No Charge For Rescue

The San Diego Mountain Rescue Team does not charge for rescue. As an accredited member of the Mountain Rescue Association, we follow the MRA's position on the subject.

Why it matters

Charging for rescue does not raise meaningful money. What it reliably does is make people hesitate to call for help — and delay is the single biggest factor that turns a manageable situation into a fatal one.

People who are lost, injured, or overdue routinely wait hours before calling, because they are worried about the bill or embarrassed to make a fuss. Those hours are the ones that matter most: hypothermia sets in, weather closes, daylight runs out, and a straightforward walk-out becomes a technical evacuation.

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The Mountain Rescue Association publishes its official position on charging for search and rescue at mra.org.