What Vehicle Makes for a Good Ski Patrol/Rescue Vehicle? A Subaru, of Course!
Photo from Autoblog.com.
Johnathon Ramsey of AutoBlog.com described the vehicle like this:
"Leave the Saint Bernards at home, honey, we've got something better. The Subaru Mountain Rescue Vehicle was made for the National Ski Patrol On its tiptoes it has 14 inches of clearance, and the staid passenger car driving compartment is balanced by the diamond plate floor and steel walls in the rear. Its got more flashing lights than K-Mart, and a 9,500-pound winch in case you need to rescue snowcats. And apparently, when ski time is over, you can hop in the toboggan that's mounted on the roof. Or you can put injured people in it. Your choice. "
Built off the Forester platform with a few specialized enhancements, it makes sense that the National Ski Patrol needed the go-anywhere capabilities of Subaru Symmetrical All Wheel Drive, plus a vehicle with some heft to it to help maintain traction in the snow. Combine that with the 9,500 pound winch and towing capabilities and you have yourself the Subaru Mountain Rescue Vehicle!
Interior view of Subaru Mountain Rescue Vehicle. Photo from AutoBlog.com.
See the complete high-resolution photo gallery at AutoBlog.com.
Source: "SEMA: Save Us Subaru Mountain Rescue Vehicle" by Johnathan Ramsey of AutoBlog.com, first appeared 11/05/2008. http://www.autoblog.com/2008/11/05/sema-subaru-mountain-rescue-vehicle/
