Carol Viau

TCSAR Recognizes Volunteers For Outstanding Service

Jackson, Wyo. — Teton County Search & Rescue recently recognized numerous volunteers for reaching significant milestones in their commitment to the team and the betterment of our community.

Each summer, the organization honors those volunteers who have reached 10 years of service or more, in five-year increments. The volunteers who reach these milestones receive a limited-edition belt buckle at the team’s summer picnic. This year, Teton County Commissioners also recognized the volunteers with a certificate of service.

Volunteers Chris Stiehl and Carol Viau were recently recognized for their 25-year commitment to Teton County Search & Rescue. Photo: Matt Hansen

This year, volunteers Chris Stiehl and Carol Viau were recognized for their 25 years of service on TCSAR. Having joined the team in 2000, the two are among the most tenured volunteers in the organization. Only Tim Ciocarlan (1993), Mike Moyer (1993), Mike Estes (1993), and Jenn Sparks (1998) have been on the team longer.

Ten Years and Counting

The volunteers who have reached the 15-year mark include: Ryan Combs, Ethan Lobdell, Cody Lockhart, and Galen Parke.

Reaching the 10-year anniversary include volunteers: KC Bess, Phillip Fox, Chase Lockhart, Ryan Mertaugh, Keegan Pfeil, Scott Shervin, Anthony Stevens, Doug Van Houten, and Don Watkins. 

Of the 36 volunteers on TCSAR, 27 have served for more than 10 years. Every year, TCSAR volunteers collectively donate more than 10,000 hours of service back to the community in the form of rescues, trainings, and backcountry safety education. All rescues performed by TCSAR are free of charge.

Please join us in thanking all of these volunteers for their exceptional commitment to our community.

A Special Short Story from The Fine Line Podcast

Teton County Search & Rescue Foundation is excited to release the next episode of The Fine Line podcast. "A Whistle in the Dark" takes us back to TCSAR volunteer Carol Viau's very first rescue. It was October 26, 2000, a time before cell phones were ubiquitous and when most callouts for TCSAR required good old-fashioned boots on the ground.

Carol’s story reveals how and why someone is drawn to be a first responder, how intuition and basic skills can be invaluable during a cold, dark search, and how gentle conversations with a person in need can help us gain a deeper understanding of ourselves.

Original art by Jen Reddy.

"Whistle in the Dark" airs at 2 p.m. on May 9 on KHOL 89.1 FM, and afterward on your preferred podcast platform.

Produced through TCSAR Foundation's Backcountry Zero initiative, The Fine Line is presented by Stio, with additional support by Roadhouse Brewing Co. and KHOL. This episode was produced by Matt Hansen, with editing and sound by Melinda Binks. The story was recorded in the studios of KHOL 89.1 FM. The Fine Line theme song is by Anne and Pete Sibley, with additional music provided by Ben Winship. Original artwork by Jen Reddy. Find all episodes at Backcountry Zero, and wherever you get your podcasts.

Old Bill's Giving Season, TCSAR Highlight #1: The Importance of TEAM

Teamwork is a huge component of TCSAR’s success, as this photo from a high-angle training shows. Photo: David Stubbs

How do TCSaR Volunteers Stay Rescue Ready?

That's a frequent question these days, especially considering how busy the volunteers have been in 2022. Since January 1, TCSAR has been called more than 90 times. This far outpaces the call volume last year, when the team had a record 105 calls for service.

The near constant stream of callouts means the volunteers need to be Rescue Ready at a moment's notice. That's why during this Old Bill's Giving Season — the most important event of the year to support TCSAR — we're bringing you insights to key pillars of the team's ability to respond: Teamwork, Training, Fitness, Equipment, and Community.

This week, we're focusing on Team. To the person, all 42 volunteers believe that what makes someone a great TCSAR volunteer are not their individual skills but their ability to work with the rest of the team.

To learn more about the importance of teamwork at TCSAR, click the button blow. Thanks for supporting the TEAM!