HIGH ANGLE UNIT

  Sunrise and Sunset Times Taos area weather Current night sky phenomenon

Photo, Above: David Austin rappels off the Taos Gorge Bridge to a rock shelf 400 feet below for a dramatic rescue of a subject whom had fallen 15 feet while solo climbing and injured himself. The subject had a shattered heel, two broken ribs and a punctured lung. Team members Richard McCracken and David Austin rappelled to his location, litter packaged him in a sitting position for his punctured lung before he was raised up to the bridge. Eight team members managed the rope system at the top of the bridge, which was anchored to the team vehicle.

 

HIGH ANGLE UNIT

 
Technical Rescue
Taos Search and Rescue is usually involved in a few technical rescues or recoveries each year. These have included rappelling into the Rio Grande Gorge or off the Gorge Bridge, as well as retrieving stranded climbers from cliffs. The team is well equipped with sufficient ropes, including a 1000 ft rope, and all the standard hardware such as pulleys, carabiners, lowering and rappel devices, etc. All of our equipment is certified for rescue work.
 
Training
The maximum number of people on the technical team is nine with a varying level of expertise. Most persons on the team are not technical rock climbers. The most experienced member has been training the team since Fall of 2004, has years of personal climbing experience, and has completed the Rigging For Rescue course in Ouray, CO. We generally train several evenings a month and at least one or two weekend days a month. Training times are keyed to member's personal schedules. The training itself consists in all aspects of medium and high angle rescue work including safety procedures, setting anchors, establishing the mainline and belay setups, litter handling, belaying techniques, and mechanical advantage systems.
 

Unit Members

Richard McCracken, Unit Leader
Carlie McGinnis
Jaime Wells
Mitchel Kershner
Wes Bennet
Sue Felser
Cliff Peckham
Delinda VanneBrightyn

 

Photos: Above Left: Team Members practice a high angle litter evacuation.

Above Center: TSAR team prepares equipment for high angle litter evacuation.