Well the scenario was this past weekend. It was the second half or a 36 hr course for advanced SAR candidates.

Weather: wind 50-60 MPH
Temp range 10 to -8 F
Snow 4 inches in 8 hrs.
Variable white out conditions due to high winds.

Terrain: Sea level to max 680 feet x 8 repetitions (rolling hills), Swamp, Hurricaine damaged areas, low scrub brush, marsh, dense boreal forest.

Distance: 12 miles

Density: Complete off trail bush travel.

Average pack weight: 45 lbs


The 7 students travelled 12 miles over nasty terrain with massive elevation changes. They navigated with a 1:50,000 topo to 8 points under an adhoc scenario via radio (they did not know their destinations).

After 12 hrs of searching they came upon 6 individuals. 5 in one area 1 200 yards down near a lake. 1 adult and 5 children. 2 children were deceased and the remaining adult and child were in late stage hypothermia. Injuries included a lacerated chest wall and fractured femur. After managing the 2 live patients for 4 hrs with no chance of helo evac the subjects died despite heroic efforts, bringing a total of 4 deceased.

After the subjects passed on a scream was heard down the lake and a 4th child 12yrs old was found to be in early stage hypothermia and had a massive knee injury. The child was evacd to the set up camp at midnight and managed unitl 7 am when a helo arrived on scene to hoist the subject and team out.

All and all a good scenario, the death of children is hard for responders to triage and some conflict evolved over leaving them and moving on to live subjects. Managing their own situation is always a challenge. 3 students ended up mildly hypothermic for real and were managed. We all made it through the nasty night on SAT and gained valuable experience in survival skills and what it takes to manage a live risky situation.

Thanks all for the ideas.

"So others may live"

Hound