Custer County SAR

10/02/2026

Got traction?

The Crestone Group is showing off its winter whites. Traction, warm layers, and ways to keep yourself dry are great things to be thinking about when heading above treeline. Good time to update what you are carrying!

09/29/2026

Listen to the full episode on the KLZR 91.7 FM Valley Views podcast hosted by Gary Taylor. Topics include CCSAR’s origin story, memorable missions, and how search and rescue has evolved in the Wet Mountain Valley.

09/23/2026

On Monday, 9/21/26 in coordination with Saguache County Search & Rescue, Custer County SAR responded to a cliffed-out hiker on Crestone Needle. Six Technical Rope Rescue members were inserted into the field by REACH Air Medical Services .The team navigated the technical terrain and were able to assist him in moving to a safe location. He received further aid out of the field by members of Saguache County Search & Rescue and . We are very appreciative of the collaboration with our mutual aid partners on this mission.

Rescues in remote wilderness terrain can take several hours. This is a great time of year to update your pack list. Warmer clothing, a headlamp with extra batteries, a phone battery bank, and extra food are especially helpful as the days get shorter and temperatures drop.

09/21/2026

Mon Sept 21 10am : Custer County SAR is responding to a mission, please stay clear of the Search & Rescue building. Thank you.

09/08/2026

At 11:00am on Sept. 7, 2026 Custer County SAR in coordination with Saguache County Search & Rescue responded to a climber who had taken a serious fall on the descent of Crestone Needle. The initial call indicated that subject had lost consciousness and was breathing. CommonSpirit - Flight for Life LG4 inserted our technical rope rescue team at Cottonwood Lake to begin ascending to the injured man. In the meantime, Colorado Search and Rescue Association - CSAR began a process to coordinate a hoist from the Colorado National Guard and the Colorado Hoist Rescue Team. The subject was successfully hoisted at 15:44.

This subject was in a group of 5 that summited the Crestone Needle along with many other people. His fall was witnessed by his climbing partners and several other climbers who provided initial assistance including calling 911. We are sensitive to the emotional and psychological stress of witnessing an event like this, and we encourage everyone to practice self-care in the days and weeks to come. Please reach out if you need support and check in on each other.

We'd like to thank the following for their support on this rescue. It takes a huge team of people to accomplish rescues like this one.
Combined Regional Communications Authority - CRCA 911
Saguache County Search & Rescue
Colorado Search and Rescue Association - CSAR
Colorado National Guard
CommonSpirit - Flight for Life (lake photo credit)
Colorado Hoist Rescue Team (aerial photo credit)
Western Mountain Rescue Team
Alamosa Volunteer Search And Rescue

09/07/2026

Custer County SAR is responding to an incident near Crestone Needle. Expect helicopter activity near the Custer SAR search base. Please avoid the area. Thank you!

08/07/2026

We had the pleasure of discussing one of CCSAR's July missions with Outside Magazine. A day hike that turned into an all-night rescue, how a hiker's preparation for the unexpected kept her safe, visible and warm until CCSAR could reach her.



https://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-adventure/hiking-and-backpacking/broken-hand-pass-colorado-hiker-rescue/?fbclid=IwY2xjawTJJ4RleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeUpZaxb5e6lNZXE6hKOpuZsAMzbQzJDU8huSanfVME9yE0JH4RGPRRnCKzcg_aem_3fd84oFWqTA7I8InwtnbdQ

When a seasoned hiker injured her knee on Colorado’s chossy Broken Hand Pass, her 13-hour rescue in the dark became a testament to why prep isn't just for beginners.

07/26/2026

Yesterday afternoon, 7/25/26, Custer County SAR was called out to assist a subject experiencing altitude related issues on his descent from Humboldt Peak. Our ground teams were able to make contact with the subject and bring him down for evaluation from REACH Air Medical Services Guardian One team. It seems our monsoonal moisture has arrived and temps drop quickly up high. With all the heat we've been experiencing, the contrast up high is real. Be prepared for rain, lightning, hail, wind and cold. Have fun out there.

07/20/2026

Custer County SAR hosted and participated in a multi-agency joint training with 35 personnel from Colorado National Guard and 6 handlers and 6 K9s from Colorado Urban Search and Rescue Task Force One. Our scenarios involved ground and air searches for multiple injured subjects in a backcountry environment. Integrating three different teams gave us a great opportunity to collaborate and dial in our systems. Big thanks to all three agencies for the stellar work this weekend!