Temecula Mountain Rescue Team Practices Skills In Zion: Photos

TEMECULA, CA — Temecula members of the Riverside Mountain Rescue Unit recently honed their skills in the mountains of Zion National Park, officials say.

Nine mountain rescuers—from Temecula, Murrieta, Hemet, Idyllwild, San Jacinto and Riverside—gathered for three days of team building and some extracurricular training, a spokesperson for the group tells Patch.

"For three days the team did some rock climbing and canyoneering in slot canyons in the park," they reported over Facebook. "This is an excellent way to team build, repeatedly build anchors, rappel down a variety of terrain, including a 300-foot rappel, where you sometimes land and swim in extremely cold water."

The group has about 35 team members from across Riverside County in their all-volunteer team. Their job is to respond to wilderness emergencies.

"At any hour of the day, law enforcement agencies, national park or military officials may call upon us to aid an unfortunate victim," they said.

The group is on what they call "constant alert" to search for and effect the rescue of hikers, skiers, rock climbers and outdoors enthusiasts whenever and wherever tragedy strikes.

The mountains of Zion may be outside of the group's regular rescue area boundaries, however, it never hurts to train in unfamiliar terrain.

"We perform 95 percent of our missions in Riverside County," they say. Still, the group has traveled as far south as Mexico, and north into the Sierras and into Nevada on search and rescue missions.

Practicing in all types of mountain climbing was one of the reasons the group wanted to go into Zion.

Ideal mountain rescue volunteers are adept at:

• Mountaineering.
• Climbing.
• Canyoneering.
• Backpacking.
• Medical experience.
• High Level of Fitness.

Essential skills of volunteers include:

• Physical fitness.
• Extensive hiking experience.
• Backpacking experience.
• Backcountry camping experience.
• Enthusiasm and time to work to develop skills in mountaineering, rock and snow climbing and fitness.

"If, after carefully considering all the above, you are ready to join a great team of mountain rescuers, you need to come to a team meeting and meet the team," their website says.

The team meets at 7 p.m. on the first Wednesday of every month at the Sheriff’s Office Valle Vista substation at 43950 Acacia Street in Hemet.

This is one block south of Florida at the corner of Fairview and Acacia.

For more information, visit rmru.org.