|
|
| |
Colorado Outdoor Recreation Search &
Rescue Card
by Bill Myers
As an experienced Inner City Outing leader, often I introduce others to
the
sport of nordic (cross-country) skiing. So, on December 30th, I took my
daughters and a couple of first-time skiers on a short trip from
Loveland
Ski area to Bakerville.
A few early winter dumps of snow had made the snow quite deep. We
started
the five-mile relatively level trip around noon. The temperatures were
in
the 20s without any wind. I expected that we would be done and back at
the
shuttle in two or three hours, tops.
So much for planning. The very short day wore on. The five of us made
steady progress until our optimistic skiers took their climbing skins
off.
Once that happened, the skiing slowed to a crawl.
The beautiful day turned into darkness, and then a waxing gibbous moon.
I still felt pretty good, ready to finish the remaining mile and a half
under the moonlight.
My companions, however, were not so inclined. Breaking trail through
two
feet of snow was not their cup of tea. After six hours, and three and
one-half miles, the teen's cellphone popped out, and the Clear Creek
county
sheriff's patrol was contacted.
The Sheriff contacted the Alpine Rescue Team which used lights from the
nearby I-70 to locate us along the Bakerville-Loveland Valley trail.
Snowmobiles were called, and came to our site, ferrying out the five of
us
to our car at the end of the trail. Aside from fatigue, we were all
warm
and well-equipped for the weather. (Then again, one person carrying out
another four skiers could be a bit tedious!)
Colorado Outdoor Recreation Search & Rescue Card (COSAR)
Since even going a short distance into the wilds of Colorado may involve
a
rescue effort, Colorado enacted a wonderful program: the Colorado
Outdoor
Recreation Search & Rescue Card (COSAR). A five-year card costs $12,
with
$9 going into the Search & Rescue Fund and the other $3 going to the
vendor
(ICO).
Abby and I had been part of the ICO overnight ski trip into the JackAl
10th
Mountain Division hut back in March 2006. We purchased a card. Because
we
were lucky enough to purchase the card, the costs of the Search & Rescue
will be covered by the Fund. Without the card, the costs of a search
and
rescue effort can be legally recovered from the person causing the
rescue
effort. And, given the six snowmobiles, tracking dogs, Sheriff's
vehicles,
medical personnel that came out, those expenses are fairly significant!
Now, if I can only live down the embarrassment of the rescue!
Purchase a COSAR card NOW !
You can purchase a COSAR card from our ICO representative, Kathy Glatz,
kathy.glatz@rmc.sierraclub.org. Kathy can provide you more detailed
payment arrangements.
Five-year cards are $12, with $3 going to Inner City Outings.
|
|
|
|
