MORE HISTORY
PVSART’s first carry out marks the beginning of the realization of Allan Clark’s dream.
Sugar Hill Fire Chief Clark began thinking about a local volunteer SAR team over five
years ago as he observed the sharp increase in the number of hikers in the western White
Mountains and, inevitably, in woodlands accidents, injuries, and lost persons. The only
local organizations capable of helping Fish & Game respond to these incidents were area
fire departments and life squads, but involving them in search and rescue missions in the
mountains compromised their ability to respond to emergencies at home.
Clark found an ally in North Woodstock resident Jeffrey Ingalls, who was working to form
an SAR team south of Franconia Notch. Clark and Ingalls joined forces, and the
Pemigewasset Valley Search and Rescue Team was created. Its primary area of coverage
in the western Whites extends from Carroll in the north down to Waterville Valley in the
south. The incorporation papers of the non-profit organization were drawn in March 2005.
Besides Clark and Ingalls, the incorporators included William Fiske, Darlene Goodbout,
Gordon Johnk, William Mead, Gareth Slattery, Steven Smith, and Marti Talbot.
From there, PVSART moved quickly through its first organizational meeting open to all
hikers in the western White Mountains (April 13, 2005) and a second training meeting to
practice carrying out a patient in a litter on the lower Mt. Kinsman Trail (June 8, 2005). At
the June meeting, members also elected Clark to be president of the 13-member Board of
Trustees and Cannon Mountain ski patrol director Gareth Slattery of Franconia to serve
as team captain.
Ranging in age from 18 to 62, membership now includes 52 volunteers drawn from
Bethlehem, Campton, Easton, Franconia, Lincoln, Lisbon, Littleton, Monroe, Plymouth,
Sugar Hill, Twin Mountain, Woodstock and N. Woodstock. The Team went on standby
several times in June, and then, on June 29, the real thing happened in the incident on the
Old Bridle Path. PVSART was ready to answer the call and to give back to the mountains
that all its members so deeply cherish.
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PVSART’s first carry out marks the beginning of the realization of Allan Clark’s dream.
Sugar Hill Fire Chief Clark began thinking about a local volunteer SAR team over five
years ago as he observed the sharp increase in the number of hikers in the western White
Mountains and, inevitably, in woodlands accidents, injuries, and lost persons. The only
local organizations capable of helping Fish & Game respond to these incidents were area
fire departments and life squads, but involving them in search and rescue missions in the
mountains compromised their ability to respond to emergencies at home.
Clark found an ally in North Woodstock resident Jeffrey Ingalls, who was working to form
an SAR team south of Franconia Notch. Clark and Ingalls joined forces, and the
Pemigewasset Valley Search and Rescue Team was created. Its primary area of coverage
in the western Whites extends from Carroll in the north down to Waterville Valley in the
south. The incorporation papers of the non-profit organization were drawn in March 2005.
Besides Clark and Ingalls, the incorporators included William Fiske, Darlene Goodbout,
Gordon Johnk, William Mead, Gareth Slattery, Steven Smith, and Marti Talbot.
From there, PVSART moved quickly through its first organizational meeting open to all
hikers in the western White Mountains (April 13, 2005) and a second training meeting to
practice carrying out a patient in a litter on the lower Mt. Kinsman Trail (June 8, 2005). At
the June meeting, members also elected Clark to be president of the 13-member Board of
Trustees and Cannon Mountain ski patrol director Gareth Slattery of Franconia to serve
as team captain.
Ranging in age from 18 to 62, membership now includes 52 volunteers drawn from
Bethlehem, Campton, Easton, Franconia, Lincoln, Lisbon, Littleton, Monroe, Plymouth,
Sugar Hill, Twin Mountain, Woodstock and N. Woodstock. The Team went on standby
several times in June, and then, on June 29, the real thing happened in the incident on the
Old Bridle Path. PVSART was ready to answer the call and to give back to the mountains
that all its members so deeply cherish.
Back to About Us
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