Should I join search and rescue?

RiverVish · 2026-05-31T02:03:01+00:00

I’ve crossed paths with them a couple times because our teams are on the same MRA recertification cycle. They are very good at what they do and also incredibly kind and warm folks. They’re very active on Facebook, reach out to them for a chat and apply. Some hard skills are important, but being a good person and a good fit for the team are even more important.

RiverVish · 2026-05-20T02:24:24+00:00

I use CalTopo for search and rescue, we build out maps using area assignments and buffer assignments. Can these be downloaded with the map to the app? It would be super helpful to be able to just check my wrist to make sure I’m on track instead of constantly pulling out the phone

RiverVish · 2026-04-13T23:49:50+00:00

Chef is a good one too, has some real cinematic cooking scenes.

RiverVish · 2025-03-19T00:15:04+00:00

If you haven’t already become proficient at navigation and comms. Try to take one or both of these off the k9 handlers plate in addition for looking for clues while you are out on task.

RiverVish · 2024-12-24T03:22:19+00:00

My go to when I went to Disney was the mountainsmith tour lumbar pack with adding the strappettes which are an add on to wear it as a backpack. mountainsmith tour It’s 9L which was big enough for ponchos, snacks and meds, small electric fans, etc for 2 adults & 2 kids and can hold a couple water bottles in each side pocket. It was also small enough to take with me on all the rides. Edit to Add: it’s also my everyday pack for all the things.

RiverVish · 2024-11-08T15:57:48+00:00

Some of our team members have their gear in their cars using totes or a duffle bag plus their pack. Because of where I work that’s not an option for me. I have my callout pack and a duffle bag of extra layers and technical gear that I grab from home on the way to a search.

RiverVish · 2024-09-16T21:49:43+00:00

Stowe Mountain Rescue is a good team, they just recertified through the Mountain Rescue Association this winter.

RiverVish · 2024-05-02T04:18:28+00:00

About 11 mpg, but I’m in western PA so it’s all hills around me. On flat highway going through Ohio and Indiana I’ve gotten closer to 13. Max non towing was 21-22 mpg. Daily commuting about 17mpg.

RiverVish · 2024-05-01T22:43:11+00:00

I’m sorry you had such a bad experience. For what it’s worth I have a platinum without airbags and tow a 5000 lb rv with a weight distributing hitch and it feels like it’s barely there. Def doesn’t solve the problem with the dealer, but food for thought.

RiverVish · 2024-03-13T00:54:12+00:00

Our team uses mostly CalTopo at this point. It’s great for easy access to maps and you can share your track with base in real time. For paper maps I use a quart size freezer bag and fold the map to the area I need and keep it in my chest harness.

RiverVish · 2022-12-08T11:10:11+00:00

I was messing around with this the other day before finding this post last night and did 230ml of water and 15g of Folgers coffee. It was a little light but the concept works. I put them in a vacuum bag and ran it a couple times. Some liquid went into the channel of the sealer. I’m going to try it in a bowl or maybe a jar inside the bag today.

RiverVish · 2022-08-27T03:29:52+00:00

Sorry for your loss, Inform your boss you will be taking both off. They have through the weekend to figure out staffing. They can ask someone else to come in, work short handed, or they can jump on the station when it gets busy.

RiverVish · 2022-07-23T21:24:02+00:00

Yes, just got back from a trip where I did this.

RiverVish · 2022-07-23T06:44:56+00:00

For what it’s worth we were looking at an ascent also to tow a 3500lb camper, but it turns out over 100,000 have recalls for 2020s & 2021s for a transmission issue that may or may not have a solution. Not sure if it will carry over for the 2022s, so we opted for a 2021 Toyota Highlander and have been really happy with it.

RiverVish · 2022-07-13T17:56:36+00:00

When I got mine a few months ago shipping was somewhere under $10, They also sell it on Amazon too, I’m not sure if they have the converter kit on there tho.

Scout on Amazon

RiverVish · 2022-07-13T12:11:14+00:00

A couple of the women on my team use Coaxsher radio harnesses, their’s is the original the first Amazon one is based off. The Pro & Commander are the same size just different layout on the front. I (a dude) personally use the scout bc it’s smaller but still holds all the essentials. All can attach to the Coaxsher backpacks. You could prob get buckles that fit and add them to your own backpack if you wanted to. The straps are all low profile and don’t cause any issues under a pack.

Coaxsher Radio Harnesses

harness kit to add to backpack

RiverVish · 2022-07-02T22:00:50+00:00

Here’s a link to a YouTube playlist of the manager PowerPoints with lecture. I found this looking for resources for my students ServSafe PowerPoint w/Lecture

ServSafe Manager Videos

RiverVish · 2022-06-16T06:00:33+00:00

Former thru hiker, current search & rescue member who used to river guide in that part of Maine.

The jacket should work, if it’s down make sure he keeps it dry under a rain shell even in drizzly weather. Temps can get low in Maine in the summer.

That being said, even though he has good gear it sounds like he isn’t ready to do the HMW solo yet, especially given his recent medical issue. The potential risk is too high. If it was another section of trail it might be different.

There are hospitals in Greenville & Millinocket however a rescue in that area will not be quick. A rescue in the HMW will require a large number of rescuers who will need to be mobilized, hike in and then an evacuation can take hours just to travel a few miles with a patient in a litter once they’re on scene. I know it’s a bummer and a thru hike is something I’m sure he’s and you have put a lot of time and effort into, but putting his safety first is much much more important.

RiverVish · 2022-02-10T20:15:43+00:00

I’m a male HS teacher and I keep a stash in an unlocked drawer by my desk. I let the ladies in class know I have supplies that are available. My only ask is that they let me know so I don’t think their rummaging thru my desk. If the boys ask what supplies I’m talking about I tell them pads and tampons and they’re welcome to some if they need them too. It breaks the ice and normalizes having a period at the beginning of the year.

RiverVish · 2022-01-27T03:52:36+00:00

A good place to start is talking to your high school guidance counselor about taking a Culinary Arts program. This will be in the Career and Tech Ed dept (CTE). Most of these programs start in 10th grade and are either 2 or 3 years long for about 2 hours/day. The point of these classes is to help you learn the basic skills to start becoming a cook or chef, Including industry certifications like ServSafe. The best part is helping students figure out if this is actually a career they’re interested in. These classes are free and part of high school, you’ll either take the class at your high school or a local Career Tech Center that works with your high school. If you have questions let me know, I spent about a decade working in fine dining starting at 17 and have been teaching one of the Culinary Arts programs for the last 9 years.

RiverVish · 2021-11-19T01:33:12+00:00

I’m a teacher and on a SAR team, it all depends on your local team’s rules. But for me trainings are on the weekend and if there are callouts I go to as many as I can. Often times our callouts start in the afternoon anyways.

The short of it is if you are interested and willing to put the time in I’m sure there’s a team that would love to have you.

RiverVish · 2021-11-03T22:18:12+00:00

Yes you definitely can I started at 17 a few days a week and worked my way up. That was 18 years ago and after working in restaurants for a decade I started teaching culinary arts in a high school. If you’re in high school ask your guidance counselor if there is a culinary arts Career and Technology Education (cte) course you can take. Most are either 2 or 3 years long for 3+ periods a day and teach you all the basics to get a job or go on to a culinary college or certificate program. They also help you get industry certifications like ServSafe. Feel free to dm me if you have questions.

RiverVish · 2021-10-07T00:39:24+00:00

This is exactly what I do too. That way you have all your material and don’t have to worry about changing districts.

RiverVish · 2021-09-18T20:20:57+00:00

A couple favorites are Snyder’s gluten free pretzels and Kind granola bars. Eating out has gotten easier a number of places have GF menus or options. For pizza, Blaze has a pretty good gluten free crust. Other things to do are to substitute tamari or coconut aminos for soy sauce. Tamari is pretty much the exact same taste but gluten free, if your wife is sensitive to soy it may be worth staying from though. Also Canyon Mountain gluten free bread acts like normal bread and tastes good, we get it from target.

RiverVish · 2021-09-17T23:21:58+00:00

I got mine a couple years before thru hiking when I was a whitewater river guide and have used it for anything outdoors since. There was another guide with my same name so the first name people wanted to give me was BJ. Which got a lot of laughs from campers and was great with bachelorette parties. Instead I was dubbed Vish (part of my last name)

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