SAGUACHE COUNTY — In a statement the Saguache County Office of Emergency Management saluted the volunteers of Saguache County Search and Rescue (SAR) for their dedication and professionalism.

“Training to save lives and serve their community on the Sunday afternoon of June 9 showed a true spirit of service. The county thanks REACH Air Med and the crew of Reach 29 for donating their flight time, fuel, and equipment to conduct this training.”

Each year in Colorado, 2,800 SAR volunteers respond to over 3,000 backcountry incidents across the state. According to a 2021 Colorado Parks and Wildlife study, the volunteers spend about $1,500 of their own money on gas, equipment, and other related expenses

Since 2023, Colorado residents can get a $29 Keep Colorado Wild Pass when registering a car, motorcycle, recreation vehicle, or light truck through the Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV). The $29 pass is included in your registration total unless you choose to opt out. It is estimated the pass will bring over $41 million in revenue to Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW), $2.5 million to SAR teams, and about $1 million to the Colorado Avalanche Information Center.

According to CPW,  “Backcountry Safety - Your pass supports the volunteer and equipment needs of search and rescue professionals across Colorado and avalanche safety programs through the Colorado Avalanche Information Center. Because of your support and the tremendous generosity of our search and rescue responders, Colorado will be a safer place to play.”

Just south of Saguache County, the men and women of the Alamosa Volunteer Search and Rescue (AVSAR) are ready to respond to backcountry emergencies in the county. The unofficial motto of the group is, “Our purpose is to coordinate and conduct search and rescue operations in Alamosa County so that others may live.” They can be reached at www.avsar.us.