Olympic Mountain Rescue

What Olympic Mountain Rescue does

Olympic Mountain Rescue (OMR) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit volunteer search-and-rescue organization founded in 1957 in Bremerton, Washington (Tax ID 91-1000954). It operates on the Olympic Peninsula and across the Cascades from Mt. St. Helens to Mt. Baker, providing technical wilderness rescue (rope rescue, helicopter operations, snow/glacier rescue, avalanche search-and-rescue, wilderness navigation, and patient packaging) for mountaineering accidents, lost or missing persons, downed aircraft, and technical rescues on glaciers or vertical rock in inclement weather. OMR is mobilized through government channels — the Washington Department of Emergency Management, County Sheriff's offices, the National Park Service, and the Kitsap County Department of Emergency Management — and is one of nine Mountain Rescue Association units in Washington State.

The organization's service portfolio spans emergency SAR missions, mountain safety education, and member training programs (rigging and rope rescue, helicopter operations, snow and glacier rescue, navigation, first aid, mock missions, and the annual Search And Rescue Academy). Notable content assets include the published 4th Edition of the Climber's Guide to the Olympic Mountains (366 pages covering over 300 peaks, with route descriptions, difficulty ratings, approximately 100 maps, and 60 photographs) and a downloadable Trip Itinerary PDF for backcountry users. OMR's infrastructure consists of a 3,500-square-foot owned headquarters at 1550 Rocky Point Road, Bremerton, with two engine bays (one shared with the Kitsap branch of The Mountaineers), a truck bay, meeting space, and office space — acquired by gift from the Westgate Improvement Club in 2018 following four decades as a tenant there. Operations are supported by a 2010 Ford F-350 rescue vehicle funded via the C. Keith Birkenfeld Memorial Trust.

OMR is 100% volunteer-led and entirely donation-funded, with no fees charged for rescue services. Revenue is not publicly disclosed; the organization solicits tax-deductible contributions through PayPal/donate buttons, credit card, and mailed check, with donors ranging from individuals to institutional supporters (United Way, PSE Foundation, Bainbridge Island Rotary). Membership growth occurs through recruitment via the website, structured onboarding (monthly meetings, interviews, training), and word-of-mouth from rescue operations. Strategic direction is led by Chairman John Myers.

Name

Olympic Mountain Rescue

Legal name

Olympic Mountain Rescue

Website

https://olympicmountainrescue.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1957

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Volunteer 501(c)(3) wilderness search and rescue organization founded in 1957 in Bremerton, Washington, providing technical rescue operations, mountaineering training, and mountain safety education across the Olympic Peninsula and Washington Cascades for public safety.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wilderness Search and Rescue Services

NAICS

Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYTHAAAJAI

Mountain Safety & Patrol Services (Avalanche Training, Rescue, Medical)

Travel & Hospitality/Adventure, Amusement Parks & Ecotourism/Winter Adventure & Mountain Resorts (Ski, Snowboard, Snow Activities)

SECONDARYHLAJAGAJ

Search & Rescue (Urban/Water/Wilderness) Coordination

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Public Health, Government & Regulators/Emergency Preparedness, Disaster Response & EMS Coordination

SECONDARYBPADADAA

Disaster Response & Search and Rescue (SAR)

Business & Public Services/International Organizations & Development/Humanitarian Relief & Emergency Response

SECONDARYTHAAALAF

Winter & Mountain Guides (Ski, Snowshoe, Avalanche, Ice Climbing)

Travel & Hospitality/Adventure, Amusement Parks & Ecotourism/Adventure & Ecotourism Equipment Rental & Guiding Services

Keywords

• Wilderness search rescue
• Mountain safety education
• Volunteer rescue services
• Mountain rescue training
• Avalanche rescue operations

Headquarters

HQ city

Bremerton

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Donations and Contributions: Olympic Mountain Rescue operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (Tax ID: 91-1000954) funded entirely by charitable donations from the community. Donations support training, equipment, rescue mission expenses, and building restoration/maintenance.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Olympic Mountain Rescue is a 501(c)(3) volunteer organization that performs wilderness search and rescue operations on the Olympic Peninsula and across Washington State, ranging from non-technical urban searches to technical rescues on glaciers and vertical rock in inclement weather. The organization also delivers mountain safety education, publishes the Climber's Guide to the Olympic Mountains (4th Edition) covering 300+ peaks, and conducts training programs including rope rescue, helicopter operations, snow/glacier rescue, and avalanche SAR for its members and the wider SAR community.

Product overview

Olympic Mountain Rescue is a nonprofit volunteer search and rescue organization offering a portfolio of services centered on wilderness rescue operations and mountain safety education. The organization's primary offerings include emergency search and rescue missions, safety education programs, and published resources. Key products include the Olympic Mountains - A Climbing Guide (4th Edition, 366 pages covering 300+ peaks), a downloadable Trip Itinerary Form for backcountry safety, and comprehensive training programs for members (rigging, helicopter, snow/glacier, navigation, first aid). The organization also hosts the annual Search And Rescue Academy at their headquarters facility. OMR operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with over 60 years of history, mobilizing via Washington DEM, County Sheriff, or National Park Service.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• Responds to missions ranging from non-technical urban searches to technical searches on glaciers or vertical rock in inclement weather across Washington State
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Mountain Rescue AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOMR is one of nine Mountain Rescue Association units operating in Washington State. The MRA provides the umbrella organization and standards for mountain rescue units across the United States.
• Kitsap County Search and Rescue CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOMR is a member of the Kitsap County Search and Rescue Council, administered by the Kitsap County Department of Emergency Management.
• The MountaineersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Kitsap branch of The Mountaineers shares OMR's double engine bay at headquarters for training and gear/truck storage.
• Clark County Sheriff SARminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerClark County Sheriff SAR is listed among OMR's supporters in the logo section of the website.
• Westgate Improvement ClubminorOthersThe Westgate Improvement Club gifted their building (built in 1962) to OMR in December 2017 when owners wanted to hand off maintenance. The gift included funding for deferred maintenance updates. The Harold Brooks Community Center portion continues to be available to the local community.
• The Mountaineers (Publisher)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Mountaineers organization publishes the Climber's Guide to the Olympic Mountains (4th Edition), prepared by OMR.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Tacoma Mountain Rescue: Another of the nine MRA units in Washington State, deploying volunteer technical rescuers across the Cascades. Directly comparable in operating model, mission profile, and reliance on Washington DEM activation.
• Skagit Mountain Rescue: Washington MRA unit providing volunteer technical mountain rescue in the North Cascades region. Directly comparable in volunteer structure, training cadence, and Washington DEM / sheriff activation.
• Seattle Mountain Rescue: A volunteer Mountain Rescue Association unit operating in Washington State alongside OMR, providing technical wilderness and mountain SAR with similar rope, snow, and helicopter capabilities. Direct comparison in scope, volunteer model, and government activation channel.
• Everett Mountain Rescue: Washington State MRA unit conducting technical wilderness SAR on the western Cascades. Direct peer in mission profile, volunteer composition, and government/agency activation pathway.
• Mount Rainier Volunteer Search & Rescue: Volunteer mountain SAR unit supporting Mount Rainier National Park with climbing and glacier rescue capabilities. Directly comparable in operating environment (glaciers, high-angle terrain, NPS activation) and technical competencies.
• Hood River Crag Rats: One of the oldest volunteer mountain rescue organizations in the U.S., serving Mount Hood and the Columbia River Gorge. Comparable as an MRA-affiliated volunteer SAR unit with similar rope, snow, and technical rescue programs.

Broad incumbents

• Mountain Rescue Association: The umbrella organization for mountain rescue units across the United States, of which OMR is a member. Relevant as the standards-setting body governing OMR's training, certifications, and inter-unit coordination.
• Yosemite Search and Rescue (YOSAR): NPS-affiliated mountain and wilderness SAR program at Yosemite National Park. Comparable mission scope (technical rock, glacier, and high-angle rescue) and similar activation through the National Park Service, though larger in scale and more institutionalized.

Others

• The Mountaineers: Pacific Northwest outdoor education and recreation nonprofit that publishes the Climber's Guide authored by OMR and shares OMR's engine bays for training. Adjacent peer and direct publishing/operational partner.

Regional players

• North Shore Rescue: Volunteer-based search and rescue team serving the North Shore mountains near Vancouver, BC, with similar rope, helicopter, and backcountry rescue capabilities. Comparable in operating model and terrain, though operating under Canadian rather than U.S. agencies.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/olymtnrescue
• Facebookfacebook.com/olympicmountainrescue

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Olympic Mountain Rescue