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MPR News with Angela Davis
Dan Kraker and Cari Dwyer
Updated:

The volunteers behind wilderness search and rescue

A man searches near the base of a waterfall
A member of the St. Louis County Rescue Squad takes part in the search for two missing canoeists at Curtain Falls in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in May.
St. Louis County Rescue Squad

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Every year, thousands of people visit the Boundary Waters and other remote, wild areas of northern Minnesota. Every year, lots of people run into trouble and call for help.

Those who respond are often nurses, police officers and other volunteers who sometimes spend several days on missions. MPR News guest host Dan Kraker talked with two volunteer responders who describe what goes into those missions.

Guests:

  • Rick Slatten is captain of the St. Louis County Rescue Squad.

  • Michael Valentini is a member of Cook County Search and Rescue and the Gunflint Trail Volunteer Fire Department. 

Subscribe to the MPR News with Angela Davis podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify or RSS.

Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.