate on the Olympic Peninsula's many waterways has noticeably grown.

Great job SWR technicians!

06/03/2026

Meet Peder.

Peder joined MCSAR in 2020, bringing with him a lifetime spent chasing adventure and learning how to move through the wild with respect and curiosity.

From skydiving and BASE jumping to speedflying, mountaineering, and free diving, he’s the kind of person who feels most alive immersed in the elements. If there’s an opportunity to explore the edge of human experience outdoors, chances are Peder has tried it—or is about to.

But his path into SAR came from something deeper than adrenaline.

Over the years, he witnessed serious accidents within the adventure sports community and found himself wanting to help, but feeling unprepared. After learning more about Search & Rescue through a fellow adventurer already involved in SAR, he realized he could use his existing skills to serve the community he calls home.

Outside of SAR, Peder also loves teaching and sharing knowledge. Whether mentoring others directly or through his YouTube channel focused on adventure sports, he’s passionate about helping people experience the outdoors more safely and fully.

Some of the biggest lessons he’s learned through SAR are simple—but powerful:

• Always check the weather. Always.
• Dress for success and bring the right gear.
• Serious accidents are rarely one bad decision—they’re usually a chain of cascading events. Don’t get tunnel vision.

And perhaps most importantly:

“There will be a final day on this planet for all of us, and we won’t know what day that is unless we create it. Do your best to enjoy every day to the fullest. Give huge hugs to all your people.”

That perspective—equal parts humility, preparation, and appreciation for life—is woven deeply into Search & Rescue.

Peder says one of the most meaningful parts of SAR has been working alongside people committed to the greater good, and he encourages everyone to find a way to volunteer using their own passions and skillsets.

Because it matters. And because people matter. We’re grateful he chose to bring his experience, heart, and adventurous spirit to the team. If you feel led to support our group through donation, please follow the link below - our volunteers and the people we rescue count on donations and grants almost entirely to support our work: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/donation-form/mason-county-search-and-rescue

06/03/2026

Great response effort by all involved.
💙♥️🧡🚁

The Mason County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) says two fishermen stranded near Holman Flats on the South Fork of the Skokomish River were rescued on Friday morning.