King County Explorer Search and Rescue

King County Explorer Search and Rescue (ESAR) is the largest of nine units in the King County Search and Rescue Association (KCSARA). The 100% volunteer organization was founded in 1954 as the first youth based search and rescue team in the nation. ESAR is the county's primary ground search and non-technical rescue unit, and responds to over 60 missions a year in both King County and around the state of Washington.

All field qualified King County ESAR members have been trained in rigorous wilderness navigation, map and compass, outdoor survival, evidence search, and mountain first aid skills. In addition to providing a team for basic ground search and rescue, King County ESAR also maintains an advanced technical rescue team, a mountain bike search team, and a group of county and state certified Emergency Medical Technicians. Members also are quite active in the multi-unit Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) team and the seasonal Rapid Alpine Deployment (RAD) team.

King County ESAR is highly committed to its youth members, but also welcomes older members as field team members as well as in various supporting roles.