Cibola Search and Rescue

If you haven't guessed from my vague mentions about training activities, I'm now ready to announce that I'm now a member of Cibola Search and Rescue. I applied last January and made the initial cut, becoming what's called a "prospective member" as I went through several months of online instruction and field training. Once I passed the associated requirements of that phase, I moved into "probationary member" and needed to complete two more trainings and two actual missions deploying under the guidance of full members and then pass the New Mexico SAR field certification exam before the board makes a decision about offering full membership (or whether more training is needed).

Is it weird to say that I've been looking for this for what feels like my whole life? I can see now how certain experiences and interests of mine coalesce in SAR, including my work along the border the past 8 years or so, but this really checks all the boxes for me. I absolutely love the people on the team, the physical and mental challenge of this work, and how meaningful this service feels. I feel focused and charged up.

SAR in New Mexico falls under the jurisdiction of the New Mexico State Police and missions involve (often) many different agencies, from Police and Fire Rescue, Sheriff Departments, Search Dogs, Air Guard, and other SAR teams. We can be deployed anywhere in the state. Cibola SAR is the largest team with 77 full members and various expertise in field or ground search and rescue, drones, incident command, communications, 4x4, tracking, medical, and other specialties. Each member can be deployed for up to 12 hours (called an operational unit) at a time. I'm certified as a wilderness first responder for the medical and I'm on-boarding as a field team member, SAR's equivalent of a grunt.

During the application process, I was asked, if accepted, would I be willing to buy the required gear. I said I would, thinking I mostly already had everything I'd need given my  backpacking and mountaineering. Well, that proved a silly assumption, so I admit this process has been a costly one. I want to give a big shoutout and huge thanks to my friend Krista who in honor of her mom, Irene (who loved me very much), who died close to two years ago now from cancer, donated $1200 so I could buy a radio, snowshoes, crampons, ice axe, lug-soled boots, a larger backpack, and a climbing helmet, all at inflationary prices. I told her recently this is probably the best money she has (or I have) ever spent as it has already been critical in literally saving lives. I can't go into the field without all the required gear in my pack (adjusted for the season, of course).

When I'm not on a mission, I'm taking seriously the need for increased strength, fitness and conditioning. I have to be able to carry between 40 - 100lbs of gear several miles and for many hours; I have to pull my weight as part of a litter carrying team; and I have to move on trail quickly as part of what are called "hasty" teams. When I applied back in January, I started lifting weights in case I was accepted into the program. I haven't been a weight-lifter in my lifetime, just a cardio guy. I had some nagging tendon and joint issues in my elbows and shoulders from a stupid five years of backbreaking landscaping construction. Weight lifting has been a game changer for how I feel in my body overall and some of those long-term injuries are finally resolving. Because I'm older, this has been slower, but the end result is encouraging. I've been taking long, challenging hikes in the Sandias, calling the self-imposed training "Sufferfest to Suffer Less," aka, making friends with my heavy-ass backpack.

Well, I just wanted to give a peek into my new life with SAR. I'll no doubt do some more posts about it as so much of my time revolves around it these days, but for now, I just wanted to share how much I love it and how proud I am to be a member of the Cibola Search and Rescue team.

My teammate took this photo as we bushwhacked near a river in the Sangre de Cristos on a recent search.