Qualification Hike

Eight applicants joined SAR members for a qualification hike last week. Trail conditions were excellent, and we caught a dramatic light show from the summit of Big Ball Mountain as lightning moved in.

A qualification hike is a chance for us to get to know new applicants on trail. A typical qualification hike is hours long with about 5–7 miles and ~2,000 feet of elevation gain. They are timed for evenings, since many of our missions happen well after sunset.

After approval new members complete litter carry training before becoming eligible for callouts. Numerous training opportunities are taken up beyond that by our members from Line Searching to Wilderness First Aid to Outdoor Survival and more.