4:00 pm February 3, a perfect time for a mission as brigadiers are just wrapping up work, a call comes. A hiker on Big Tesuque has got stuck waist-deep in snow and can’t get out!
Despite having a mission the night before/morning of, 4 brigadiers still race to assemble and set out to meet with a fellow brigadier who is our incident commander. However, we get bogged down a bit in the rush-hour traffic of Labbies headed home for the day. While still making our way slowly off the hill the stand down comes in. Santa Fe Ski Patrol had decided the hiker wasn’t too far outside their boundaries and so had moved straight to her, getting her (and her dog) out fast and safe.
Simple as that, we turn around and head back home. Not needed today, but ready for when it matters most.