Search and rescue: supplemental gear

Last fall I wrote about our search and rescue team equipment requirements, and how I designed my pack around the “24-hour” and “hasty” pack versions.

Well, those requirements recently changed. The leadership team’s goal was to reduce pack weight by introducing a new “rescue pack” equipment list, which includes a subset of the former 24-hour gear. From my limited experience, this makes sense, considering the redundancy and superfluity of having multiple team members carrying pieces of gear that are either unlikely to be required for most missions or of which the team only needs one (a tarp for subject packaging, for example).

There is a caveat: all of the formerly required gear for 24-hour missions not included in the rescue pack are still required to be present for every mission (including some additions, namely snowshoes and microspikes), so vehicle gear storage is now essential. The 24-hour supplements must be available to quickly include in the rescue pack depending on mission requirements.

I welcomed this change following my shoulder surgery in December 2021. The pack is definitely lighter, and, even when accompanied by my chest pack, is easier to carry in the field.

So here’s a breakdown of what I now carry in my vehicle to supplement my rescue pack.

In my truck

Water kit

This isn’t required, but I carry a supplemental water kit. I continue to carry chlorine tablets in my rescue pack. Water purification is no longer required for the default rescue pack, but I was on a recent mission in which another team member was overheating and needed my water for cooling, so I still carry chlorine tablets in case I need to disinfect water on a long, hot mission. Tablets are small, lightweight, and potentially life-saving, especially in the summer.

My supplemental water kit includes:

• Grayl Geopress
• Pathfinder single-walled 32 oz. bottle

These two options allow me to have a total of three water disinfection options. The single-walled bottle offers the option of purification by boiling, the Grayl Geopress is a filter (and simultaneously an additional container), and I carry tablets.

Fire kit

My fire kit includes:

• Cold Steel SRK
• Snow Peak Titanium Cup
• Fire starters
• Lighters
• Stormproof matches

Shelter kit

I actually switched this up just after taking this photo. I decided the stove makes more sense in the fire kit, so I moved it there.

This one is somewhat difficult to organize, because tarps are intended for both shelter and subject packaging for litter rescue. Since I carry a bivy in my rescue pack, it’s more likely that I would use the tarp for packaging, which happens relatively often.

In any case, this kit is in the truck:

• MSR Pocket Rocket
• Stove fuel
• Lighters
• Pathfinder cup and lid
• Tarp (80 sq ft)
• MSR Groundhog stakes
• Prusik loop constructed from 6ft of 6mm cord
• Purcell prusik loop, constructed from 10ft of 6mm cord
• Additional carabiners

It should be noted that the prusiks are included in a smaller bag that can be removed from this kit and included in another.

Food, coffee, and electrolytes

I carry multiple Mountain House freeze-dried meals, along with instant coffee and electrolytes.

Snowshoes

Snowshoes weren’t required in the previous gear list, and the team has several pairs on hand for team members. I picked some up anyway, because we’ve had several recent missions for which they were required.

• Yukon Charlie’s Sherpa Snowshoes

Extra clothing

Our previous pack had always-carry clothing requirements, but the new spec does not. Nonetheless, I carry a supplemental clothing kit with the following:

• Gloves (both an extra pair of leather gloves and leather insulated gloves)
• Base layers (top and bottom)
• Rain pants
• Beanie
• Fleece
• Socks (x3)

Required equipment

Rescue pack

Pack Checks will be on all required gear for Type 2 Searches
The Rescue Pack Is CSAR’s Primary Pack
R = Required, Blank = Optional

Required supplemental kit

Additional required gear that must be readily available to add to the Rescue Pack for extended (24 hr) missions or required by Team Leaders

* Backpack must be large enough to internally carry the 24 Hr gear items (except snowshoes) OR rapidly interchangeable packs
** Until EMS committee publishes new Individual First Aid Kit guidelines
*** Low-Intensity Pack (Type 3 or 4 Searches or Type 2 searches that are close to support, etc)