Bus Driver Saves a Kayakers Life

Incredible river rescue story!

http://www.smokymountainnews.com/news/item/9051-leap-of-faith-by-noc-bus-driver-saves-paddler-from-watery-death

Alaska River Rescue Photos

Firefighters Pull Entrapped Kayaker from Eagle River

Montana Swiftwater Rescue Class near Big Sky

This past weekend we taught a class on the Gallatin River that combined Swiftwater Rescue and Wilderness EMT training for Aerie Backcountry Medicine. Great weather, great students and a great Montana River made for a memorable weekend. Thanks to Aerie instructors Josh, Dave and Ellie for all of your help and swimming.

Fall 2012 Swiftwater Training

We just returned from the Big Island where we trained a MIA recovery team from JPAC in swift water rescue. Beautiful waterfalls everywhere!

Upcoming Whitewater Rescue Institute: Technican courses are:
September 14-16, Missoula, MT
October 13-14, Missoula, MT
October 23-25, Defiance, OH
Call Mike at 406-214-0245 for details.

Aggressive swimming. Swiftwater rescue training on the Gallatin River prepares guides for a season of whitewater rafting in Montana.

Swan-Mission Search & Rescue in Montana

One of the great things about teaching river rescue is that you get to travel around a bit and see different rivers and meet the people who work on them or who volunteer to help the people who get in trouble on them. For several years now I've been traveling up to the Swan River near Bigfork, Montana to train the Swan-Mission Search and Rescue Team.  I enjoyed this last weekends training up there as much as I have eve enjoyed a class. The training was focused on scouting the rivers many strainers and logjams while focusing on entrapment techniques and scenarios. Led by Rod and Pat in rafts we took turns in their Oceanid Rescue Inflatable and floated about twenty miles of river over two days.  What a beautiful part of Montana and a spectacular (and dangerous) river.  There is a remarkable woman, Carol Field, who coordinates and fully participates in the training every year. If only every SAR Unit could have a Carol...she has lived in the area 43 years and worked at the school for over 30 as the clerk so she knows the territory and its people. She cooks meals and feeds all of the members at the monthly meetings, she volunteers at the fire department, is a hardcore sled head, loves to riverboard and run rescue pwc's and much more....Thanks to Carol for all of her dedication, time and skill and to all of the folks at SMSR. Keep up the good work.

Swiftwater Rescue Training with Montana River Guides

April-Swiftwater Rescue Training

April was a busy month with highest river flows Montana has experienced in April since the 1930's. With swiftwater rescue classes going on in Missoula, Kalispell, California, Great Falls and Colorado, we were all over the place. The high flows have started to taper off with the cool weather this weekend. Last week the surf was up for stand up paddleboarding and surfing on Missoula's surf waves. Next weekend we'll be on the Swan River with Swan-Mission Search & Rescue --then it's on to about 40 days and 40 nights of swiftwater training from early May through mid June. Here we go!

Missoula Swiftwater Rescue Classes in April

Two Swiftwater Rescue Technician classes are scheduled for Missoula in April. The first is the weekend of the 6-8 and is almost full. The second is the weekend of the 27-29th. Montana River Guides is hosting the classes on the Alberton Gorge and Blackfoot River. Call 406-214-0245 to sign up. THe classes are certified through the Whitewater Rescue Institute which will be hosting a Swiftwater Rescue Class in BIllings, Montana April 14-15 on the Yelllowstone Rver

Swiftwater Rescue Technician Classes in Montana

Montana River Guides is retting ready for the river with a slate of river rescue and whitewater raft guide classes. Class Schedule for 2012.