Bush & Banter

Paul "Bear" Barendregt - A Pararescue Legend Discusses Training, Daring Missions, and Heli Skiing in Alaska

May 01, 2024 Jennifer Mabus and Dyana Carmella Season 5 Episode 38
Paul "Bear" Barendregt - A Pararescue Legend Discusses Training, Daring Missions, and Heli Skiing in Alaska
Bush & Banter
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Bush & Banter
Paul "Bear" Barendregt - A Pararescue Legend Discusses Training, Daring Missions, and Heli Skiing in Alaska
May 01, 2024 Season 5 Episode 38
Jennifer Mabus and Dyana Carmella

In this episode, Jen and Dyana chat with Heli Ski Guide and Former Pararescue Specialist, Paul "Bear" Barendregt. After enlisting in the Air Force right out of high school, Bear later joined the Alaska Air National Guard in 2000 and has since emerged as one of the most distinguished and recognizable pararescuemen in Alaska's wilderness rescue community.  With an impressive track record, he's directly responsible for saving 106 lives and assisting an additional 43 survivors across 91 challenging rescue missions in Alaska. Moreover, his expertise extends beyond Alaska's borders, having deployed worldwide for combat rescue missions and humanitarian aid efforts. These days, he's sharing his wealth of experience as a Heli Ski Guide, leading adventurous backcountry skiers through some of Alaska's most remote and wild mountain ranges. In this episode, they touch on some of his most daring rescue missions, the challenges of training, and what it’s like skiing some of the greatest mountain ranges in the world.

Chugach Powder Guides
www.chugachpowderguides.com

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In this episode, Jen and Dyana chat with Heli Ski Guide and Former Pararescue Specialist, Paul "Bear" Barendregt. After enlisting in the Air Force right out of high school, Bear later joined the Alaska Air National Guard in 2000 and has since emerged as one of the most distinguished and recognizable pararescuemen in Alaska's wilderness rescue community.  With an impressive track record, he's directly responsible for saving 106 lives and assisting an additional 43 survivors across 91 challenging rescue missions in Alaska. Moreover, his expertise extends beyond Alaska's borders, having deployed worldwide for combat rescue missions and humanitarian aid efforts. These days, he's sharing his wealth of experience as a Heli Ski Guide, leading adventurous backcountry skiers through some of Alaska's most remote and wild mountain ranges. In this episode, they touch on some of his most daring rescue missions, the challenges of training, and what it’s like skiing some of the greatest mountain ranges in the world.

Chugach Powder Guides
www.chugachpowderguides.com

Where to find and support Bush & Banter:

Intro
How Dyana met Bear
How Bear got involved with the Air Force Pararescue
What was Pararescue training like?
The training that almost made Bear quit
The responsibilities of PJs
Standard protocol for emergency calls
Rescue missions on Denali
How PJs work with local search and rescue teams
Female PJs
Bear's proudest mission
Bear's most difficult mission
Common reasons civilians get rescued
How Bear and his team maintained focus and resilience during stressful situations
How Bear's experience as a PJ molded his life
Advice all people should know about survival
Being a helicopter ski guide
Bear's final piece of advice