Mountain Rescue
Mountain rescue services may be paid professionals or volunteer professionals. Paid rescue services are more likely to exist in places with a high
demand such as the Alps, national parks with mountain terrain and many ski resorts. However, the labor-intensive and occasional nature of mountain
rescue, along with the specific techniques and local knowledge required for some environments, means that mountain rescue is often undertaken by
voluntary teams. These are frequently made up of local climbers and guides. Often paid rescue services may work in co-operation with voluntary services.
For instance, a paid helicopter rescue team may work with a volunteer mountain rescue team on the ground. Mountain rescue is often free, although in
some parts of the world rescue organizations may charge for their services. But there are also exceptions, e.g. Switzerland, where mountain rescue is
highly expensive (some 2000 to 4000 USD) and will be charged to the patient. In more remote or less-developed parts of the world organized mountain
rescue services are often negligible or non-existent.
In the five national parks of the Canadian Rockies, mountain rescue is primarily the responsibility of Parks Canada wardens. Voluntary self-registration
is available at information centers and warden offices whereby if a climbing party does not contact Parks Canada by a predetermined day and time,
Parks Canada will initiate a search. However, parties should be self-reliant and not expect a search to begin until the next day (Parks Canada will
usually initiate a search the same day if weather and daylight permits). Search and rescue costs are currently paid for by park entrance fees.