SAR Moto Team Tools for Modern Search Missions

By Joshua Duttry
IT Director and UAS Specialist, La Plata County Search and Rescue

When most people think about backcountry Search and Rescue (SAR), they picture helicopters, ground hasty teams, or canine units. What they may not realize is that there’s a rapidly growing tactical advantage taking hold in rugged terrain across Colorado: the SAR Moto Team. At La Plata County Search and Rescue (LPCSAR), based in Durango, Colorado, we’re proud to be leading this evolution, applying decades of SAR experience to modern technology and off-highway vehicle (OHV) platforms including dirt bikes, ATVs, and side-by-sides. With the terrain we operate in, from 6,500-foot mesas to 13,000-foot ridgelines, SAR mobility and mission adaptability are critical.

With this we want to highlight our operational philosophies, real-world successes, and the ways our SAR Moto Team is redefining what’s possible for wilderness rescue. Whether you’re a SAR team leader, a fellow responder, or a supporter of public safety, we invite you to explore how OHV assets are accelerating our response, increasing subject access, and creating new strategies for wilderness missions. To learn how you can help equip our team with critical mobility tools that directly support these capabilities, you can donate here to keep our vehicles and riders mission-ready.

Mobility Across Diverse Terrain

For LPCSAR, our county is a diverse combination of deserts, river valleys, aspen forests, canyons, and alpine passes. Our SAR Moto Team operates across the rugged Four Corners region, from the high desert near the New Mexico border to the alpine trails north of Durango. In this unforgiving terrain, mobility is not a luxury, it’s an operational necessity. Our Moto Team utilizes:

• 2-stroke and 4-stroke dirt bikes for narrow singletrack and fast reconnaissance.
• Electric dirt bikes, nearly silent and ideal for subject detection.
• Side-by-sides (UTVs) capable of transporting gear, personnel, and sometimes even canine handlers.
• ATVs used to tow mobile litters and traverse winter and mud-heavy conditions where other vehicles may struggle.

These platforms allow our teams to extend the reach of ground operations, cover more ground than hiking teams alone, and adapt to changing mission requirements. Whether accessing an alpine meadow six miles in or scouting side drainages along a canyon wall, our SAR Moto Team reduces time-to-subject dramatically. We’ve also used UTVs to transport canine teams deep into remote areas, preserving the dogs’ stamina and enabling a full shift of productive searching without early fatigue.

If you’re curious about how we engage with the public and share our work in the field, visit our Community Outreach page for more stories about how mobility impacts our mission success.

The Right Tool for the Right Job

We don’t deploy dirt bikes simply because they are fast. We use them because in certain conditions, they are the correct tool for the task. Matching equipment to mission profiles is a cornerstone of our strategy. Each deployment is preceded by a situational analysis of terrain, weather, and risk.

Electric dirt bikes are an increasingly important part of our fleet. They’re quiet, have instant torque, and eliminate the loud mechanical roar of a traditional engine, making it easier for operators to hear distant whistles, calls, or movement in the woods. Their lower acoustic profile also allows better radio communication between field teams and Incident Command. This allows them to work exceptionally well with aerial teams too, especially when combined with the technology discussed in our article on UAS Search Patterns for Search and Rescue Missions.

For missions requiring extraction or prolonged operations, side-by-sides or ATVs can tow litters, ferry responders, or haul heavy loads like shelter systems, lighting, and emergency gear. They also serve a vital logistical role, supporting Hasty Teams, UAS teams, and even acting as relay points when terrain prevents direct radio contact.

Real-World SAR Examples

One of the clearest demonstrations of the Moto Team’s effectiveness occurred during an incident response to a subject injured deep within a side canyon of Hermosa Creek. While air support inserted teams by helicopter, our SAR Moto Team navigated several miles of rugged backcountry trails and was the first to make contact with the subject. This ground-based contact stabilized the situation before air assets arrived, proving that speed on two wheels can sometimes rival flight in the right terrain.

In another extended operation, nightfall caught several field teams still deployed. The Moto Team was dispatched to shuttle in water, headlamps, and specialty gear, ensuring that teams could remain on task and stay safe. Because of their compact profile and rapid speed, our Moto units closed the logistical gap between Incident Command (IC) and the field with remarkable efficiency. These resource deliveries were only possible due to consistent community support. You can help ensure we have the gear and infrastructure needed to respond quickly and efficiently by exploring our donation initiative page.

Risk Management on Every Ride

Operating motorized vehicles in wilderness terrain adds risk. We mitigate that risk through deliberate planning, strong training, and the structured use of the GAR (Green/Amber/Red) risk assessment tool. By focusing on pre-mission analysis and real-time conditions, our team avoids unnecessary exposure while maximizing effectiveness.

Every mission involving the SAR Moto Team includes GAR card assessments based on rider experience, terrain type, lighting, weather, and urgency. These are not rubber-stamped approvals. They are real discussions with Search Management Team (SMT) leaders and the assigned field personnel.

Using GAR helps us decide when to deploy Moto assets and when not to. For instance, steep scree fields after a rainstorm may turn a relaxed green-rated trail into a red-risk operation. Our leaders always defer to safety, even if that means taking longer to reach a subject. To learn more about how we use GAR cards in the field, our article on GAR Risk Assessment in Search and Rescue offers an in-depth explanation with examples from recent missions.

Our SAR Moto Team Philosophy

We believe our role as a Moto Team is to serve as a force multiplier for our ground and air resources. That means operating with independence but always in alignment with IC and SMT goals. It also means:

• Training regularly in technical terrain.
• Coordinating closely with other SAR teams.
• Supporting logistical needs like supply runs or subject extraction.
• Understanding subject behavior models and using them to route our patrols.

Although our Moto Team often focuses on being the first into new terrain or making subject contact, all LPCSAR team members are trained in WFA protocols and expected to maintain strong skills in GPS navigation, CalTopo mapping, and radio communication. These are foundational capabilities for everyone on our team, regardless of specialty.

Additionally, you can often meet members of our Moto Team at public events and local safety fairs. Visit our Community Outreach page to learn where we’ll be next and how you can engage with us in person.

Setting Standards for Other Teams

We believe we are Colorado’s first fully dedicated SAR Moto Team, and one of the first nationally to integrate electric motorcycles into active wilderness rescue operations. But we also know that innovation means responsibility. We want to share what we’ve learned, and just as importantly, hear from others who are exploring similar capabilities.

Our team has developed SOPs, rider qualification guides, and incident debrief tools specifically for OHV-based SAR response. However, due to the unique nature of terrain, liability, and agency support, we encourage interested SAR teams to contact us directly. If you’re a SAR Team Leader considering OHVs, visit our contact page or email us directly to start a deeper conversation about lessons learned, equipment selection, and training practices.

As a Search and Rescue team, we recognize that every mission in the backcountry comes with a responsibility to protect the environment and set an example. Our OHV riders strictly adhere to all U.S. Forest Service and local land agency regulations, and we are committed to Leave No Trace principles. Whether responding to a call or training on remote trails, we yield to hikers, slow down for equestrians, and maintain courteous communication with fellow trail users. Mutual respect helps preserve public access and builds trust between our team and the outdoor community we serve.

Building the Future of SAR Mobility

The field of Search and Rescue is evolving. As technology becomes lighter, faster, and quieter, the tactics we use to reach subjects must also evolve. The SAR Moto Team concept is not just about speed; it’s about expanding our operational reach, increasing safety margins, and reducing the time between callout and contact.

At LPCSAR, we believe that dirt bikes, ATVs, and side-by-sides are not niche tools, they are essential components of a modern, mobile, and effective SAR operation. We are proud to be at the forefront of this movement and eager to collaborate with others across the region and nation.

If you’re inspired by what we do and want to make a direct impact, learn how to support our team here. Follow our updates, training efforts, and success stories by joining our Facebook community or subscribing to our Instagram page, where we share mission photos, upcoming events, and more.