On the Ninth Day of Christmas...

On the ninth day of Christmas, TCSAR gave to me… a good decision.

To eat the cow pie, or not eat the cow pie? To ski avalanche terrain, or not ski avalanche terrain? Sometimes, it can be hard to know what to do. Cow pies may at first appear delicious, but you never know what lurks inside. Same with our current snowpack.

What TCSAR volunteers know is: Play it safe, make the good decision, and do not eat the cow pie—or ski in avalanche terrain today.

(Check today's avalanche forecast at jhavalanche.org.)

On the Eighth Day of Christmas...

On the eighth day of Christmas, TCSAR gave to me… perspective.

TCSAR volunteers always stress the importance of being prepared, practiced and present in the backcountry. But they also understand that sometimes, people will face plant—that everyone makes mistakes, no matter how skilled or experienced. Perspective is yet one more reason why the volunteers are able to respond with humility and compassion for those who need their help.

On the Seventh Day of Christmas...

On the seventh day of Christmas, TCSAR gave to me… hover time.

Whether in the helicopter or by a harness, there’s nothing like a quality hover, as volunteer Andrew Armington’s son, Fitz, can attest. Setting an example for his younger sister, Lily, Fitz likes to test out his dad’s SAR gear, while mom Erin flies high as the superhero behind the scenes keeping everything together when Andrew is out on a rescue or training.