The Albuquerque Mountain Rescue Council (AMRC) is an all-volunteer wilderness search and rescue (SAR) team composed of individuals with skills in technical rock climbing, winter mountaineering, backpacking, medical, caving and other wilderness activities. Our members come from many different backgrounds: medicine, science, engineering, law, teaching, small business ownership and many more. Individuals join this team for many reasons, but the common thread is a desire to serve the community and help others. All members on the team understand the great joy of being able to go outside and recreate, as well as the serious dangers that this environment can pose. AMRC is an accredited member of the Mountain Rescue Association (MRA) and New Mexico Search and Rescue Council (NMSARC).
AMRC has been around for more than 60 years, providing free life-saving services to all citizens of New Mexico. The team was formed on February 19, 1955 when a TWA plane bound for Santa Fe crashed on the west side of the Sandia Mountains. Individuals from the outdoor community came out and assisted the NM State Police during the recovery efforts. Due to this tragic incident, it was recognized that there was a community need to have an organized group of individuals trained and ready to respond to the accidents that happen in our backyard. Thus, AMRC was born.
AMRC is a chartered New Mexico non-profit corporation, a 501-C(3), headed by a five-person Board of Directors, which is elected from and by the membership.
What we do:
As a public resource, AMRC provides a range of wilderness search and rescue services to the community at no cost. We specialize in technical rope and winter/avalanche rescue, as well as search and backcountry medical care. Although AMRC responds primarily to search and rescue missions in the Albuquerque area, we are called out to missions throughout New Mexico. AMRC is deployed by the New Mexico Department of Public Safety at the request of local and state fire and police departments responding to 911 calls.
How to Help:
Although team members give many volunteer hours and supply their own personal gear, that’s only part of what we need to function. Maintaining an organization like ours, which is available 24/7 at no cost to the public, is no small task. In order to do what we do, we need the funds to buy and maintain team equipment and two vehicles we use to protect our own lives and the lives of those we are sent to help.
Our entire operation is funded through the generous contributions of people like you. The team’s equipment and costs are solely made possible from donations like yours and fundraising events. Donations are gratefully accepted through our Paypal account.