Your Path to YOSAR
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Anyone in YOSAR? Something I've wanted to do for a while now. The more I learn I hate desk jobs, the more I realize I need to be out in the field doing technical operational work. I'm a WFR and working on my EMT-B. Spent a few seasons in Yosemite and some time "guiding" novice climber friends in the alpine. I'd love to hear from any current YOSAR members how they got in, and any advice you might have for getting in |
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They do have an application specified online: https://www.nps.gov/yose/getinvolved/sar_jobs.htm I haven't been a member of YOSAR, but am a member of Inyo County SAR (where Mt. Whitney and most of the 14ers in California are). Usually advanced medical training (i.e. EMT-B) + technical climbing experience is a fairly good point to joining a SAR team (edit: YOSAR has much higher climbing standard, with lots of experience climbing in the Valley). Another additional thing you could do is to join your local SAR team and get some more formal/semi-formal training through them. Keep in mind YOSAR isn't quite really a full "job;" you get free housing and a small amount of money for mission time. It is primarly a volunteer position. |
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Yea I applied the last round, didn't get in. Not looking for full time paid SAR, just a seasonal thing for summers when I go to grad school. One thing to note is I live in very flat states, SAR is barely a thing. I'm thinking about joining a volunteer FD or something to get related experience |
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Being multi lingual will improve your odds. |
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Martin Brzozowski wrote: Grad school and summers off? |
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Marc801 C wrote: Yessir. Or even take breaks from a normal job for the summer (I have some friends who guide/ steward during the summer) |
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Hey Martin, former YOSAR member here. SAR experience is undoubtedly less important than Yosemite climbing experience. Valley/Tuolumne SAR have slightly different requirements. For the Valley, big wall climbing experience is basically a must. If not El Capitan, at least a variety of grade V walls. And if not that, a solid resume of alpine climbs in other ranges. For Tuolumne, a range of skills is even more useful with the remote nature of rescues. Solid alpine fitness and the ability to move fast over any terrain, from Tuolumne slabs to Yosemite cracks, talus, scree, etc., are incredibly helpful. On top of all that, a proven ability to get along well with folks in stressful situations is key. Few folks get hired as unknown quantities, so making yourself known to the team and immersing yourself in the park's climbing scene is helpful. Many SAR siters come from other park jobs, but the most obvious pathway is to first work as a climber steward, basically interns for the climbing rangers ( climbingyosemite.com/servic…). There's no better way to get a ton of experience climbing in Yosemite and getting to know the team. And it's important to remember that each year, only a small handful of folks are hired, so keep trying! |
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Martin Brzozowski wrote: Good for you! That wasn't my experience! |
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Marc801 C wrote: Yeah, I got one full month off in grad school to spend in AK and hit Denali. But otherwise I was expected to be super productive in the summer. And I had my own merit-based fellowship money, that was still the expectation. |
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Well I'm not actually in grad school yet but most of the people I know in grad school take summers off to do work |
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Bit of an old thread here, but in case you're still interested I'll leave my 2c as a current YOSAR member. Lauren's comment above is spot on, and I'll add some in addition to that. Having medical experience goes a long way in Tuolumne (more so than the valley), most members are at least an EMT . Climbing experience in Yosemite also looks good but more so showing that you can handle yourself in technical terrain is the point. Previous SAR experience is also helpful but I'd say that's a lesser point. Beyond all this, as outlined by Lauren, by far the most important part is getting to know the team beforehand. This can be done in a variety of ways (I knew some members from living and SAR in Bishop), but usually it's done by having a different job in Yosemite first. Good luck and get after it! |