History of Alpine Rescue Team. 

The start of what has become the Alpine Rescue Team, like many other organizations, grew from a specific event. In 1958, an incident occurred in Turkey Creek Canyon involving two climbers climbing on a rock face known as Lovers Leap.

The rescue dealing with these two individuals involved the combined efforts of the Idledale, Evergreen and Indian Hills Fire Departments along with some recreational climbers. Because of this incident, the surrounding community fire departments and ambulance personnel were forced to recognize that they were ill trained and not equipped to perform high angle rock rescues and evacuations in the Clear Creek, Bear Creek and Turkey Creek drainages.

The piton that dislodged resulting in one of the climbers falling to his death and the other climber being injured at Lover's Leap was found by Dick Perkins, then Fire Chief of Indian Hills, and is now housed in a wood and glass display case at the team's headquarters.

This mission, the increased local need for a technical mountain rescue capability and the active encouragement of the Rocky Mountain Rescue Group in Boulder were all essential factors in the formation of the Alpine Rescue Team. In its formative stages, before incorporation, the Team was sponsored by the volunteer fire departments of Evergreen, Indian Hills and Idledale. After all three departments requested volunteers to join this special rescue unit; the first ever meeting in 1959 had six members in attendance, 2 members from each of the three mountain fire departments.

Early on, the team realized that they had to learn to climb and protect each other before they could even consider helping anyone else. It was not until the arrival of Gordon Stucker, a member of the renowned 10th Mountain Division, did the team have a leader to train them in the different aspects of Mountain Rescue.

Rozzie Clark Jr., then the Fire Chief of the Evergreen Fire Department, was able to convince Gordon to attend one of the meeting's and ultimately take over the training aspect of the team. As stated by Charter member, Gene Lines, "Rozzie Clark Jr. kept us alive financially and Gordon Stucker kept us alive physically."

Gordon and Joann Stucker's personal friendship with Roy and Alice Holubar allowed the Alpine Rescue Team to acquire specially designed mountaineering equipment for the Team. Alice Holubar was a designer of mountaineering clothing, packs and sleeping bags, running the business from her basement home in Boulder. Holubar was the first American Mountaineering Mail Order supply House. Alice Holubar was to the mountaineering equipment business in America what the 10th Mountain Division was to the American ski industry.

With assistance from Alice Holubar and the American Red Cross, the team was able to locate surplus climbing equipment, stokes litters and medical supplies. The team still has the original down filled sleeping bag that was designed by Alice Holubar. As the Team's mountain search and rescue expertise increased, it was time to separate from the Fire Districts and become an independent organization.

In February of 1960, the nine Charter Members listed below, developed the original Team By-laws. It was not until April 20th, 1960 that the organization was incorporated with the name, Alpine Rescue Team. The principal office of the corporation was located in Kittredge. Seven of the nine charter members served as the first Board of Directors. Alpine Rescue Team's nine (9) Charter Members as listed on the original Article of Incorporation include:

• David A. Pratt, Board Member
• A.R. Clark Jr., Board Member
• Albert G. Lambert, Board Member
• William H. Pickett
• Richard G Perkins, Board Member
• Ralph L. O'Neal, Board Member
• John Eugene Lines, Board Member
• Wayne Dake
• Gordon Stucker, Board Member

In 1960 Albert G. Lambert served as the Team's first President and Gordon Stucker served as the Team's first Team Captain (Field Director). On August 1, 1960 members of the Alpine Rescue Team became part of Colorado's mountaineering history with their involvement with the first ever ascent of the Diamond on Long's Peak. In the summer of 1960, National Park Service guidelines for big wall climbs where changed to allow climbers to make these technical climbs provided that they could demonstrate that they where competent climbers and could also provide their own support team that would perform a rescue if necessary. Dave Rearick and Bob Kamps, both from California, would become the first two climbers to ever ascend the Diamond with members of the Alpine Rescue Team serving as their support team.

As Team proficiency increased, membership began to be comprised of members whose interests extended beyond the Inter-canyon area, a change in this purely local orientation came about. In 1960, team members became active in the creation of the Colorado Rescue Association, now incorporated as the Colorado Search and Rescue Board. Two years later, in 1962, the team became the second team from Colorado to be a fully accredited member of the Mountain Rescue Association. The team would no longer think in terms of geographical limits.

Since 1960, the Alpine Rescue Team has operated throughout the Rocky Mountain region and across the U.S. In 1963, Alpine adopted the following Articles of Amendment to its Articles of Incorporation. The original six (6) objectives stated in 1960 where revised to the five (5) Team objectives listed below. These five objectives where then rewritten in 1975 and again in 2002 and remain in our current Team By-laws.

1. To maintain a ready capability to carry out humanitarian search, rescue and recovery operations in mountainous terrain, under all climatic conditions, and in any other situation compatible with Team capabilities.
2. To encourage and actively assist Team members in acquiring mountaineering and mountain rescue skills, knowledge and experience.
3. To teach individuals and groups safe mountaineering practices and safety in the mountains.
4. To cooperate with other mountain search and rescue organizations and with other rescue disciplines through formal association, compacts and mutual agreements at the local, regional, national and international levels.
5. To maintain and foster the independent character of the mountain rescue discipline through formal association with other mountain rescue groups and to encourage and assist groups that make a similar commitment.

In 1965, the initial "Standards of Proficiency" were written by A.G. Lambert and Gordon Stucker. These were then rewritten in 1975 and 1994 as what we now refer to as, the "Guidelines of Proficiency."

Due to the problems of organization and partially to the inclinations of the Charter Members, the orientation of the Team was local in character, composed totally of adult members and generally uninterested in external relationships.

In 1963 the Team sponsored an Explorer Scout Program. That first year, twelve young men participated in the Evergreen "Explorers Post 95". The Explorer Program continued into the late 1960's before it dissolved. In the early 70's, team member, Lindon Wood began a training program for young men and women ages 13 and older. In the early 80's the age requirement was raised to 16. It was not until the late 80's that the team adopted the current age requirement of 18 for all team members.

In 1973 Sue Paul and Edith Head became the first two women to join Alpine. Sue Paul also served as the first women President of Alpine in 1981.