Uploaded February 2025 | Updated September 2026, 31 minutes ago
Trail Closed Now What
Remember when you do stupid stuff on the trail and get yourself in a bind, you put everyone who comes to get your butt out of the bind in danger. It is not just you. And, maybe not you, but someone has to pay for your rescue. Don't do stupid stuff. Even though you may only pay for doing stupid stuff buy your own hand... SAR jurisdictions are taking a hard look at unnecessary risk taking and who pays the SAR costs. Something to think about.
In most cases, search and rescue services in the United States are considered a public service and are not billed to individuals, meaning the average person does not pay for a search and rescue bill due to the majority of SAR teams being volunteer-based; however, if a rescue requires significant resources like a helicopter, the cost can range from $5,000 to $10,000 or more depending on the duration of the operation.
As if there were safety in stupidity alone.
-Henry David Thoreau-
Trail Closed Now What
Remember when you do stupid stuff on the trail and get yourself in a bind, you put everyone who comes to get your butt out of the bind in danger. It is not just you. And, maybe not you, but someone has to pay for your rescue. Don't do stupid stuff. Even though you may only pay for doing stupid stuff buy your own hand... SAR jurisdictions are taking a hard look at unnecessary risk taking and who pays the SAR costs. Something to think about.
In most cases, search and rescue services in the United States are considered a public service and are not billed to individuals, meaning the average person does not pay for a search and rescue bill due to the majority of SAR teams being volunteer-based; however, if a rescue requires significant resources like a helicopter, the cost can range from $5,000 to $10,000 or more depending on the duration of the operation.
As if there were safety in stupidity alone.
-Henry David Thoreau-
