Expect Traffic Delays This Weekend During Large-Scale Rescue Exercise

WOODSIDE, CA — Traffic delays are expected in Woodside and Portolla Valley this weekend as hundreds of volunteers descend on the area for a large-scale search and rescue exercise of the Bay Area Mountain Rescue Unit, according to the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office.

The unit is made up of volunteers under the purview of the sheriff’s office and the training exercise will take place at Huddart Park in Woodside, which will be closed starting Friday through noon Sunday.

Travelers should expect many slow-moving emergency vehicles throughout the weekend in Portola Valley and Woodside, with the largest concentration anticipated Saturday along Kings Mountain Road and Skyline Boulevard. Electronic signage will be posted in the area to alert cyclists and drivers.

The Bay Area Mountain Rescue Unit is a wilderness search and rescue team specializing in life-saving operations involving difficult terrain, challenging weather conditions and high altitude. The unit is activated by the sheriff’s office for search and rescue operations, deploying across the state to help safely locate people who are lost or stranded in the outdoors.

In 2024, the unit deployed on 16 search and rescue missions, totaling 29 days.