Since 1972, the Arizona Hiking Shack, aka "The Shack", has been catering to the needs of the serious hiker, backpacker, river runner, climber, and mountaineer by providing the best equipment available and technical knowledge gained through years of practical experience in the field. Our reputation of extraordinary service and technical expertise led to strong relationships with many public safety agencies. Through them, Dale Stewart became closely associated with a movement of a few progressive and innovative professionals that believed their resources were capable of doing more to protect the public with respect to technical rescue. As an instructor and consultant Dale played an important role in helping these visionaries design and build their technical rescue assets into some of the best in the country.