All Colorado Backcountry Users!

**summit** · 02-07-2004, 12:18 AM

Colorado Rescue Insurance and Summit County Recco

1. Ski Loveland Pass? Vail Pass? The Beavers?
If you use the Summit County backcountry, you should know that Summit County Search and Rescue will now deploy the RECCO Rescue System Detector Unit ASAP on all avalanche callouts! Please get yourself a Recco reflector! They are only $24.95! That's insanely cheap for something that could potentially save your life!

Purchase Recco reflectors at www.reccona.com

A RECCO REFLECTOR IS NO SUBSITUTE FOR A BEACON since a recco detector is required to find a recco reflector diode, but it is a great suppliment to your beacon. Recco reflectors can be detected by a Recco transciever at ~150ft, 10X the distance at which consumer electronics might be detected.
Recco is also operated by many Colorado ski resorts.

2. ARE YOU PREPARED TO PAY FOR THE COST OF A BACKCOUTNRY RESCUE?

You never know if it might happen... but a rescue can easily cost several thousand to more than ten thousand dollars before you even consider medical costs. It makes sense to be prepared! You can be covered for nearly all the costs of a rescue by purchasing a $3 Colorado Outdoor Recreaction Search & Rescue (COSAR) Card! This is an amazing little insurance policy of sorts.

This card save you from having to pay for equiptment, personaell, dogs, mileage, meals, snowmobiles, horses, watercraft, and even aircraft involved in a rescue operation! That's right... the nonmedical part of a a flight for life helo is covered!

The only thing this card would not cover is medical expenses!

$3 for 1 year... how can you possibly not get a card?
$12 for 5 years

That money goes into the Colorado Search and Rescue fund which covers the rescue costs and helps to train Search and Rescue teams throughout the state.

Purchase from one of these locations: http://www.state.co.us/searchandresc...ts/vendors.pdf

Or over the phone with a credit card at 970-248-7310

Learn more here: http://www.state.co.us/searchandrescue/

Please note that if you have a valid hunting or fishing license, you are alread covered. Boat, snowmobile and ATV registrations, if up to date in your name would aslo put you under the coverage. Also, please note that Summit County does not usually charge for rescue operations. If there is a vehicle or property recovery, there may be charges or if funds are exhausted for a year. Of course, if non-Summit County resources were used, that's another matter too.

**Foggy_Goggles** · 02-07-2004, 06:40 AM

Answer me these questions please:

Has RECCO ever been used outside a ski area boundry to recover a live body?

**Evil E** · 02-07-2004, 03:21 PM

i dont know how useful the recco system is in recovery...but i know that a lot of euro clothing companies put them in their coats and my atomic boots have it built in...

**DaMtnRider** · 02-07-2004, 06:45 PM

Seems like a small cost for added insurance.

I did have a friend almost have his jacket ripped apart going through the airport security because they picked up on the RECCO device sewn into lining. A supervisor was a skier and knew about the devices in some jackets, so he was let through. He was advised to check the jacket next time though instead of wearing it on the plane.

**summit** · 02-07-2004, 07:21 PM

Originally posted by Foggy_Goggles
Answer me these questions please:

Has RECCO ever been used outside a ski area boundry to recover a live body?

The same has been asked about nearly all avlaanche rescue technologies before they were used for long or widely in use.

Honestly, I do not know. I will email reccona and ask them because I am interested to know.

Recco has the potential to save a life if it hasn't already... it may just be that Recco detectors have yet to be deployed in time where person had a recco reflector.

**summit** · 02-08-2004, 05:09 PM

Originally posted by Pinner
FYI-- Colorado SAR cards are now available through Friends of Berthoud Pass!

Friends of Berthoud Pass
www.saveberthoud.org

**summit** · 02-09-2004, 12:34 PM

monday bump because this stuff is important

**bad_roo** · 02-09-2004, 12:43 PM

Originally posted by SummitCo 1776
monday bump because this stuff is important

http://us.news1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com...1453538398.jpg

and this isn't?

**Mountain Junkie** · 02-09-2004, 01:52 PM

For the love of God roo, please remove that picture. That makes me sick.

Two points. First, I wouldn't put too much faith in the recco system. By the time SAR gets to the burial site your chances are very slim.

Also, proceeds from COSAR cards are used to reimburse SAR teams for rescues. However, I don't believe it is insurance-in other words there is the possiblity that you still may be "billed" (although it's really a suggested donation). I'm not saying the COSAR card is a bad thing, but it's a bit more complicated than a get-out-of-jail-free card.

**Pinner** · 02-09-2004, 01:58 PM

I don't believe there has ever been a case in Colorado of a public SAR team asking for reimbursement from a rescued individual.

The COSAR card entitles local SAR teams to reibursement from the fund established with proceeds from COSAR card sales and hunting and fishing licenses. It's a way for small counties to protect their SAR teams from budget overruns associated with rescues.

At least this is my understanding of how it works.