Responder Assessment/Backcountry Hiker

From PCSAR

This is a draft proposal on how during a search we could assess the backcountry hike-in skills of possible responders. It has not been reviewed or accepted by the preplan committee.

Out of our recent critique process came the suggestion that we should have a way of assessing the capability of quaders we don't know. Perhaps a set of questions that can be asked.

I don't know what those would be, but by comparison I thought I'd try something similar for backcountry and get your opinions.

Imagine you've got a situation in the backcountry, a known injury, the helicopter can't fly (yet), and it's several kilometers beyond where the quads can get you. I'm thinking situations like calls we've had to Pincher Ridge, Sofa Mountain, Avion Ridge.

You're putting together a team of say 4 people to go in, locate the subject based on reported location that hasn't been confirmed, treat injuries and wait for additional support. Possibly may have to stay overnight. Some of the potential members for this team you know well. You've got a choice of others offered from other organizations, that you don't know. What questions would you ask to assess whether you wanted them on this team? Here's my ideas:

Describe the toughest hiking trip you've done in the last year. Distance? Duration? Elevation gain? Terrain? Weather?

What trips have you done in terrain like the present situation? Have you led trips?

When was the last time you spent a night in the backcountry using only what you have in your pack today?

What level of medical training do you have? What is the most significant injury you've dealt with in the backcountry?

Can you describe distance, direction, elevation and terrain by reading the map? Is your compass set to the local declination? Can you shoot a bearing? Can you triangulate your location using only a map and compass? Can you find a UTM on the map? Is your GPS set to the map's datum? Can you display your current UTM and elevation on your GPS?

What are you carrying with you? How much water, food, clothing for heavy rain, snow, fire starter? Footwear?

Let me know what you think. Would you ask these questions?