Deploying from the Mesa Butte day use area on Feb. 20, the team of specially trained volunteers set out via snowshoe to hone their navigation and search skills.
The operation also included training to prepare a medevac landing zone in snowy winter conditions and how to guide in a helicopter such as STARS Air Ambulance.
Disclosure: Western Wheel/OkotoksToday.ca photojournalist Brent Calver is a member of Foothills Search and Rescue.
Members of Foothills Search and Rescue attend a briefing in GPS protocols during a training exercise west of Millarville on Feb. 20. The day also included an orientation on how to prepare a landing zone in snow and land STARS or other helicopters for medevac. By Brent Calver/Western Wheel
Members of Foothills Search and Rescue snowshoe through bush during a training exercise west of Millarville on Feb. 20. The training day included navigation skills training and an orientation on how to prepare a landing zone in snow and land STARS or other helicopters for medevac. By Brent Calver/Western Wheel
Members of Foothills Search and Rescue train in navigation skills west of Millarville on Feb. 20. The training day also included an orientation on how to prepare a landing zone in snow and land STARS or other helicopters for medevac. By Brent Calver/Western Wheel
David Cran demonstrates use of LED strobes for landing a medevac helicopter such as STARS during a Foothills Search and Rescue training exercise west of Millarville on Feb. 20. By Brent Calver/Western Wheel
Members of Foothills Search and Rescue practice packing down a medevac landing zone with their snow shoes west of Millarville on Feb. 20. By Brent Calver/Western Wheel
David Cran, left, holds a briefs on protocols for guiding in a medevac helicopter such as STARS during a Foothills Search and Rescue training exercise west of Millarville on Feb. 20. By Brent Calver/Western Wheel
