Tahoe's Search and Rescue team responds to 150-200 calls a year

You're hiking along the trails of Lake Tahoe, fall and break your ankle. How do you get to the hospital? You're exploring the valleys and canyons of the Sierra, it gets dark and you don't know where you are. How do you get to safety? You've fallen on the slippery rocks of a waterfall and can't get out. Who do you call?

El Dorado Search and Rescue (SAR) is the answer to all of these questions and dozens more. Annually, the volunteers and deputies that make up SAR handle between 150 and 200 calls in the county portion of the Tahoe basin (AKA the east slope).

The most common type of call SAR receives are for medical aid on the trails. usually within a mile or two from the start of their adventure. Usually the incident involves exhaustion or lower ankle injuries, but the team sees other injuries and illnesses on the trail.

After the medical aids, the most common call is for someone who has wandered off a trail and lost their bearings, causing them to become disorientated. Mt. Tallac and Cascade Falls are the most common hikes for this to occur.

Greg Almos is a full time deputy who works under the El Dorado County Sheriff's Office of Emergency Services. He coordinates the emergency tasks for the South Lake Tahoe area including SAR, boats and wildfire responses. Almos is helped out by two other deputies on the East slope as well as 35 local volunteers.

The volunteers are involved in approximately 100 calls a year, the rest are handled by deputies.

El Dorado County SAR and Douglas County SAR volunteers help each other out in times of emergency. They are all well versed in the terrain of the Lake Tahoe basin. All volunteer personnel are required to pass a variety of tests to become a team member such as first air, CPR, map and compass, and compass reading as well as training in water and cliff rescues.

Most of the incidents Almos and his team respond due involve day hikers who venture out unprepared. He recommends the following tips:

Have a plan and stick to it.
Inform someone of the plan and what to do if you are overdue.
Take a charged cell phone and do not use it unless its an emergency. So many stranded hikers are found because of the cell's signal.
Have a light source and the most recommended is a headlamp.
Take a layer of clothing and items for comfort like bug repellent or any required medications.
If cold is in the forecast, take something to build a fire. Fire can be the difference between life and death and can be an attractant.

When someone recognizes they are disoriented or lost, they should find a safe location out in the open, said Almos. "Remain calm and stay put," he said. "Wandering makes our job very difficult.

"Be prepared to be uncomfortable and survive," added Almos. "We will come get you."

At times, it is determined that a helicopter will be called out on the rescue. This depends on a lot of factors according to Almos. Anything involving a medical emergency or illness will normally bring out the helicopter, depending on the weather, as well as a situation where SAR volunteer safety is in question.

Helicopters are also used to locate victims and provide navigational aid to troops on the ground. Most incidents are reported by 911 and typically, if a smartphone is involved, SAR receive GPS coordinates of where that call was made from. These GPS coordinates may not always be accurate, so they use a helicopter to ensure those coordinates are correct. This is to maximize the efficiency of ground teams on the ground.

Enjoy the outdoors in Lake Tahoe and hopefully you won't need Almos and his well trained team of deputies and volunteers, but take comfort knowing they are there if needed.