Agreed that a decision to send a team into darkness (or whatever environment) is very situation and personnel dependent. Not a good idea to send random individuals, not well equipped, on the more challenging situations.

The environment in southern Arizona is extremely varied - altitudes ranging from 2,000 to 9,000 feet. one can begin in relatively flat desert, and wind up in deep snow amid pine forests with plenty of challenging, intricate canyons in between, all in a relatively short day hike.

Of course, i am speaking of operations from my experience, which tapered off about thirty years ago when my career took me to SoCal. This was before the cell phone era and an operation usually began when an overdue hiker(s) was reported by a concern person with no direct knowledge of the situation. Today operations are frequently triggered by calls from the victims, and much more information is available to first responders.

But if your team can't operate in darkness, how ever are cave rescues accomplished?

I remember the yosemite incident, a very sobering event. Are data compiled which show the accident frequency for wilderness responders? Such would be interesting. I'll bet helicopter involvement will be high on the list....just speculating.