We host an inspiring community of hikers and climbers here at Barn Door Hostel. We love hearing crazy stories from the trail and seeing sweet climbing pictures, but at the end of the day, the safety of our friends is most important to us. We invited volunteers from the Pemigewasset Valley Search and Rescue Team (PVSART) to lead a chalk talk about outdoor safety and preparedness on the evening of Saturday, July 30th. The event was a huge success and the volunteers shared crucial tips for exploring the New Hampshire wilderness.
Hikers and climbers packed into the hostel and eagerly waited for the PVSART volunteers, who came straight from a rescue mission in the mountains that afternoon. Attendees – hostel guests, campers, and Rumney residents – listened attentively to the two-hour presentation, which touched on PVSART’s history and mission, past rescues, outdoor safety tips, and more.
PVSART formed in 2005 to support the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department (NHF&G) with woodland search-and-rescue missions. NHF&G has a specialized search-and-rescue team, but the small 16-person unit relies on volunteer groups like PVSART for additional assistance. Volunteers help with searches and carry outs, which require at least 12 people and can take between 4 and 12 hours, depending on travel and search time.
In addition to lending on-the-ground support, PVSART volunteers teach groups about outdoor safety and preparedness. The representatives highlighted that 60% of all search-and-rescue missions are for hikers and climbers, categories into which most of our friends at Barn Door fall into. While accidents happen, they discussed ways to make outdoor adventuring as safe as possible: bring proper gear, including the ten essentials, and be comfortable using it; know your limits; and stay informed about weather conditions.
While the organization started with just 17 members, PVSART has grown into a 75-person volunteer network and partakes in an average of 30 missions per year, mostly in Grafton County and the western side of the White Mountain National Forest. When asked why they give their time to volunteer with PVSART, the representatives expressed a common desire to make the outdoors accessible and safe for all to enjoy.
After the presentation, attendees raved about the presentation and expressed appreciation for the safety tips provided by the experienced volunteers. Barn Door Hostel thanks Chris and Lara for leading the chalk talk, and more importantly, for the selfless service they provide to our local outdoors community. Their commitment to wilderness safety allows us to enjoy the beautiful nature that New Hampshire has to offer, both on the trails and on the rocks.
For more information about PVSART or to learn more about staying safe while exploring the great outdoors, visit their website.
Check back to hear about our other chalk talks, including the one on August 27th at 7 PM. Mike Morin, Northeast Regional director of Access Fund, a nonprofit advocacy organization working to protect climbing areas nationwide, will be joining us for the evening. The event is free and open to the public, with donations to Access Fund being accepted at the door. We hope to see you there!
Emma Anderson