Pemigewasset Valley Search and Rescue Team Founder Recounts How It All Started
By Gary Moore
I interviewed Sugar Hill resident Allan Clark, the founder of the Pemigewasset Valley Search and Rescue Team for my program on WYKR.
The PVSART is a volunteer organization formed in 2005 to assist with searches for lost or missing persons and with carry outs. It provides support to the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department, which by statute has controlling authority for all woodlands search and rescue services in the state of New Hampshire. The PVSART responds only to requests from NH Fish & Game or other public safety agencies. The primary response area for the team is Grafton County and the western side of the White Mountains. They also respond north to Canada south to lakes region.
Clark stated the creation of the organization ,“Came about because of a need.” The was no search and rescue group in the Franconia Notch area. Ammonoosuc Valley SAR located in Gorham operated but was on the other side of the White Mountains.
He moved from Northwood to Sugar Hill in 2002 and joined the Franconia Life Squad and the Sugar Hill Fire Department. Soon after joining the fire department he became chief and has served in that position for 24 years.
At the time, “Fish and Game would call out fire departments which were ill prepared, for going out for a hike for 5-6 hours. It became apparent there was a need for SAR in Franconia Notch”
Clark was on the board of the Mount Washington Observatory so he had some knowledge of SAR on Mount Washington and knew what was needed to staff a rescue that was often of long duration and under very difficult conditions.
He developed a relationship with now retired Lt. Todd Bogardus, the leader of SAR for F&G. That relationship led to the forming of the PVSART.
The team started with some 40 members and proceeded slowly gaining the respect of F&G.
A non profit, 501 C3 was created and standard operating procedures developed.
Today, PVSART averages 45 missions per year with a roster of about 85 members. Most of the calls are for rescues requiring carryouts, Only a couple a year are searches for lost individuals.
Membership is open to all hikers 18 and over in good physical condition who live in the local area. There are minimum participation and training requirements. There is a waiting list now for the 100% volunteer organization..
Clark has retired as president of the organization and is no longer making the climbs to the injured or sick. He pointed out that most of the members are at least half his age. He now mostly coordinates the missions from the parking lots while working with F&G.
The team’s first call was in June 2005 when a hiker slipped on the Old Bridle Path on Mt. Lafayette and broke her ankle. She needed to be carried out to an ambulance and treated at a hospital. This time F&G only had to call upon one volunteer group and seventeen members of PVSART responded to that callout and, along with five Fish & Game officers, completed the mission in just over four hours.
Cannon Mountain has always been the team’s base. The state provides space to keep the equipment and facilities for training and meetings.
We talked about some of the more memorable rescues and about hiker safety among others topics, too many to covering this space.
The vast majority of the rescues are for lower leg injuries. Clark said, “Typical calls start about 4 in the afternoon when they realize darkness is coming and they need help to get out.”
He said the NH National Guard’s assistance is outstanding. They will send up a helicopter for life threatening incidents that save lives. However, their participation is weather dependent as so often the mountains are shrouded in clouds making visibility to low to fly.
In the case of the occasional search for lost hikers, the Guard will fly its helicopters and fixed wing aircraft may also be used and more recently drones. Searchs involve a lot of entities and a joint effort. Unlike rescues where the location of the victim is known, a search may have to cover a vast area.
Clark said frequently rescue is needed because people are, “Often not properly prepared. They didn’t check the weather, did not know the length of trip planned and are not properly dressed and wearing inappropriate footwear.”
Be prepared. Have a map and compass and know how to use them. Have a light as circumstances may mean you can’t get out before dark. Apps for phones are good but lots of areas are without cell coverage and battery life diminishes with the cold.
He emphasized, “Don’t be afraid to turn around. It is a sign of strength not of weakness. It shows that you are smart enough to make the right decision.”
“We carry four or five bodies out a year. Many are cardiac issues.” Be prepared, know you abilities and be safe.
For more information about the PVSART go to: https://pemisar.org/. PVSART also promotes hiker safety by providing trained speakers to address local school groups and other organizations and by posting safety information and resources for hikers on this site.
The team of dedicated and highly trained volunteers is ready to assist 24/7 if you get in trouble.
Bits and Pieces
Tune in to WYKR 101.3 FM or 1100 AM on Thursday at 6 p.m. for The Outdoor Edge. Thoughts on the Out-of-Doors airs as a segment of the program on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of every month.
My guest will be Victory resident Will Staats, a retired NH F&G wildlife biologist and avid outdoorsman. He and his now adult children have taken many canoe trips to the far north in Canada and had memorable experiences which will be the subject of our interview.
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Bow hunters are looking forward to Vermont’s upcoming October 1-December 15 archery deer hunting season.
A hunter may take up to four deer the archery season if they do not shoot any deer in the other deer seasons. The purchase of an archery deer license and tag is required for each deer. No more than one of the deer taken during archery season may be a legal buck. Antlerless deer hunting is allowed during archery season statewide this year.
In WMUs C, D2, E1, E2, G, I, L, M, P, and Q a legal buck is any deer with at least one antler three inches or more in length. In WMUs A, B, D1, F1, F2, H, J1, J2, K, N, and O a legal buck is any deer with at least one antler with two or more antler points one inch in length or longer.
Hunters must have a standard hunting license in order to purchase an add-on archery deer hunting license, except that non-residents may purchase an "archery only deer license" costing $75. Licenses may be quickly and easily purchased on Fish and Wildlife’s website.
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Tree stands get hunters out of sight and smell of wary deer and bear, but they can also get hunters into trouble. Here are some tips from Vermont Fish and Wildlife to help stay safe and get the most out of your tree stand hunting experience:
Choose a live, straight tree. Only use stands certified by the Treestand Manufacturers Association. Inspect them each time you use them. On private lands, you must have landowner permission to erect a tree stand, cut or remove trees or other plants, or to cut limbs. All stands, including ground blinds, must be marked with the owner’s name and address.
Always wear a full-body safety harness, even for climbing. Most falls occur going up and down the tree and getting in and out of the stand. Never carry firearms or bows up and down trees. Always use a haul line to raise and lower all gear. Make sure your firearm is unloaded.
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The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department is providing the list of certified leashed tracking dog owners who volunteer to help locate deer, bear or moose that have been shot but not yet recovered.
The leashed tracking dog owners, who provide their services free of charge, must pass an extensive exam in order to be certified and licensed to provide their services.
The list is available on the Vermont Fish and Wildlife website.
Local tracking dog owners include: Mandi Harbec, Orleans, 802-323-3536; Mark Harbec, Orleans, 802-323-3536; Nick Smith, Groton, 802-486-9022; Riley Harrness, Newbury, 802-272-8955; John Konya, Bradford, 802-439-3838; Brent Grenier, Troy, 802-274-9057; Daniel Dagget, Newport, 802-238-7952; and Justin Sutera, Wolcott, 802-535-1893.
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If you enjoy wildlife be sure to make plans to attend the 25th annual Dead Creek Wildlife Day in Addison, Vermont on Saturday, October 3.
The free activities at Dead Creek Wildlife Day are especially for people who enjoy hunting, fishing, birdwatching, or learning about Vermont’s diverse wildlife and ecosystems. The event will be held at the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department’s Dead Creek Wildlife Management Area on Route 17, west of Route 22A.
The festival is hosted by the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department, Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation, and Otter Creek Audubon Society.
The Dead Creek Visitor Center will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. featuring displays about conservation and wildlife management in Vermont. Enjoy a walk along the interpretive trail to observe pollinators feeding on native wildflowers. Complete the NatureQuest featuring Steward the Otter.
See live animals and learn about their ecology. Learn about Vermont’s bees, then try your hand at waterfowl calling at the youth contest. Walk around a rare clayplain forest with an expert. Enjoy local foods and game samples from Vermont Wild Kitchen. Learn about mountain lions in Vermont. And watch working dogs including pointing dogs, retrievers, tracking dogs, and conservation detection dogs.
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Vermont's hunting season for ruffed grouse or "partridge," is September 26 through December 31 this year. The daily limit is 4 grouse with a possession limit of 8.
The Vermont woodcock hunting season is September 26 through November 9. The daily limit is 3 woodcock with a possession limit of 9.
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On October 1, ruffed grouse, woodcock, cottontail rabbit, pheasant, and snowshoe hare seasons each open, in New Hampshire. Small game hunters should check out the 2025/2026 New Hampshire Small Game Summary Report, which presents data from the annual Small Game Hunter Survey. Participation in these surveys by hunters significantly enhances the Department’s management of these species.
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New Hampshire Fish and Game says, “Movement of captive cervids (members of the deer family including moose, deer, elk, and caribou, as well as any species of captive deer) remains the number one threat in the spread of chronic wasting disease, but the transportation of high-risk cervid parts across state lines, including the brain, spinal cord, and lymph nodes, can also play a significant role in its dispersal. It is essential that hunters do everything possible to prevent this devastating disease from spreading to the Granite State by adhering to New Hampshire laws regarding the transportation of cervids from CWD-positive jurisdictions.”
New Hampshire hunters who travel to CWD-positive jurisdictions are required to follow the mandatory regulations when bringing home any cervid carcasses. You may legally bring back ONLY deboned meat, antlers, upper canine teeth, hides or capes with no part of the head attached, and finished taxidermy mounts. Antlers attached to skull caps or canine teeth must have all soft tissue removed.
To date, CWD has been detected in wild or captive cervids in 37 states and 5 Canadian provinces including. To view the most current map of CWD-positive jurisdictions, visit www.wildlife.nh.gov/wildlife-and-habitat/wildlife-related-diseases/deer-diseases.
The use of natural urine-based lures also poses a threat. Several states and Canadian provinces including Vermont have banned the possession and use of natural urine-based lures due to the potential for disease transmission. Multiple synthetic deer lures are available for sale that do not pose any risk of spreading disease which can be used as an alternative to natural urine.
For more information about CWD, its cause, preventing its spread, and New Hampshire’s monitoring efforts, visit www.wildlife.nh.gov/wildlife-and-habitat/wildlife-related-diseases/deer-diseases.
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The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department will hold a public hearing on the expedited repeal of the rules relative to temporary non-resident OHRV registration on Thursday, October 1 at NHFG Headquarters in Concord. This proposal is in response to the passage of Chapter 137, Laws of 2026, that repeals the law related to temporary non-resident OHRV registration.
The public is invited to attend to provide feedback or submit comments through October 5 via e-mail to comments@wildlife.nh.gov. The proposed rules can be viewed ahead of the meeting by visiting https://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/legislative/proposed-rules.html.
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What does it really take to protect land forever? Join the Ammonoosuc Conservation Trust (ACT) on Wednesday, October 7, at 6 p.m. at the White Mountains Community College Fortier Library in Berlin for a behind-the-scenes look at land conservation in New Hampshire’s North Country.
The event will explore how conservation easements and land ownership protect farms, forests, waterways, wildlife habitat, and special community places; what a working forest or farm means; what responsibilities ACT carries after a project closes; and why permanently conserving land generally takes at least two years and sometimes considerably longer. T hrough local examples, you’ll discover how landowners, communities, volunteers, and conservation partners work together to protect the places we love and how you can get involved.
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Mark Breen provides the September Records and Averages in the Fairbanks Museum's Skywatch Almanac.
Warmest: 67.9°F in 1961 Coldest: 54.2°F in 1950
Wettest: 8.59 inches in 1999 Driest: 0.68 inches in 1908
Parting Shots
A 43rd anniversary edition of 1983’s “Real Vermonters Don’t Milk Goats is debuting this month with a few 21st century tweaks.
Vermont political science professor and Newbury native Frank Bryan and the late Bill Mares wrote the 1983 book “Real Vermonters Don’t Milk Goats,” the state’s all-time bestselling humor title.
Bill Mares’ wife of 53 years, Christine Hadsel, is set to promote the reprint Oct. 1 at Woodstock’s Yankee Bookshop, Oct. 16 at Lyndon’s York Street Meeting House and Nov. 1 at Newbury’s Bailey Club among many other locations around Vermont.
I still have my copy of the original and reread it on occasion to enjoy the wit and humor of Frank and Bill. If you do not own a copy, now is your chance. Purchase one for yourself and others for gifts which will be appreciated by Vermonters and those who want to be.
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Some days one should just stay in bed. Thursday was one of those for me. While I was with Linda in the Dartmouth Cancer Center in St. Johnsbury a car being loaded on a flatbed truck rolled off and smashed in the driver’s door of our car. Later that morning I went to Burke Mountain for the Vermont Emergency Preparedness Conference and on the way back to pick up Linda after lunch I realized I had lost the hearing aid from my right ear. Then when we got home and I took my glasses case out of my shirt pocket, I found the frame was broken and I had two monocles.
Syndicated columnist Gary W. Moore may be reached by e-mail at gwmoore1946@icloud.com or at Box 454, Bradford, VT 05033. copyright 2026 Gary W. Moore