Christopher Van Tilburg, M.D.

Upcoming Appearences:
Mountain Rescue Association 50th Anniversary, Timberline Lodge, OR, June 26.

Wilderness Medical Society Annual Meeting, Aspen, CO, July 24-26.

Van Tilburg vigorously describes the difficult, life-saving protocol followed by him and his crew while at high angles, precariously perched atop sharp rocky cliffs: the rush to reach a trapped climber within the patient’s “golden hour” (the first critical hour after severe bodily trauma); attempting a tracheal intubation while a closely hovering medical-rescue helicopter whips up the dirt and debris; rescuing two dogs from the rock ledges of an icy stream. Van Tilburg’s dogged spadework in translating to the page the intricate essentials of his unique trade makes each breathtaking rescue literally come to life. Kirkus Reviews

Detailing each rescue operation fro the first call mobilizing teams of volunteers to grateful notes from the families of those rescued, Van Tilburg also offers snippets of environmental history and outdoor law. For readers who are unfamiliar with the rugged and beautiful Hood River area, he balances its undeniable perils with the joys of its scenic wonders. Publishers Weekly

In this fast-paced book, Van Tilburg recounts his experiences as a member of the Crag Rats, a mountain search-and-rescue team. Started in 1926, the Crag Rats are made up of extremely skilled, highly organized volunteers who face blizzards, darkness, freezing water, and other extreme conditions to help rescue sports enthusiasts who have become lost or injured in the mountains. He examines the high costs of search-and-rescue operations and provides an interesting overview of the debate on whether victims should be held responsible for some of these costs. Library Journal

Is this guy nuts? Well maybe. Perhaps an unintended lesson here is to follow one's dream, for Van Tilburg found a way to combine medicine and his love of extreme sports.
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