Golden and District Search and Rescue

Golden and District Search and Rescue Golden and District Search and Rescue (GADSAR) is a registered non-profit organization based out of the town of Golden, British Columbia.

On Friday Feb 20 GADSAR was called to Quartz Creek for a sledder with a broken leg. We had to package and sling the pati...
02/24/2026

On Friday Feb 20 GADSAR was called to Quartz Creek for a sledder with a broken leg. We had to package and sling the patient to a safe zone before loading him into the heli to fly back to town.
Big thanks to 🚁 for getting us where we needed to be to help.

Working from today backwards, GADSAR has had a busy month!Feb 17 - Members flew to Gorman Lake area to assist a stuck sl...
02/18/2026

Working from today backwards, GADSAR has had a busy month!

Feb 17 - Members flew to Gorman Lake area to assist a stuck sledder. We were able to land, pick up the person and fly back to town.

Feb 16 - Members flew to a GAH skiing area to pick up a patient with an allergic reaction. We were able to fly from the field to the lodge to assess patient before transporting back to town for further assessment.

Feb 14 - We received a call for a stuck car on the Blaeberry FSR, one of our members was able to locate the subjects and ensure they made it back to safety.

Feb 5 - We received a call for stuck sledders near Holt Creek. We flew two members out but due to fog could not land. Three members then proceeded on sleds only to learn later that the sledders had walked themselves out.

Jan 17 - A call to Quartz Creek sledding area for a hip injury. Two members flew in to meet Parks Canada members on scene. The patient was package and transported back to town for further care.

Stay safe out there folks, have a plan and be sure to share it with others if you’re going adventuring!

Big thanks to for getting to the places we need to go! 🚁

On January 1 two volunteers responded to help a skier with a lower leg fracture near . The group was well prepared with ...
01/28/2026

On January 1 two volunteers responded to help a skier with a lower leg fracture near .
The group was well prepared with a satellite messaging device to call for help, basic first aid supplies and had a nice landing area dug out and stomped in before we arrived.

Do you know what happens after you press the SOS button on your satellite messaging device? Chatting with this group we learned that it was 2 hours from the time they activated their device until our volunteers arrived on site. After you press the SOS button on your device, a call centre somewhere in the US receives the notification. They then look at your location and try to determine which jurisdiction of which authority you are in, they often get this right, but not always. After the jurisdiction is determined, the proper authority is called. That authority (usually Police, Ambulance or Parks Canada) then tries to confirm your location and if you are actually in their area of responsibility, if they will be able to access you or if they need help. If it is determined that they will need the help of the local search and rescue group, they call the Emergency Coordination Centre and ask for the local SAR group. The ECC then figures out which SAR team is closest, calls the SAR manager for that team and gives them the details about the call for help. The SAR manager then puts the callout to their team members who are volunteers going about their daily routines. If someone is available, they gather their equipment and drive to the SAR base of operations to get ready to go. If a helicopter is needed to access the people who have called for help, the local helicopter company is called to see if they are available to transport the team.

All in all, this was a fairly efficient response time. When you are out recreating, what is your emergency plan? How much daylight do you leave yourself at the end of a day out in case things go sideways? Are you and your group prepared to spend the night out if necessary?

On December 22nd 2 volunteers flew into Meadow Lodge with to pick up a skier with a knee injury. They were able to land...
01/25/2026

On December 22nd 2 volunteers flew into Meadow Lodge with to pick up a skier with a knee injury. They were able to land near the group, splint the knee and fly back to Golden just before they ran out of daylight.

A number of GADSAR team members and dogs are spending some time at Sentry lodge to do some early season AvSAR training,...
11/22/2025

A number of GADSAR team members and dogs are spending some time at Sentry lodge to do some early season AvSAR training, glacier travel training and early season skiing. So far so good, the snow is awesome and continues to fall.

From September 3-7 GADSAR joined and in the search for a missing person in Meachen Creek near Kimberley. The person ...
11/18/2025

From September 3-7 GADSAR joined and in the search for a missing person in Meachen Creek near Kimberley. The person was located, deceased.
Our thoughts are with their family, friends and all the responders involved in the search.

On September 3rd GADSAR responded to an injured hunter with a leg laceration on Grizzly Ridge near the Bugaboos. The leg...
11/13/2025

On September 3rd GADSAR responded to an injured hunter with a leg laceration on Grizzly Ridge near the Bugaboos. The leg was cleaned, bandaged and the hunting party was transported to their vehicle to make their way to the nearest hospital.

On August 15 we responded to a biker with multiple injuries on the B12 bike trail. Thank you to all of the bystanders th...
11/11/2025

On August 15 we responded to a biker with multiple injuries on the B12 bike trail.
Thank you to all of the bystanders that helped in transporting the biker to the waiting ambulance.

On August 9th, we responded along with and to a lower leg fracture in the Bugaboos. Theyy patient was accessed via lon...
11/10/2025

On August 9th, we responded along with and to a lower leg fracture in the Bugaboos. Theyy patient was accessed via long line and then transferred for transport to the hospital in Cranbrook.

On August 9th, we responded along with and to a lower leg fracture in the Bugaboos. The patient was accessed via long ...
11/10/2025

On August 9th, we responded along with and to a lower leg fracture in the Bugaboos. The patient was accessed via long line and then transferred for transport to the hospital in Cranbrook.

On August 4 GADSAR responded to Canyon Creek to help rescue a pup that had gone over the edge and couldn't get back up. ...
11/07/2025

On August 4 GADSAR responded to Canyon Creek to help rescue a pup that had gone over the edge and couldn't get back up. The rescue was quick and smooth and the pup was brave and unharmed.

GADSAR has had a full spring rolling into summer. May 2 •We were tasked to a missing 78 year old female in town. A groun...
08/07/2025

GADSAR has had a full spring rolling into summer.

May 2 •We were tasked to a missing 78 year old female in town. A ground team and a search dog and successfully found the pt safe and sound.
British Columbia Search Dog Association

June 6 • A team was tasked to a 11 year old biker on Hemiptera with back/head injuries. GADSAR assisted with transport of the subject to the hospital along with BCEHS.

June 7 • We were tasked with helping an injured biker in the Moonrakers. With the help of we sent a team to help the subject who had suffered head/neck injuries.

July 12 • We flew a team to the bugaboos with to assist a subject with a leg injury due to a fall while climbing. We were able to evacuate the subject off of the rock wall using long line rescue, stabilize at a staging area and then transport them to Golden Hospital.

July 17 • Our team flew out to Kinbasket Lake to assist a kayaker who had been stranded by weather and was unable to paddle to safety. Our long line rescue team transported the subjectand to safety. There were no injuries.

July 29 • The team flew to Cummins Glacier to assist a subject who could no longer continue due eye injuries. The team was able to land near the subject and transport to safety for further medical care.

Big thanks to 🚁 and their team of pilots that get us to the places we need to be safely!

Stay safe out there!! 🏔️🚲🧗🏻‍♀️☀️🛶🐶🚁e

Address

210 Fischer Road
Golden, BC
V0A1H0

Telephone

+12503445902

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Golden and District Search and Rescue posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Practice

Send a message to Golden and District Search and Rescue:

Shortcuts

Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on LinkedIn
Share on Pinterest Share on Reddit Share via Email
Share on WhatsApp Share on Instagram Share on Telegram

Category

The GADSAR Team

Golden and District Search and Rescue is a group of volunteers based out of Golden, British Columbia. GADSAR is one of the busiest SAR groups in BC, providing services for mountain, water, climbing and various backcountry rescues.

This highly-trained group of volunteers is made up of women and men (and their families) who have made GADSAR a large part of their lives. All members of the organization hold down full-time jobs elsewhere as Ski Patrollers, Guides, Ambulance Attendants, First Aid Trainers, Managers and Garbagemen. Together with the help of their families, they make time for extensive training and rescue calls.

GADSAR is a non-profit organization entirely funded by grants, bursaries and donations. Funding is received through the BC Gaming Grant, the Columbia Basin Trust, The Golden & District Community Foundation, the Shane Shroeder Fund and other various grants that GADSAR volunteers apply for on an annual basis. There is no secured or guaranteed funding for this organization and all funding is sourced by volunteers. One of our most important sources of funding is from donations from the public (like you!) who choose to make a donation through our CanadaHelps Donatoin page.

Thanks to everyone who support us and to those who are staying safe in the backcountry.