Hood River County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue (SAR) Team

Image is an icon for SAR training courses Information from Crux Rescue, the Rescue 3 International Swiftwater & Technical Rope Rescue Technician Training Course and Class Trainer, Instructor

SAR Training Courses

The Hood River County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue (SAR) Team coordinates, manages and executes search and rescue missions with the aim of assisting or rescuing those who are lost, stranded or injured in Hood River County. The SAR team responds to calls in national forests, wilderness and in suburban settings. Hood River County Search and Rescue also provides assistance to neighboring cities and counties when needed.

The Hood River County Sheriff’s office is one of the few law enforcement agencies in the lower United States to use Super Cub aircraft.

The Super Cub, PA18-150 planes, are used in a wide array of situations. The low speed and lower altitude capabilities of these planes brings tremendous advantages in locating injured and missing climbers on Mt Hood and the surrounding areas. Their design allows both the pilot and passenger to search from both sides of the plane. When lost or injured climbers or hikers are located, the information gained from search flights allows the pilot team to provide crucial information to the responding SAR teams, such as to how to respond, location details, how to gain access, and what could be needed. Volunteer Search & Rescue members are a critical, contributing component to the success of Hood River County SAR missions. Search & Rescue would not be possible without this corps of citizen volunteers. 

Volunteer Organizations Coordinate with Hood River County Search and Rescue

Pacific Northwest Search and Rescue (PNW)

Hood River Crag Rats

Hood River County Search & Rescue

The Hood River Sheriff’s Office, along with local SAR teams and fire departments, combine resources, expertise, and experience to bring several small groups with diverse abilities together, creating a great working relationship that has proven successful many times over. Some of those resources include watercraft, aerial platforms, communications, wilderness transportation and education. Some Hood River County Sheriff’s deputies have been certified through the Sheriff Association’s Search and Rescue Management School.

Crux Rescue sincerely appreciates the dedication and service of the many volunteer members of the Hood River County SAR Team. They give of themselves, their time, and their money for the benefit of their neighbors who encounter danger and life threatening circumstances while venturing into the backcountry. These volunteers donate their time to complete the required search and rescue training that is necessary for certification and recertification. We share our appreciation for this special group of men and women who serve their community. Crux Rescue would count it a privilege to provide search and rescue training courses for many volunteers on the Hood River County Search & Rescue Team. We encourage Hood River County residents to help the Hood River County Sheriff’s SAR Team with generous donations to the Sheriff’s office for the Search & Rescue team. The websites of these volunteer organizations can lead you in how to make appreciated donations.

Crux Rescue is proud to serve Hood River County’s rescue training needs. Matt Adams, of Crux Rescue, is a certified training course instructor who provides technical rescue training courses in Hood River County Oregon to swiftwater rescue teams, fire department rescue response units, county fire and rescue teams and search and rescue, SAR organizations. Matt is an accredited Rescue 3 International training instructor. The certification rescue training he instructs utilizes Rescue3’s rescue course curriculums. Call for information about class schedules or for information about scheduling a private course offering.

Hood River County SAR