Lost...and Found with Lifeseeker, a Heli Rescue Transmitter

This story is being republished from its original release date of May 27, 2020, with updated info and new photos.

Let’s say you are backpacking in the middle of the Gros Ventre Wilderness, or deep within a remote canyon in the Jed Smith. Somehow, you unfortunately break your leg. Without having cellular service and being very far from help, what do you do?

TCSAR volunteer Lexie Drechsel uses Lifeseeker during a training on May 24, 2022, to find a cellular device where no cellular service exists.

If you can, send someone for help and hunker down as best as possible. But even then, that leaves many questions about the outcome of your potential rescue: How long can you last due to exposure? What about weather, wildlife, and the seriousness of your injury? 

These situations, though rare, occur when someone becomes stranded, lost, or incapacitated in a wilderness environment, leading to extended rescues involving dozens if not hundreds of people searching for clues of your whereabouts.

But thanks to one of the more unique tools within the Teton County Search & Rescue toolkit, you might be found in a much quicker fashion. Known as Lifeseeker, this aircraft-mounted cellular transmitter enables a helicopter search team to locate you based on the pings in the cellular network—even when there is no cellular service. 

“Lifeseeker is another tool in toolbox and I think it’s amazing that TCSAR has access to this technology,” says TCSAR volunteer Lexie Drechsel, who joined the team in 2021. “I feel very fortunate to have been able to be part of multiple trainings this spring, running several iterations with Lifeseeker. In the case of a missing/injured party of unknown location, it’s a huge asset that we have multiple team members trained and prepared to operate the technology smoothly.”

When activated, Lifeseeker effectively acts as an airborne cellular transmitter, allowing a helicopter search team to pick up and locate specific numbers coming off your phone. When your phone is powered on and not in airplane mode, it constantly sends out a unique IMEI number (think of it as a digital fingerprint) to connect with the nearest cell tower. If the SAR team knows that IMEI number, they can hone in on its exact location as the number is transmitted through Lifeseeker. When Lifeseeker picks up on the IMEI, the location is displayed on a pair of iPads connected to a primary controller box. Both rescuer and pilot have iPads so they each both see the location of the device.

TCSAR pilot Steve Wilson hones in on a lost subject using Lifeseeker during a training on May 24, 2022.

In other words, when Lifeseeker passes overhead inside the TCSAR helicopter, it acts as a temporary service provider, connecting your phone to the team inside.

“Once we have a confirmed location, we can send a text message to that device, and, if able, someone can text back,” says TCSAR team member Eric Helgoth, a volunteer since 2004. “However, if we fly over looking for phone X, and phone Y sees they have a cell signal, phone Y can’t use that signal.” 

Nor does TCSAR have the ability (and, it should be noted, the desire) to block or interfere with anyone’s cellular service. Lifeseeker is simply a rescue aid. Designed by a Spanish firm, Centim, this is the first such device in use in the U.S. TCSAR obtained it through an anonymous donor.

“We’ve got a dozen different ways to find someone,” Helgoth says. “It’s just one more tool in our toolbox. It’s not going to work in every instance.”

Turn it up to 11. And if you’re lost, keep your phone charged up and on so Lifeseeker can find you.

For example, Lifeseeker won’t find you if your phone is turned off or in airplane mode. It is only able to receive and transmit phones that are actively seeking a cell tower. So it’s a good idea to bring a backup power source, and make your phone active if you know you’re being sought by Search & Rescue. Goal Zero makes some great power banks for rugged outdoor use, as does Outdoor Tech. 

TCSAR has a range of options to do helicopter searches depending on the rescue scenario. One is the RECCO SAR Helicopter Detector, a 174-pound drum that hangs 15 meters (about 49 feet) below the helicopter. Flying 300 feet above the ground at 60 mph, the detector scans 600 square feet every second. The team also has a heli avalanche beacon, which picks up signals from buried avalanche transceivers.

Another useful took from TCSAR is Backcountry SOS, a free app that allows a user to text an emergency directly to 911 in Teton County. The app is now available in 12 counties across the West, and has been used to save lives in Jackson Hole.

Meet TCSAR's Heli Pilot Steve Wilson

Last week, TCSAR volunteer Ian Johnston characterized the team’s pilot, Steve Wilson, as “cool as a cucumber.” After reading the below interview, we think you’ll wholeheartedly agree.

Wilson grew up splitting his time between Colorado and New Mexico, and eventually ended up in Vail to be a ski patroller. That’s when he first became interested in flying helicopters, a journey that led him to flight instruction in Hawaii, sightseeing tours and wildland firefighting in Alaska, and a brief stint over the Grand Canyon. He continued to fly multiple seasons in Alaska and Kauai before landing in Jackson 10 years ago. He has since been a pilot for High Mountain Heli Skiing, and a rescue and firefighter pilot for Teton Helitack, working with Grand Teton National Park Climbing Rangers for 10 consecutive summers in the Tetons.

It’s week 4 of Heli-Yes! and still time to contribute to TCSAR’s life-saving helicopter operation. Please consider investing in this incredible community resource.

Three years ago, Wilson became TCSAR’s pilot, which elevated the crew’s heli operation in numerous ways, including providing a seamless integration between TCSAR and the Jenny Lake Climbing Rangers for interagency rescues.

First off, what are you doing when you’re not flying SAR missions?
When I'm not flying I'm usually enjoying time in the mountains and traveling with my wife, Irene, and daughters Bella, 7, and Grace, 5. We enjoy skiing, fishing, surfing and camping out. I also love to hunt in the fall. 

Steve Wilson and family during the solar eclipse of 2017. Courtesy photo.

How and when did you know you wanted to be a helicopter pilot?
I first became interested in flying helicopters as a ski patroller in Vail, Colo. The Flight For Life helicopter would land from time to time to brief us on protocols when calling them in on some of the more life-threatening injuries. It was also a time when ski videos were coming out showcasing helicopters dropping skiers off in jaw-dropping terrain in far-off places. That certainly sparked an interest in me to become a part of that. 

How many hours do you have to fly to be a SAR pilot and do you have to have a special license, versus something like heli skiing?
It doesn't take any special license to fly for SAR, just an accumulation of experience in mountainous flying and building the skills in the techniques we use to get people safely out of them. Each year we do take a check flight to ensure we remain proficient in some of these techniques, such as short-haul and bucket/longline operations. 

Donating to TCSAR during Heli-Yes! ensures that Wilson and the volunteers can train in places where rescues actually happen. Photo: Keegan Pfeil/TCSAR

What keeps you coming back to the SAR world?
There is not a job out there I'd rather be doing. I feel extremely blessed to have the opportunity to help others when they need it the most, and to get to do it in my own community. Knowing that the sound of our helicopter overhead can bring hope to people in their most vulnerable moments is a great feeling.   

What are the challenges with flying in the Tetons, including the difference between summer versus winter?
A lot of the challenges we face flying in the Tetons are almost always associated with the weather. Storms such as winter snowstorms or summer thunderstorms all have their associated hazards such as decreased visibility, whiteout, icing, lightning and winds. When it comes to mountain flying, winds are the big game-changer. A large majority of the rescues we perform are on the leeward side of the Tetons. When the path of a strong wind is disrupted by an obstacle, such as a steep mountain range, it causes that air to rise up the windward side and then spill over the other side in the form of rotors, downdrafts and subsequent updrafts. It can create a very turbulent environment. Then you add the lower air density caused by high altitudes and warm summer temperatures and you can be operating on the edge of the envelope of your aircraft’s performance.

It’s important to have the ability to read and adapt to these changing conditions, but most importantly the judgment to know when to turn around and let the mountains win that day. 

In the winter, the colder temperatures create higher density air and greater performance of the aircraft. It also brings lower visibility in snow, fog and lower ceilings. And of course, there are the challenges associated with landing a helicopter in snow, in flat light, and whiteout conditions. The summer is more forgiving in the weather but less forgiving in aircraft performance due to warmer temps. 

Inside the ship during a rescue, what sort of feedback and assistance are you receiving from the SAR members?
One of the key elements in the success of a helicopter rescue operation are the crew members. One of the points I make in briefing new crew members is letting them know they are not passengers, but active crew members who are also responsible for the safety of the flight operations. 

In the enroute phase of flight, they are looking for hazards such as other aircraft, birds, power lines. 

In the recon phase, they join the pilot in observing landing zones, hangfire potential and loose items that may cause damage to the helicopter. 

In the landing phase, the pilot will oftentimes lean on the crew for rotor clearance and landing zone conditions in my blind spots. They are also always ready to intercept unwanted personnel from approaching the running helicopter to prevent those people from being struck by a rotor. 

In short-haul rescue operations, we have a crew member acting as a spotter who is assisting with observing instruments when the pilot's attention is looking down at the rescuers. They also communicate with the rescuers with hand signals in case of loss of radio communications with the pilot. The bond and trust created over time between crew and pilot are invaluable when it comes to safely navigating challenging rescues and routine operations alike. 

Communication between pilot and rescuers is integral to the mission. Photo: KC Bess/TCSAR

Can you describe how rescue helicopter operations have evolved over the years? Is it the recreating public, the skill of SAR team members, frequency and location of calls, amount of training and techniques, etc?
There certainly has been some evolution within the past 10 years since I started flying here in Jackson. The techniques haven't changed significantly over that time. I think this is due to the fact that the Jenny Lake Climbing Rangers and TCSAR have been fine-tuning these techniques for years and they're some of the best in the business at them.

The evolution came in the form of standardization between the different agencies. The two agencies train together and have established operating procedures that make it a seamless transition when performing a Park or County rescue on any given day. It's a unique and special relationship. 

Over the years, it does seem like the backcountry is getting busier. We all could certainly feel the effects of the pandemic which caused a large influx of visitors to the area who may have otherwise traveled elsewhere. I'm not sure if that translated to more helicopter rescues, but it certainly taxed much needed resources that were available when those rescues did occur. 

How long have you been flying short-haul operations, and is it unique to work with a volunteer short-haul team?
I've been flying as a short-haul pilot for 10 years in the Tetons. Working with a volunteer crew is unique in the sense that these folks have families, jobs and highly active lifestyles yet are as dedicated to training and performance as if it were their full-time job. They train often and maintain extremely high standards when they do. Constantly pushing ourselves and each other in training make it less challenging when it's time for the real deal. 

Having been the pilot of numerous life-saving missions, what insight can you offer about the importance of Jackson Hole having a rescue-ready helicopter?
There are certainly a number of rescues that stick out. Some are heartbreaking. Some may seem routine at the time but may be a big deal to the person on the other end. Then there are the ones that without a doubt had the helicopter not been available, or if the team had not been prepared, those folks would not have returned home safely to their families. They're all important. We all live in this beautiful setting for a reason. Most of us live here because of our passion for recreating in the mountains. For the fortunate, they may never need to be rescued in the backcountry, but for those of us whose best day in the mountains suddenly turns into their worst, it's comforting knowing there's a well trained, caring and selfless team of people in this community who are there to help.  

TCSAR pilot Steve Wilson and family get a lift from a more ancient mode of transportation. Courtesy photo.