I just read about this on KSL. (Article Link)
It sounds like this is a way for the state to raise money to help pay for the SAR operations. Where the benefit comes in to you personally is that depending on the rescue you might be sent a bill to help pay for that cost. This might not be a big amount but if the rescue takes a lot of resources or goes for an extended period of time that cost could be really high. By buying one of these cards for either $25 or $35 you would be covered fully for any rescue needed and would not be billed for any associated costs. This is only for non medical related expenses and might be voided if its deemed you were reckless or intentionally cause a search and rescue operation.
I see this is a great insurance policy. First, we get to help raise some money to support the SAR volunteers and also protect ourselves or family in a tragic event that you hope never is needed. I would guess that at least some of us here have SAR experience whether that is current or in the past.
This is something that is personal to me. I don't know if I've shared this before but I was rescued in the Uinta Mountains when I was 10 after being lost overnight without gear with my brother and a friend (both 12 years old.) We were on the first day of a 50 mile hike from Caroline Lake to Moon Lake with the scout troop. I was able to go as a 10 year old because my dad was there. After getting to camp the first day I went fishing while the other boys started to work on different merit badges. After a while I went to find my brother and his friend and when I did we started to make our way back to camp but for whatever reason we couldn't find the path to get back to the lake. We spent the afternoon and evening walking around, following creek beds, climbing trees to try and see the lake, whatever we could think to do. Finally we bedded down under a big pine tree for the night huddled together. We were all wearing short sleeve shirts and didn't have any gear with us. We slept the night there and the next morning intended to do more of the same. Early on though we heard helicopters buzzing overhead. We ended up finding a small meadow and stayed there until we were spotted. The helicopter landed a little ways away and the rescuers tracked back to us with a couple dogs that were in the chopper. We got to fly back to the trailhead in the chopper where I was amazed at all the people and trucks that had amassed. There were Search and Rescue from three or four counties and two helicopters searching for us.
I learned later that when it was realized that we were missing my dad ran back to the trailhead and ranger station to get help. The ranger said it was too late at that point to do anything until morning and told my dad to sleep on the extra cot for the night. (He either claims it was the worst night sleep hes ever had or the best, depending on his mood.) They didn't know initially that the three of us were together so their operation was based on this. One of the other boys on the trip got lost for a few hours while looking for us but was found by someone on the trail. They initially thought this was me because we had a very similar description other than age. In the end we were never that far from the lake we got lost from, likely never more than a mile away. Had we continued to follow any of the drainages its likely we would have gotten back to the lake. I'll have to try and find a news clipping of the event.
Anyway, as one might surmise I'm very grateful for the search and rescue operation that assembled to find us. Things could have, and often do, turn out much worse. With as much time as I spend out in the wilderness I'll be purchasing one of these cards. If nothing else, to help support then next generation of lost scouts in the woods.
It sounds like this is a way for the state to raise money to help pay for the SAR operations. Where the benefit comes in to you personally is that depending on the rescue you might be sent a bill to help pay for that cost. This might not be a big amount but if the rescue takes a lot of resources or goes for an extended period of time that cost could be really high. By buying one of these cards for either $25 or $35 you would be covered fully for any rescue needed and would not be billed for any associated costs. This is only for non medical related expenses and might be voided if its deemed you were reckless or intentionally cause a search and rescue operation.
I see this is a great insurance policy. First, we get to help raise some money to support the SAR volunteers and also protect ourselves or family in a tragic event that you hope never is needed. I would guess that at least some of us here have SAR experience whether that is current or in the past.
This is something that is personal to me. I don't know if I've shared this before but I was rescued in the Uinta Mountains when I was 10 after being lost overnight without gear with my brother and a friend (both 12 years old.) We were on the first day of a 50 mile hike from Caroline Lake to Moon Lake with the scout troop. I was able to go as a 10 year old because my dad was there. After getting to camp the first day I went fishing while the other boys started to work on different merit badges. After a while I went to find my brother and his friend and when I did we started to make our way back to camp but for whatever reason we couldn't find the path to get back to the lake. We spent the afternoon and evening walking around, following creek beds, climbing trees to try and see the lake, whatever we could think to do. Finally we bedded down under a big pine tree for the night huddled together. We were all wearing short sleeve shirts and didn't have any gear with us. We slept the night there and the next morning intended to do more of the same. Early on though we heard helicopters buzzing overhead. We ended up finding a small meadow and stayed there until we were spotted. The helicopter landed a little ways away and the rescuers tracked back to us with a couple dogs that were in the chopper. We got to fly back to the trailhead in the chopper where I was amazed at all the people and trucks that had amassed. There were Search and Rescue from three or four counties and two helicopters searching for us.
I learned later that when it was realized that we were missing my dad ran back to the trailhead and ranger station to get help. The ranger said it was too late at that point to do anything until morning and told my dad to sleep on the extra cot for the night. (He either claims it was the worst night sleep hes ever had or the best, depending on his mood.) They didn't know initially that the three of us were together so their operation was based on this. One of the other boys on the trip got lost for a few hours while looking for us but was found by someone on the trail. They initially thought this was me because we had a very similar description other than age. In the end we were never that far from the lake we got lost from, likely never more than a mile away. Had we continued to follow any of the drainages its likely we would have gotten back to the lake. I'll have to try and find a news clipping of the event.
Anyway, as one might surmise I'm very grateful for the search and rescue operation that assembled to find us. Things could have, and often do, turn out much worse. With as much time as I spend out in the wilderness I'll be purchasing one of these cards. If nothing else, to help support then next generation of lost scouts in the woods.
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