Mountain Rescue Group

The Mountain Rescue Group (MRG) is a division of the Contra Costa County Sheriffs Search and Rescue Team.

Our members are prepared to deploy anywhere in the State of California, in all seasons, conditions and elevations to assist with search and rescue operations.  The MRG is dedicated to developing the skills, fitness and experience of our members and ensuring that our searchers can meet the challenges of our missions.

Our Most Recent Mission

In late October 2009, three members of the MRG responded to Sequoia-Kings Canyon National Park (SEKI) to assist in the search for a missing hiker on Mt. Whitney. The team members were dispatched to Guitar Lake to setup a joint spike camp with Yosemite SAR (YOSAR) and were sent on missions from there to Arctic Lake and to the summit ridge of Mt Whitney. Unfortunately the hiker was found deceased after sustaining a fatal fall from the south face of the Whitney summit ridge. 

Interested in Joining?

Prospective MRG members must be Contra Costa SAR members in good standing that have completed the basic training program, which takes about 6 months. The MRG training program typically takes an additional 6 months to a year depending on scheduling conflicts and availability to attend the necessary trainings.  Once certified, MRG members have an opportunity to fine tune their training in a variety of disciplines including advanced technical rock rescue, swiftwater rescue, and glacier travel and crevasse rescue. Members of the Mountain Rescue Group are expected to meet the ongoing resource training and continuing education requirements.  In addition, members must regularly participate in SAR team functions outside of the Mountain Rescue Group to remain in good standing. 

For more information, email info@contracostasar.org or call the Volunteer Services Coordinator at (925) 646-4461

Mountain Rescue Association

Contra Costa Search and Rescue has passed the final accreditation test for full membership in the Mountain Rescue Association. On Sunday, November 15, sixteen members of COCOSAR completed the MRA Technical Rock Rescue certification test at Rock City in Mount Diablo State Park. The test team was asked to secure and rescue an injured climber stranded half way up a sandstone cliff near Boy Scout Rock in Rock City. Rescue climbers rappelled down to provide initial care to the patient, followed by a litter and attendant. They then packaged the patient mid-cliff and the rescue team executed a high-angle raise to bring the subject to the top. This was followed by a low-angle carryout and belayed traverse across mixed terrain to the awaiting mock ambulance and completion of the scenario.

This test marks the third and last certification test needed for MRA Accreditation. COCOSAR completed Snow & Ice in May and Wilderness Search & Tracking in August of this year. Official membership will be finalized during the MRA annual business meeting in January.

Humble Beginnings:

The Wilderness Squad

In early 2003, Contra Costa SAR was a large and experienced Type-2 (urban and hilly terrain) rescue team known for its experienced command post team and an exceptional canine resource. The team was growing exponentially and some of the newer members wanted to expand the team's capabilities into the areas they enjoyed recreationally: specifically, into the wilderness. With that, the Wilderness Squad was formed. The group trained to State OES (now Cal EMA) Type-1 ground searcher standards and within a few years was getting called to the Sierras and other backcountry locations to assist in Type-1 searches. By early 2007 it became evident that the Wilderness Squad needed a new goal: true mountain rescue. Members began learning the technical travel and rescue techniques needed for high altitude mountain rescue and gradually increased training difficulty to match some of California's most challenging terrain.  Today, the MRG can and does deploy anywhere in the State of California in full conditions.