As one of seven units in Washington who operate under the auspices of the Mountain Rescue Association, our unit is comprised of highly skilled and dedicated volunteers who are respected for their technical rescue abilities. We are mobilized by the Washington Department of Emergency Management, the County Sheriff, or the National Park Service in the event of an accident, lost or missing people, or downed aircraft in the wilderness. The rigorous and sensitive nature of the environment in which we operate demands that our members are competent and experienced mountaineering professionals.

Potential OMR candidates should possess, at a minimum, the following skills and abilities:

• Be comfortable operating in a high angle, high exposure environment.
• Capable of grade 5.5 rock climbing.
• Conversant with glacier and crevasse rescue techniques.
• Graduate of the Mountaineers intermediate mountaineering course, or equivalent mountaineering experience.
• Currently active in mountaineering and climbing.
• Possess a current first aid and CPR training card.
• Be a minimum of 21 years of age and in good physical condition.

Mountain Rescue Units are unlike other volunteer organizations in that our missions often involve conditions that demand very specialized skills and the use of specialized equipment. Team members must be in good physical condition and be experienced with travel and navigation in the backcountry. Because of this expertise, the Department of Emergency Management and Sheriffs Departments value our technical expertise during an operation. We have an obligation to be the very best in our field and to maintain that level all active members are expected to exhibit a high level of personal commitment.

All active unit personnel are required to meet and maintain rigorous training standards set forth by the National and State Mountain Rescue organizations. This ensures that we can respond to any wilderness emergency with all of the skill required to safely accomplish the mission. Maintaining this skill level requires that all members actively participate in unit sponsored training. We regularly train at our monthly general membership meetings and dedicate one weekend a month for more intensive training.

In addition to our search and rescue role, we actively promote and participate in outdoor safety education. The unit offers training to the Olympic College Basic Mountaineering class, National Forest Service and Olympic National Park personnel and other outdoor oriented groups. We offer instruction and seminars in topics ranging from basic rope work and climbing to glacier travel and crevasse self rescue.

Our meetings are held on the second Tuesday of each month at the West Gate Fire Hall in Bremerton, from 1900 hrs to 2100 hrs. If you are an experienced climber and are interested in making a genuine commitment to the mountains, we invite you to attend a meeting.

Directions and map to West Gate Hall

Potential applicants must attend three consecutive meetings before their application will be reviewed by the board for recommendation to membership.

Read the Olympic Mountain Rescue Operating Guidelines (PDF)