First evaluate your skill set and availability:

• Can you lead multi-pitch trad climbs in the alpine? Competent 5.9 lead climbing ability preferred

• Do you have backcountry snow travel experience? ski/splitboard/snowshoe

• Are you comfortable in technical alpine terrain in adverse weather conditions? 

• Do you have the skills to get yourself and other people out of these challenging situations? 

• Are you familiar with the alpine climbing areas within Chelan County?

• Are you willing to put in the hours required for novice training? (See Step 2)

• Do you have flexible work/home life that allows you to respond to missions at the last minute?

• Can you perform in a team environment in a stressful situation?

If yes to most of the above questions then you are ready to move to step two.

If these are not your skills please consider applying with Chelan County Volunteer Search and Rescue (ccvsar.org).

First year requirements for Novice training:

• Minimum of 30 hours meeting and training time the first year. (We meet the second Tuesday and the following Saturday of most months)

• Minimum of 2 mission responses per year. Our busy season for missions is June-October 

• Must pass CCSO background check, fingerprinting, and ICS courses

• First aid and CPR (provided by team)

• Rigging training (provided by team)

• Maintain fitness to comfortably hike with a heavy pack in strenuous terrain

• Wilderness navigation

• AIARE Level 1 encouraged

If willing to complete the above requirements then you are ready to move to step three.

If you are in doubt, please apply. Even if you are not accepted, the membership committee can give you good feedback on how to strengthen your application.  

Request an application by sending an email to: membership@chelanmountainrescue.com

Applications are due by September 1st each year.

Please email membership once your application is complete and submitted. The Board will review your application, make final decisions, and let you know in October.

Application does not ensure membership.  

If you are accepted you will be placed on the Novice membership track, paired up with a team mentor who will contact you, and you will be on your way!

If you were not accepted, the membership committee will let you know why.  Please hone/increase your skills and apply again in a year if you are still interested.