The MRA recently completed a newly plotted series of maps detailing the entire Mountain Rescue Association network of regions and teams. Seeing our regions plotted out really drives home the scale of the organization we are all a part of. The MRA is a national organization, encompassing nine regions that span two countries and 32 states.
Dear MRA Members,It is an honor to write to you for the first time as President of the Mountain Rescue Association. I want to start by thanking you for the trust you’ve placed in me, and by thanking Mark Miraglia for his dedicated service over the past two years during his term as President. Mark’s leadership
As small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) became more and more common in SAR throughout California, individual teams and agencies have been working hard in developing drone programs, training pilots, purchasing equipment, and gaining operational experience. Many teams have been producing impressive results with drones on missions by keeping SAR ground teams out of dangerous terrain
The 2026 MRA Conference took place in Juneau, Alaska June 12 – June 14, with pre-conference activities hosted earlier in the week. Co-hosted by Juneau Mountain Rescue and Alaska Mountain Rescue Group, the conference was an opportunity for members to spend time between the mountains and the sea expanding their SAR skills. The annual gathering
Tourniquets play a critical role in the control of bleeding, generally after failure of well-aimed, direct, firm, manual pressure and wound packing. Tourniquet lessons learned from the military battlefield are applicable to non-military wilderness and austere environments, given the delayed time to definitive care and often absence of higher-level medical professionals. Current knowledge refutes earlier
Rockie Talkie 2026 Awards Announced Rocky Talkie distributed $150,000 in grants to SAR teams in the U.S. and Canada, including several MRA teams. Since 2019, the company has been setting aside $2 from every radio it sells and using that to fund grants from teams that apply. In 2026, the company made grants ranging from
Search and rescue is changing. Satellite technology makes it easier to call for help, mapping software is available to facilitate route planning, and outdoor gear is lighter and better. But Instagram rewards stunts that put people at risk, or shows pretty picture spots that are out of the range of some hiker’s abilities, and some
