You know a rescue is impressive when the search team that pulled it off wins an award.
This week, the Black Canyon of the Gunnison Search and Rescue (SAR) team was awarded $25,000 for their efforts to save Becca Steinbrecher in September 2023. At the time, the Colorado climber attempted the Great White Wall, a 1,200-foot route in the Black Canyon, one of the state’s most dangerous climbing areas.
Then the accident happened: a foothold broke, and Steinbrecher took a huge fall. When her partner reached her, she found Steinbrecher with broken bones, a punctured lung, and a serious head injury that had knocked her unconscious. In other words, she needed rescue immediately.
What followed was a harrowing 13-hour ordeal by the park’s SAR team to save her. They hiked from the canyon rim to the bottom, climbed 300 feet back up the walls to reach her, lowered her to the ground, and then used a helicopter to take her to a hospital. As for Steinbrecher, she lived to tell the tale — and thank her saviors.
“SAR is amazing, and it’s crazy that I survived,” she told Denver 7 News.
Thanks to the American Alpine Club and radio brand Rocky Talkie, we can watch this compelling documentary about real heroes. Don’t miss it.
Runtime: 10 minutes
