This mixed methods project used a case study approach. We conducted two focus groups with male and female expert sea ice users in July 2010; twenty-two semi-directed interviews with community members in November 2010, selected to represent diversity in gender, level of travel experience and whether or not they had been assisted by search and rescue; document analysis of local RCMP and Nain Ground Search and Rescue records and federal DFO search and rescue records from 1995-2010; three key participant interviews and several meetings with Nain Ground Search and Rescue and local police representatives between July 2010 and May 2011; and participant observation during multiple sea ice trips in March and May 2011.