Our Mission
Any weather. Any time. Any terrain.
The San Diego Mountain Rescue Team is a volunteer unit that responds to search and rescue calls under the direction of the agency responsible for the operation — usually the county Sheriff's department.
Members provide their own equipment and transportation, and the team maintains specialized gear: medical packs, technical rope equipment, litters, radios, and GPS units. Our primary responsibility is San Diego County, but we respond throughout California and beyond.
We are an accredited member of the Mountain Rescue Association, which requires certification — and ongoing recertification — in search and rescue techniques.
Join the Team
The rewards are worth the investment.
Our team is a close-knit group of men and women dedicated to providing professional search and rescue services. The work requires considerable personal commitment — learning our procedures, attending trainings, and responding at any hour to rescue calls.
- 18 or older, in excellent physical condition
- Recent backcountry experience and self-reliance
- Monthly business meetings and weekend field trainings
- Two to four years to become fully qualified
How can you help?
We run on donations, grants, and member dues.
The San Diego Mountain Rescue Team charges nothing for a rescue, and never will. As a 501(c)(3) non-profit, your donation is tax-deductible — confirm the details with your tax advisor.
Rescue equipment
Rope, litters, medical packs, radios, and the training to use them under pressure.
Safety education
Contact us if you are interested in programs for schools, scout groups, and community organizations.
Readiness
Recertification, training costs, and the gear that keeps volunteers callout-ready year round.
Wilderness Safety
Most rescues start with an avoidable mistake.
Free guides from the people who come looking when things go wrong.
The Ten Essentials
The kit that turns an emergency into an inconvenience.
Read more →Navigation Basics
Map, compass, and the habits that keep you found.
Read more →Lightning Safety
Recognizing the threat and getting off exposed ground.
Read more →Lost? Now What
What to do in the first hour — and what not to do.
Read more →Hug-a-Tree Program
Teaching children to survive being lost in the woods.
Read more →Request a presentation
We speak to schools, scouts, and community groups at no cost.
Read more →