North Shore Rescue is looking for some new blood to join the team.
The volunteer group is accepting applications for potential new members until Friday, Jan. 8.
“Just through attrition, we’re starting to see a bit of turnover now so we’re really looking for a new injection of keen volunteers. To put it really simply: people who are willing to crash around in the bush and be ground-pounders. That’s what we need,” said Mike Danks, North Shore Rescue team leader. “There’s a lot of camaraderie on the team. It kind of becomes a way of life when you’ve been on the team for five years-plus,” he said.
No bones about it, committing to the team requires a lot of time and flexibility in order to be present for training and rescue calls, which have a habit of coming in at the most inopportune times and lasting for hours or days, Danks said.
But saving lives has a way of being addictive, Danks added.
“When I first started, I was just so incredibly keen and excited when the pager went off in those days. It’s like the hunt is on, trying to find the person in need,” he said.
The ideal new member is someone who not just knows the trails but is also a model hiker – someone who carries a first-aid kit and extra equipment to be able to help another hiker in need.
You still get to recreate in the North Shore Mountains, Danks said, you’re just more likely to be helping carry someone on your way back out.
Applications can be made through northshorerescue.com.
