RECCO, which provides global search and rescue technology, has announced the continuation and expansion of its partnership with the Alpine Club of Canada (ACC) for 2026. As the summer hiking season begins, the collaboration underscores a shared commitment to improving backcountry safety and raising awareness about the importance of being searchable while exploring the outdoors.
With hiking continuing to grow in popularity across Canada, more people are venturing into remote and mountainous terrain. The ACC, based in Canmore, Alberta, operates the largest network of backcountry huts in North America, supporting thousands of hikers, climbers, and outdoor enthusiasts annually.
Established in 1906, the ACC is a non-profit organisation that promotes mountaineering, fostering a sense of adventure, and encouraging responsible recreation in alpine environments. Today, it brings together a community of 18,000 members across Canada through 26 local chapters, which organise more than 2,000 outings each year—60% of them during the summer months—with over 14,000 participants.
The ACC also manages 27 backcountry huts across the country, forming the largest hut network in North America and supporting approximately 65,000 overnight stays annually.
Through the partnership, RECCO and the ACC will equip and educate the hiking community with tools and knowledge that can support faster, more effective search-and-rescue operations.
ACC will host educational initiatives and community engagement opportunities throughout the hiking season, helping outdoor users better understand how RECCO technology works and why searchability is a critical component of backcountry safety.
“Education on safe travel in the mountains has been a pillar of The Alpine Club of Canada’s activities since the club’s founding 120 years ago. We are very excited to have RECCO as our mountain safety partner,” said Keith Haberl, strategic impact director at ACC.
The RECCO rescue network continues to grow, supporting search-and-rescue operations at more than 900 mountain rescue organisations and ski resorts in 32 countries. In Canada, RECCO SAR Helicopter Detectors are deployed with multiple rescue organisations, enabling teams to quicker search large and remote areas, up to one square kilometre in six minutes. This not only helps reduce search times for missing persons but also minimises risk exposure for rescue professionals during missions.
“Expanding our partnership with the Alpine Club of Canada is an important step in making more hikers searchable during the summer season,” said Fredrik Steinwall, CEO at RECCO.
“As more people head into the mountains each year, education around preparedness and searchability becomes increasingly critical. Together with the ACC, we are helping to ensure that outdoor enthusiasts are better equipped for safe adventures.”
