Tacoma Mountain Rescue
Tacoma Mountain Rescue is a high angle and technical terrain Search & Rescue (SAR) Unit.
As State Emergency Workers, TMR work anywhere in Washington State and beyond.
TMR is a founding member of the North American Mountain Rescue Association and a pioneer in advanced life support (ALS) in the wilderness.
Mountain Rescue are the first call & last resort for help in the highest, most remote and most dangerous wilderness terrain. Our skilled team of volunteer mountaineers are regularly called on by the State Emergency Management Department to leave work & family to save lives 24/7/365.
TMR was founded in 1958 and is a founding member of the national Mountain Rescue Association which now represents over 95 teams across the United States and Canada.
TMR is an Advanced Life Support (ALS) provider that can give full scope medical care to patients in the backcountry. We have several emergency physicians and paramedics on the team. One of our ongoing projects is to build a network of wilderness trained physicians along the west coast of WA that can also provide mutual aid and improve our advanced medical coverage for all our missions. For more information and to sponsor this groundbreaking ALS program visit www.mountainmedicine.us.
TMR is a a 501(c)(3) registered charity and volunteer organization. We can only continue to do this work and save lives through your support for equipment, training & supplies.
Tacoma Mountain Rescue is a Charity.
TMR is a 100% volunteer run 501(c)(3) charity with 0% admin costs. Please donate online today or contact us about partnering and business sponsorship opportunities. On behalf of the next lives saved – thank you!
The Puyallup Tribe of Indians
An amazing group responsible for much of our life-saving equipment, search vehicles, gear, and operational funding.
The Ben Cheney Foundation
A long time supporter of Tacoma Mountain Rescue, the foundation has provided funds for both of our Rescue trucks.
Puget Sound Energy
These guys do more than deliver gas and electricity, their assistance in getting a second truck allows us to deliver people to where we are needed.
Boeing
Thanks to Boeing for their kind donations and support of Tacoma Mountain Rescue.
Outdoor Research
Thanks to Seattle based Outdoor Research for the great gear and great discounts you give TMR unit members.
Wet Coast
Thanks to Wet Coast Brewing Company who support TMR through events held at their wonderful Gig Harbor tasting rooms.
You ...
As a charity, every year we struggle for funds for all the gear and stuff that keeps us ready to get to you on the mountain when you need us.
As seen on the cover of the US Mountain Rescue Magazine! Saving Michael Knapinski: A CASE OF TEAMWORK AND INNOVATION. Tacoma Mountain Rescue Unit, Olympic Mountain Rescue, Seattle Mountain Rescue, Everett Mountain Rescue, Volcano Rescue Team. Read the story at mra.org/about-mra/meridian-newsletter/ ... See MoreSee Less
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To all the above mentioned teams- Not only did you save my life you prevented a lot of suffering for my family and friends. I love you all for the selfless work you do 💖 Michael Knapinski
LOVE U MICHAEL
Such a great reaction to the recent post about these "Search for Money" operators. Thanks for sharing and spreading the word about these people who peddle lottery-odds fantasies to vulnerable, grieving, families for money. Remember, professional Search & Rescue (SAR) IS ALWAYS FREE like Fire-Rescue or the calling the Police. Never hesitate to call for SAR by calling 911.
While most experienced hikers, climbers, the Search & Rescue community & Law Enforcement just despair at the fake SAR scam, a couple of people also raised good questions;
Why not have "private SAR" or "independent rescue"? Those are interesting conversations -but don't get fooled- this is NOT what this is. These individuals just call themselves "Rescue" & "SAR", but they don't do rescue missions and it's illegal for them to do recoveries. They are not SAR.
One person calling themselves "Search & Rescue" and trading on SARs' good name really dishonors our nations' amazing First Responders who do this dangerous and difficult work every day.
At best, being really generous, these are individuals offering to do a for profit, incredibly small scale, human remains search - albeit unlicensed and unaccredited. At worst, it's just a scam.
The MO is always the same. These guys wait a few weeks until dozens of emergency response agencies and hundreds of people have put in thousands of hours in a tireless professional coordinated search effort then -in the few instances the search is sadly unsuccessful- they turn up and contact the family. They sow doubts about the operation, they blow up social media, they say it's too early to "give up", they have the answer, they know where to look, they just need a check, and another, and another, with no end date ever in sight.
However, the reality in the wilderness is that after a couple of weeks, when all track and sign has been worked, air operations flown, phone forensics examined, after repeated grid searches, after scent dog and HRD dog searches are done - the chances of finding a body are almost zero. And in time, nature will completely recycle everything. To pretend otherwise is either really dumb or deliberately false. Could you find something months or years later? Sure, lottery-odds, but sure. Would a glove or a boot bring closure to a family? Not in our experience. And especially not to a family who have had their wounds kept open by repeated false hopes of a body while their bank account is drained.
Thankfully these rackets are still rare, in WA it's basically the same couple of shady characters, but let's get people educated and keep it that way! Thanks for sharing. ... See MoreSee Less
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It's insulting. We do this for free, simply because we're actually great humans. Being apart of a SAR unit was a calling I'd felt since watching the searches at the towers. SAR for profit seems absolutely evil....
My late husband was once a member of this group's SAR - he was also inspired when he learned about it. He was later found by this SAR, after dying while hiking (our dog, Daisy, stayed by his side, and helped alert the searchers). To have someone so despicable do this is infuriating.
Very well said! Thank you for this and for all you guys do!
Carrie Williams
Kimberly Kelly
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We see the 'Will-Keep-Searching-For-Cash' artists are back targeting the families of missing people again. As ever, all we ask is that if you have the experience, the backcountry skills, the ability to learn search & rescue - and are able to pass a Police background check - then you contact a SAR team and VOLUNTEER instead of contacting grieving relatives, their friends and their fundraisers. We always need good people. Why don't you apply? ... See MoreSee Less
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Remembering Climbing Ranger Nick Hall who lost his life during a rescue on the upper slopes of Mount Rainier on this day in 2012. We honor his memory and his love for Mount Rainier National Park.
In his four years as a Mount Rainier climbing ranger Nick helped rescue numerous injured, stranded, and lost climbers with compassion, endurance, superior judgement, courage, and a commitment to service. "Nick Hall died while he carried out a climbing ranger’s greatest responsibility – saving lives." Jonathan B. Jarvis. 18th director of the National Park Service.
The Valor Memorial remembers and honors Ranger Hall along with three additional rangers who made the ultimate sacrifice while saving the lives of others at Mount Rainier National Park go.usa.gov/xUq3f.
NPS photo ~pw ... See MoreSee Less
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TMR were called into the Park today for a technical rope recovery and swiftwater mission. Our condolences to the subject's family and friends. www.nps.gov/mora/learn/news/visitor-fatality-and-recovery-at-paradise.htm ... See MoreSee Less
Visitor Fatality and Recovery at Paradise - Mount Rainier National Park (U.S. National Park Service)
www.nps.gov
Rangers and Mountain Rescue volunteers today recovered the body of an individual who fell through a snow bridge at Paradise yesterday. The individual, whose identity is being withheld pending notifica...Comment on Facebook
www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/gallery/2021/jun/02/international-photography-contest-of-mountai... ... See MoreSee Less
International Photography Contest of Mountain Activity
www.theguardian.com
The International Photography Contest of Mountain Activity (CVCEPHOTO), organized by the Club Vasco de Camping Elkartea, a mountaineering club in Basque country, has announced the winners of this year...Comment on Facebook