NORTH TAHOE, Calif. – The Nevada County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue (SAR) and Tahoe Nordic SAR’s Avalanche Dog Team both received awards from Rocky Talkie’s seventh annual program. Of the $150,000 that Rocky Talkie raised through their Outdoor Safety Pledge, $15,000 will go to teams that serve the Tahoe and Truckee region.

The Rocky Talkie SAR Awards are funded through the Outdoor Safety Pledge, which donates $2 from every radio sold to outdoor safety programs. Since the launch of the award program in 2019, Rocky Talkie has contributed $410,000 to volunteer rescue organizations.

“These volunteer teams work tirelessly to keep people safe across a wide range of environments and outdoor pursuits. We established Rocky Talkie’s Outdoor Safety Pledge to help support volunteer SAR teams that are so critical to enabling access to the backcountry but are chronically underfunded,” said Rocky Talkie Co-Founder and Head of Product, Alex Page. “These teams are united in that mission and continue to amaze us with their dedication. Congratulations to the recipients, and thank you to all the Search & Rescue teams who shared their stories with us this year.”

For the $10,000 grant recipients, Nevada County’s SAR Team was awarded, alongside Albuquerque’s Mountain Rescue in New Mexico. “In the rugged terrain of Nevada County, every rescue carries inherent risk—not only for the person in need, but for the volunteers responding,” said Scott Montgomery, Mountain Rescue Team Manager at Nevada County Sheriff’s Search & Rescue. “The Rocky Talkie grant equips six team members with advanced rope rescue training, allowing us to operate more safely and effectively in high-risk environments. It strengthens our ability to protect lives—both those we are searching for, and those who answer the call to find them.”

Tahoe Nordic SAR’s Avalanche Dog Team was awarded $5,000 along with 15 other teams. Tahoe Nordic SAR and the Rescue Avalanche Dog Team recently merged. President of Tahoe Nordic SAR Sarah Krammen and Dog Team President Ben Stone said, “This generous $5,000 award will help support the training, equipment, and operational readiness of our all-volunteer avalanche rescue dog team, allowing us to continue providing critical backcountry rescues.”

“We are honored to be recognized alongside so many outstanding search and rescue organizations across the United States and Canada,” they continued. “On behalf of our handlers, dogs, and volunteers, we extend our sincere gratitude to Rocky Talkie and everyone who supports the Outdoor Safety Pledge. Their support helps ensure that our team remains prepared to serve the outdoor community when it matters most.”

Rocky Talkie’s Search & Rescue Awards, as well as the Outdoor Safety Pledge, reflect the company’s ongoing alignment to help make outdoor recreation safer and more accessible for everyone. The annual awards help volunteer organizations purchase equipment, expand training opportunities, improve operational readiness, and strengthen rescue capabilities

For more information about Rocky Talkie’s Outdoor Safety Pledge and Search & Rescue Awards program, visit the Rocky Talkie website at RockyTalkie.com.

Eli Ramos is a reporter for Tahoe Daily Tribune. They are part of the 2024–26 cohort of California Local News Fellows through UC Berkeley.