Tulare County Sheriff's Department
Alpine Operations Unit

Alpine SAR Personnel are trainined to operate in four-season
high altitude mountain environments generally 10,000 feet and above.

Searchers are differentiated from Ground Searchers in that Alpine Searchers can travel over snow or ice requiring the use of skis, snow shoes and crampons. The Alpine Searcher Type 1 (AST-1) is a person who possess the skills, knowledge and equipment to allow the searcher to assist in searches, rescues and recoveries for missing persons, in any weather or terrain conditions, day or night including the most extreme winter conditions. The search area may be in steep, rugged mountainous areas at any altitude. Mission assignments may include extreme variances in elevation within the search area, searches in
extreme heat or extreme cold (persistent sub 0 temperatures ) with precipitation, heavy snow and ice, persistent extreme avalanche hazard or heavy ground cover.

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