Search & Rescue Conducts Training on Arroyo Hondo Bridge

By Jennifer Beyer

Members of the Santa Barbara County Search and Rescue Team (SAR) spent Sunday training on the Arroyo Hondo bridge near El Capitan State Beach.

The beautiful bridge is 100 feet tall and has a panoramic view of the Pacific Ocean. The bridge can be seen from Highway 101 and is accessible via a “scenic overlook” off ramp.

This training was an excellent opportunity for team members to practice setting up rappel lines, negotiating the edge, and rappelling smoothly to the bottom. Team members worked on safety, situational awareness, and best practices for rappelling. Working together in small teams, members also focused on communication skills and radio commands.

Eighteen SAR team members participated and after three to four rappels, team members converted to ascending systems and finally to individual subject-based pickoffs.

Photo: RLC Photography

This training on the Arroyo Hondo bridge is just one more example of how the SAR team stays sharp and ready to respond. 

Team members regularly participate in extended scenario-based trainings offered twice monthly (one Saturday and one Sunday), as well as multiple open skills training sessions on weekday evenings. Focused team-based trainings are regularly offered as well. Several times a year members travel to state and national trainings.

Santa Barbara County Search & Rescue is a professional, all volunteer and unpaid 501(c)3 organization that is community supported by generous giving to provide services to the County of Santa Barbara under the direction of the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office. To learn about supporting SBCSAR, please visit our website or reach out to us.

Photo: RLC Photography