The following accounts of field operations are the best efforts of the newsletter editor, are NOT official reports, and may have errors and omissions, for which apologies and regrets are expressed in advance.
January
Officers for 2011 were approved: President - Jutta Schmidt, Vice President - Jeff Holmquist, Equipment Officer - Dave Michalski, Financial Officer - Bill Greene, Training Officer - Barry Beck, Secretary - Marie French.
On-going Training includes Avalanche Transceiver Training and Testing and Snowmobile Operation training.
January 4, 2011. 11-005 #1. Spencer Larson, 27, of Los Angeles, did not meet his friends as planned at the end of a day snowboarding on Mammoth Mountain. The SAR team was dispatched, and ski, snowshoe, and snowmobile teams prepared for search assignments. MMSA ski patrol provided support. Just before teams departed, Larson called to report that he was back in Mammoth. He had ridden the Hemlocks but failed to traverse back in bounds.
He found himself on the Reds Meadow Road and saw one of the Mono SAR/MMSA signs that direct lost persons to the nearest pay phone. While he was en route to the phone along the road, he encountered snowmobilers, who gave him a ride to town. Responders were: Holmquist (ops), DeGeorge, Schmidt, Greene, Michalski, Walker, Cogan, Robertson, Maroti, Dodson, Ackerman, Thompson, Schilling, Weatherly, Beck.
January 5, 2011 - Advanced Skiing/Winter Travel Training
January 18, 2011. 11-023 #2. David Joseph, 27, of Crystal Heights, California, was snowboarding by himself and unknowingly crossed the western edge of the ski area boundary and became lost. He was able to contact his father by cell phone. His father then notified Ski Patrol of his son's predicament. Ski Patrol began searching for him, but were unable to find him as Mr. Joseph reported that he thought he was somewhere inside the ski area boundary.
The SAR Team was able to pinpoint his location by having him call 911. The California Highway Patrol dispatch center in Bishop, California received the cell phone call and was able to obtain a GPS location reading from his cell phone. Ski patrollers were then directed to his location just outside the ski area boundary and assisted Mr. Joseph on snowshoes back to the ski area. The patrollers and Mr. Joseph were then transported back to the Mammoth Mountain Main Lodge by snowcat where he was reunited with his father. Responders were: Greene (Ops), Michalski, Carole Schilz, Brad Schilz, Dodson, Scotese, O'Brien, Cogan, Maroti, Ackerman, Salay, Gilbreath, Holmquist, Weatherly, and Boyd.
February
February 11-12, 2011. 11-066 #3. Betsy Rieke, 67, of Carson City, Nevada, became lost and stranded above a cliff while on a solo hike in the Mono Craters. She made cell phone contact with the persons with whom she had discussed the hike, who in turn reported the situation to the Sheriff's Office and began to hike to Rieke's location.
The Sheriff's Office dispatched personnel to the area who determined that Search and Rescue should be called. As SAR arrived, Rieke was located by her acquaintances, who helped her up a scree slope to the trail on top of the crater and reported by cell phone that Rieke was cold but uninjured.
A SAR team with additional supplies hiked in and met Rieke's group as they were hiking down the road from the crater. SAR used a Sheriff's Office ATV to shorten the final portion of the hike for the group. Responders were: Holmquist (Ops), Schmidt, Beck, Greene, Dodson, Bold, French, Walker, and Michalski.
February 23, 2011. 11-085 #4. Michael Gaffney, 47, of Bishop, began a snowshoeing trip from the Mammoth Lakes Basin to Reds Meadows to Mammoth Mountain Main Lodge on Tuesday, 22 February. He intended this trip to be relatively non-stop without a planned camp. Mr. Gaffney called his wife at 4 am on Wednesday the 23rd to provide an update, and noted that he was fatigued from travel through the soft, deep snow encountered during the descent from Mammoth Pass.
She became concerned and contacted the Sheriff's Office, who in turn dispatched the SAR team. A SAR snowmobile team launched from Main Lodge to investigate and encountered Mr. Gaffney on the road north of Pumice Flat. He was in good condition, and after providing some additional water, the SAR team left Mr. Gaffney to continue his trip. Responders were: Holmquist (Ops), and Beck.
March
Quiet Month - no operations
April
2011 Candidate Class
April 23, 2011 - Candidate Basic Training, Litter Training, Radio Training
April 24, 2011. 11-189 #5. Tifany Pridanonda, 21, from Walnut, California, was snowboarding on June Mountain with a group of friends when she became separated when she went out of bounds from the top of chair 6. She went downhill to the East, but could not climb back up. She sent cell phone text messages to her friends, and attempted to navigate to highway 395. She went as far as the Hartley Springs campground, called 911, and was advised to stay where she was until the SAR Team arrived.
She built a small warming fire on the snow while waiting. SAR field teams on snowmobiles located and transported her to join her friends waiting at the highway. The fire she had started in the snow was extinguished prior to the teams exiting the area. Responders were: DeGeorge (Ops), Greene, Michalski, Dodson, Robertson, Holmquist, Schmidt, Weatherly, Walker, Cogan, Maroti, French, and Scotese.
April 30, 2011 - Mountain Navigation Training with Jim Gilbreath
April 30, 2011. 11-201 #6. John Beckerman, 24, from Craig, Colorado, was being lowered off a climbing route in the Central Owens Gorge. The Grigri belay device became hot, and the belayer was not able to retard the last 30 feet of the lowering. The victim landed on his left side, partially striking another person standing at the base of the climbing route.
An ER physician from Reno happened to be nearby, and conducted a patient assessment. The patient was placed in a Stokes litter, and carried to the power plant. LADWP personnel opened the access gate and SAR Team members were able to drive to the location. Team members completed patient packaging for transport to Northern Inyo Hospital by Inyo Paramedics. Responders were: DeGeorge (Ops), Holmquist, Schmidt, Greene, Case, Vetter, Corning, Barnum, French, Dodson, Scotese, and Hartstrom.
May
May 1, 2011. 11-203 #7. Ann Bellamy, 46, of Mammoth Lakes, and her eleven year old son became stuck in a snow drift while trying to drive to Lookout Mtn. They contacted AAA and friends to get them unstuck, but none were able to locate them. At 0400 5/1/11 they called 911. Mammoth PD was dispatched to try and find them, and they were located shortly thereafter. SAR responded and reached them shortly after PD units located their vehicle. SAR transported the mother and son with three dogs back to their residence in Mammoth Lakes. Responder: Greene (Ops).
May 7, 2011 - Search Training
May 12, 2011 - Tracking Training classroom with Steve Case
May 14, 2011. 11-228 #8. James McHugh, 38, of Lake Tahoe, California was skiing with friends near the Third Pillar of Mt. Dana, a popular backcountry spring ski descent three miles northeast of Tioga Pass. He slid down approximately 150 feet, striking his head on a rock during the slide. His friends reached him quickly and began administering first aid. He suffered numerous cuts and abrasions, and also had a possible skull fracture.
The group activated a Spot Satellite GPS Messenger, and also had one of their group ski down to their vehicles to obtain cell service to contact the Mono County Sheriff's Department. The SAR team mobilized and sent rescue teams to McHugh's location, while at the same time McHugh's friends began sliding him down the 1,500 foot slope.
Due to his possible skull fracture and remote location, a Navy Seahawk helicopter from Fallon Naval Air Station was requested and responded to the scene. McHugh was ultimately lowered down the slope where Mono County Paramedics and SAR team members reached him. He was transported to the ambulance via litter and then taken to Mammoth Hospital for treatment and evaluation. Responders were: Greene (Ops), Robertson, Holmquist, Maroti, Genevieve, Rousek, Thompson, Carole Schilz, Brad Schilz, French, Dodson, Corning and DeGeorge.
May 28, 2011 - Technical Rescue Low Angle Training
May 31, 2011. 11-XXX #9. Accidental SPOT activation by a visitor while at his campsite near Twin Lakes Bridgeport. Responder: Greene (Ops).
June
June 4, 2011 - Technical Rescue Steep Angle Training
June 5, 2011 - Self-Arrest Training
Path taken by fall
June 11, 2011. 11-267 #10. The Mono County Sheriff Search and Rescue Team was called out on Saturday, June 11, 2011, to help a snowboarder with a broken leg. Payam Pakbin, 28, of Los Angeles, California, was walking up a steep, icy slope with a friend near Tioga Pass when he lost his footing and slide down into a rock field, suffering a broken femur.
Other backcountry skiers in the area heard his yelling and responded to help. One of the responders skied down to his vehicle and drove down Highway 120 until he was able to contact authorities on his cell phone. Luckily for Pakbin, among those helping was local orthopedic surgeon Dr. Michael Karch. Dr. Karch skied out to Highway 120 and met up with responding SAR team personnel.
He and a rescue team member then returned to the accident scene with medical equipment to stabilize Pakbin. The SAR team requested the aid of Yosemite National Park rescue helicopter for transport purposes due to Pakbin's severe injuries. The Park Service helicopter flew in two rescuers to the accident scene, and it was able to transport Pakbin to a waiting ambulance on highway 120. He was taken to Mammoth Hospital for treatment of his injuries. Responders were: Greene (Ops), Holmquist, Schmidt, Dodson, Davenport, DeGeorge, Carole Schilz, Brad Schilz, French, Genevieve, Rousek, and Hall.
Click Here for Pictures provided by Payam Pakbin
June 12, 2011 - Helicopter Training with Bill Greene
June 18, 2011 - Technical Rescue High Angle Training
June 20, 2011. 11-??? #11. Mutual aid to Yosemite National Park, missing hiker. The missing man was was slow getting up the trail, and his party finally went on ahead near the top. When he didn't show up, they turned around expecting to encounter him on the way back down, but failed to see him. YOSAR, along with many supporting SAR teams, searched for several days without finding any clues. Responders were: Greene, Beck, and Dodson.
June 19, 2011. 11-280 #12. Regina Geyser reported that her son, Shawn, 12, became separated from his father and two brothers while hiking at Obsidian Dome. As the team was being activated, we received word that Shawn's two older brothers, Joey, 13, and Alex, 14, had also become separated from their father while the three were looking for Shawn. While the team was en route, the two older brothers were located, and finally Shawn as well, just before the team arrived on scene. Responders were: Holmquist (Ops), DeGeorge, B Schilz, C Schilz, French, Maroti. Robertson, Schmidt, Case, Corning, Vetter, Hall, and Boyd.
June 19, 2011. 11-281 #13. Sadith Price reported that three mentally disabled adults, of whom she was the caregiver, had wandered away from their June Lake Campground site. As the team was responding, one individual was located near Northshore Dr. About 15 minutes later, the other two individuals were located near the Double Eagle. Responders were: Holmquist (Ops), DeGeorge, B Schilz, C Schilz, French, Maroti, Robertson, Schmidt, Case, Corning, Vetter, Hall, and Boyd.
June 30, 2011 - First Aid and CPR Class
July
July 3-4, 2011. 11-308 #14. Olesya Oleynik, 25, and Sergey Belostotskiy, 28, both of Sunnyvale, California took a day hike with their dogs with the intention of circumnavigating Shadow Lake. They found this to be impossible due to the high discharge in the outlet stream, and climbed uphill into the Gladys Lake area. They hiked cross country along the outlet stream with the intention of reaching the San Joaquin river, but encountered steep snowy terrain, were unable to continue due to cliffs and snow, and their jeans became soaked to the waist.
They called for assistance via cell phone and the SAR team was dispatched at 8:30 P.M. Three field teams with technical equipment hiked in from Agnew Meadows. The subjects were located at 4 A.M. The Teams bivouacked until daylight, then climbed back up to Gladys Lake with Oleynik and Belostotskiy. The entire group hiked to the south towards Devils Postpile during which time Oleynik sprained her ankle twice. The party encountered a difficult stream crossing at Minaret Creek above Minaret Falls, where the bridge had washed out.
Relief teams with swiftwater equipment, inflatable raft, and a wheeled litter for Oleynik were dispatched to assist. The stream was crossed with the raft, and Oleynik was able to walk out the remaining 1.5 miles on her own without the litter. A total of nine teams were in the field. Responders were: Holmquist (Ops), Greene, French, Schmidt, Dodson, Robertson, Maroti, Hartstrom, Carole Schilz, Thompson, Brad Schilz, Corning, Vetter, Case, Beck, Gilbreath, and DeGeorge.
July 10, 2011 - Swift Water First Responder Field Training
July 13, 2011 - Blood-bourne Pathogen Training
July 15, 2011. 11-338 #15. A hiker from Los Angeles was on the June Lake Loop and wanted to go touch the snow in the Devil's Slide couloir. While hiking, he stepped on what he thought was a beehive, ran, and then became disoriented. He was visible from the road and had cell reception. He was given instructions on how to reach the Yost Creek Trail, just to the east, and as an alternative, instructions on walking back downhill to the road.
He had difficulty in following these instructions, and the SAR team was dispatched to locate and bring him to the road. The first field team located him quickly, and he was brought back to the June Lake loop within an hour of the SAR team launching. Responders were: Holmquist (Ops), DeGeorge, Greene, Schmidt, Beck, Patrick, Boyd, French, B Schilz, C Schilz, Dodson, Robertson, Case, Corning, and Hartstrom.
July 18, 2022. 11-347 #16. Two men from Reno, Nevada, planned to summit Mt. Conness and return on July 17, but were reported overdue when they failed to return. The SAR team responded, and was enroute when the subjects were encountered in good condition by a Sheriff Deputy as they were walking down the snow-closed Saddlebag Lake road. Responders were: Holmquist (Ops), and Beck.
July 18, 2011. 11-348 #17. - The Mono County Sheriff Search and Rescue (SAR) Team was called out Monday, July 18, 2011, to aid two John Muir Trail hikers who called for assistance on the River Trail below Garnet Lake. One of the pair was suffering from symptoms of a medical nature, and was unable to continue the trip.
The Mono County SAR team and helicopter 551 from Yosemite National Park were dispatched. One SAR team hiked in with equipment for a swiftwater crossing, a wheeled litter for extrication, while another SAR team with the same equipment was on standby for helicopter insertion at the Minaret Vista base.
Meanwhile, the Yosemite team on 551 was able to effect a short haul rescue of the couple and flew them to Mammoth Airport where they were met by Mono County Paramedics and the SAR team. Responders were: Holmquist (Ops), Vetter, Robertson, Schmidt, Greene, Corning, Maroti, Hartstrom, Dodson, Gilbreath, and Genevieve.
August
August 2, 2011. 11-380 #18. A 45 year-old leader of a Boy Scout group from Flagstaff, Arizona became ill several nights into a backpacking trip into the Thousand Island area. He attempted to hike out with assistance from his group, but eventually needed aid.
The SAR team and Mono County paramedics were dispatched, and the patient was transported 2.4 miles along the High Trail (PCT) by wheeled litter to the Agnew Meadows trailhead, arriving after 10 pm. The patient was then taken to Mammoth Hospital. Responders were: Holmquist (Ops), Gilbreath, DeGeorge, Greene, Dodson, Boyd, Ropke, Walker, and Cogan.
August 2-3, 2011. 11-383 #19. A group of six day hikers, from El Segundo and Cypress, California placed a call on the evening of August 2 from the Garnet Lake area indicating that the group was disoriented. The SAR team was activated. The hikers had warm clothing, matches, and extra food and water and were prepared to spend the night safely.
It was determined that the party was near the confluence of the Garnet Lake outlet stream and the Middle Fork of the San Joaquin River, and high stream flow prevented a crossing. The party was advised to hike out by way of Shadow Lake in the morning.
A SAR hasty team was sent to attempt to locate the party enroute and provide additional food and support. Search and Rescue was able to make phone contact with the party at 12:30 PM on August 3, after the group had hiked out. The hikers had successfully found the Agnew Meadows trailhead but were unable to explain their route. The SAR hasty team, which was now close to Garnet Lake, returned to the trailhead. Responders were: Holmquist (Ops), Gilbreath, Dodson, and Vetter.
August 7, 2011. 11-394 #20. A father was hiking out of the back country with his two teenage children when they became stranded at the trail crossing of Convict Creek due to deep and swift water. The bridge at this site between steep canyon walls was washed out some years ago, and hikers have been required to ford the creek.
A hiker on the downstream side of the creek was asked to get help, and he walked out and called the Sheriff's Department. The SAR Team was dispatched to the area, and 5 team members with swiftwater rescue gear staged at the Convict Lake Marina. The group was ferried across Convict Lake by boat and hiked toward the stranded party.
Prior to arriving at the location, the family was found on the trail, continuing their walk out, having been assisted across by other people in the area. There were no injuries and the group declined any medical treatment. Responders were: DeGeorge (Ops), Corning, Case, Carol Schilz, Brad Schilz, and Boyd.
August 7, 2011. 11-395 #21. A backpacker began a hike on the John Muir Trail with two friends on Wednesday, August 3, 2011. She began having nausea from the start of the trip, and was only able to hold down water and food on a very limited basis. Four days into the trip while camped at Thousand Island Lake she and her friends decided she should leave the trip and return to the trailhead where they had started via a trail that would only take her one day to do. Her friends continued with their backpacking trip to Yosemite.
Due to her weakened condition from her nausea she was only able to hike very slowly. A horse packer from Agnew Meadows Pack Outfit came upon her on the High Trail about 5 miles north of Agnew Meadows and called 911 for assistance. The Mono County Sheriff Search and Rescue Team responded, requesting the help of a California Highway Patrol helicopter for extraction. The helicopter was able to land near the backpacker and transported her to the search and rescue base set up at the Minaret Vista helispot. Mono County Paramedics were standing by, but the backpacker refused medical treatment or transport to Mammoth Hospital. Responders: Greene (Ops).
August 8-9, 2011. 11-406 #22. A family of four, from Glendale, California called for assistance from Garnet Lake on the night of August 8. The group had planned a loop hike out of Agnew Meadows to Garnet Lake. The 19 year-old son, however, had become exhausted, and the group did not think that attempting to cross either the snowfield below Garnet Lake or the San Joaquin River, both obstacles along their intended route, would be wise.
The family was not equipped to spend the night and called for assistance, but the group was immediately able to acquire shelter and food from backpackers at their location at Garnet Lake. The father and 16 year-old son hiked back to their campsite at Olaine Lake, leaving the mother and other son in a borrowed tent at Garnet Lake.
The SAR team maintained cell phone contact with all family members and a nearby backpacking group through the night. A SAR team was dispatched at dawn, carrying oxygen and other medical supplies, and the mother and 19 year old son began hiking out towards Shadow Lake at 8:30, along with two backpackers who agreed to escort the pair until the SAR team was encountered.
The SAR team reached the two family members not far south of Garnet Lake and provided the 19 year-old with oxygen and other support. The group then hiked out to the Agnew Meadows Trailhead, where further assistance was declined.
The SAR team has responded to a number of calls in the vicinity of the Garnet Lake outlet stream this summer, and the Team advises against attempting the trail from Garnet Lake to the San Joaquin and also advises against attempting a stream crossing at the confluence of the Garnet outlet stream and the San Joaquin River. Responders were: Holmquist (Ops), DeGeorge, Dodson, Corning, Schmidt, Greene, Gilbreath, and French.
August 12, 2011. 11-413 #23. A group of three backpackers from the Nevada City area -- a father, son, and the son's friend -- were backpacking near Island Pass, north of Thousand Island Lake, when the son's friend, age 12, slipped on the snow and slid into rocks. The injury was assessed on scene as a possible femur or pelvic fracture, and the SAR team was activated.
Due to the distance required for evacuation by wheeled liter and the lateness of the hour, CHP was contacted, and helicopter H40 was dispatched. The SAR team staged at the Minaret Vista helipad as a precaution in case additional personnel were needed for transporting the patient to a backcountry landing zone. The helicopter was able to fly directly to the supplied coordinates, land, and subsequently fly the patient to Fresno for treatment. Responders were: Holmquist (ops), DeGeorge, Greene, Hartstrom, Patrick, Robertson, Schmidt.
August 12-13, 2011. 11-415 #24. The Team responded to Valentine Lake to check on a 12 year old boy with possible AMS. He was fine. Responders were: DeGeorge (Ops), Greene, and Boyd.
September
September 7, 2011. 11-479 #25. A Riverside couple, ages 66 and 71, became tired while canoeing on Mono Lake. The 71 year-old wife opted to walk back to the parking area at Navy Beach, which was only about 1/2 mile to the west. After four hours, she had not appeared at the couples' vehicle, and assistance was requested.
The Mono County Sheriff's Office sent a sergeant and deputy to the area, and tracking was attempted near where the canoes had landed. Lee Vining and June Lake Fire Departments responded and began grid searching areas to the east and west of Navy Beach. Search and Rescue sent a team three miles to the east by vehicle, with instructions to park and hike the shoreline to the west, toward Navy Beach. The deputy and a SAR member began to search dirt roads by ATV.
While other tracking, hasty, and grid assignments were being made, the first SAR team reported having found the woman while enroute to their assignment. She had become disoriented and was thirsty but otherwise was in good condition. Responders were: Holmquist (Ops), Salay, Greene, Scotese, Hartstrom, Beck, Hall, French, Carole Schilz, Brad Schilz, and Ropke.
Moving injured party to helicopter
September 9-10, 2011. 11-490 #26. A call was received on the evening of September 9, indicating that a hiker in the Iceberg Lake area had a leg that was "broken from the knee down," and was also possibly going into shock. The SAR team was activated.
A medical team and a support team with a wheeled litter and additional oxygen hiked through the night to the patient's location, while a helicopter was arranged for the morning. The first team reached the patient at 12:22 on the morning of the 10th. The patient, a 74-year old backpacker from the Bronx, had fallen an unknown distance and had a number of lacerations and contusions, but was resting comfortably.
The team provided care to the patient and bivied for the night. California Highway Patrol Helicopter H40 arrived at 6:50 and transported the patient to Minaret Vista for final transport to Mammoth Hospital by Medic 3. The SAR team hiked out, arriving at Agnew Meadows at 11:00. At last check, the hospital had not found any fractures, but did remove a 3/4" diameter rock from a deep laceration in the patient's leg. Responders were: Greene (Ops), Holmquist (Ops), Schmidt, French, Case, Beck, Gilbreath, Hall, Corning, and Hartstrom.
Click Here for Pictures provided by David Gray
September 14, 2011 - Technical Rescue Knots after meeting training
September 21, 2011. 11-513 #27. A 66 year old backpacker, from Stockton, California, was reported as having difficulty speaking and standing in the Danahue Pass area, and the SAR team was activated. Due to the distance to the patient, CHP Helicopter H40 was requested from Fresno. A SAR ground team with medical equipment was also started towards the Silver Lake trailhead in June Lake for backup. The patient was successfully evacuated by H40 to Mammoth, where she was transported to Mammoth Hospital by Mono County Paramedics. Responders were: Holmquist (ops), French, Schmidt, Genevieve, Robertson, and Greene.
October
A quiet month - no operations
October 12, 2011 - First Aid Class
October 12, 2011 - Technical Rescue Radium Release Hitch after meeting training
November
November 9, 2011 - Vacuum Splint after meeting training
November 29, 2011. 11-642 #28. Residents in the Old Mammoth area reported a possible helicopter crash in the Mammoth Pass/Mammoth Mountain area. Units from MLPD responded checking the area saw what they thought was smoke in the direction the helicopter was last thought to have flown.
Madera County was notified, and the FAA was contacted to start an investigation. Intially two SAR members responded to the area with an aircraft beacon (ELT) direction finder. Several readings were taken but no signal was heard. Contact was made with Mammoth Mountain, and personnel from the resort went to the top of Mammoth Mountain on snowmobiles but could confirm no evidence of a crash in the descending darkness from that vantage point.
Contact was made with Hot Creek Aviation who confirmed a Eurocopter was refueled at Mammoth Airport prior to the incident. The helicopter had two people on board and was enroute to Livermore. A message was left on the pilot's cell phone to call the Sheriff's Department to determine if there had been a crash. At 1818, dispatch advised that the Livermore airport had been in radio contact with the helicopter and there had been no crash.
During and after the call, an impromptu training event was held for the responders in operation of the ELT direction finders. Responders were: DeGeorge (Ops), Greene, Dodson, French, Corning, Vetter, Weatherly, Maroti, Robertson, Bold, and Cogan.
December
Annual Awards Dinner - December 11, 2011 - Convict Lake Restaurant
Each year, the Team honors members for their individual excellence and public service. Two annual awards are given by the Team each year to honor members who have excelled.
The team's main honor for achievement is the Pete Schoerner Rescue Member of the Year award. The award is named in memory of a beloved teammate who was killed in an ice climbing accident in 1996.
The Pete Schoerner Rescue Member of the Year for 2011 is Rick Dodson. Rick serves the Team as Equipment Officer, Board of Directors member, and participated in 51 team events in 2011, including 14 field missions. Since 2010, Rick has served the County on 102 team events, including 30 rescues and searches. He has a wide variety of skills, and is one of the team's key players in all types of missions.
Rick Dodson - 2011 Rescue Member of the Year
Gary Boyd - 2011 Candidate Member of the Year
New members in training are called Candidate Members, and must undergo training, practice, and testing in eighteen skill categories before being considered for advancement to Rescue Member. Examples of these skills include first aid and victim care, tracking, technical rescue, mountain navigation, helicopter operations, and skill with electronic aids such as computers, radios, avalanche transceivers, and GPS receivers. Completion of all requirements takes a lot of dedication and faithfulness over a period that is typically a year or more.
The team honors one candidate member each year with the Rick Mosher Candidate Member of the Year Award. Rick Mosher is the only team member to have died in the line of duty and was killed while searching in a small airplane that crashed during an operation on August 15, 1979.
This year the team selected Gary Boyd as the Rick Mosher Candidate Member of the Year. Gary has been very active and faithful in both his training and in rescue operations, and quickly advanced to Rescue Member status. He has participated in 59 Team events, including 17 searches and rescues since he began his training in March of 2010. Gary also has a busy life as the CEO of Mammoth Hospital.
The 2011 honorees were presented with laser engraved cherry plaques.
December 13, 2011 - Aircraft Emergency Locating Transmitter (ELT) after meeting training
December 15, 2011 - Lake Ice Rescue field training
December 21, 2011. Incident 11/22/007 #29. The Team was alerted for the possibility of an aircraft down. Members responded with ELT receivers. No ELT signals were heard, and further response was cancelled. Responders were: DeGeorge (Ops), Beck, and Hartstrom.
December 29, 2011. 11-682 #30. A group of five parasailers from Truckee climbed one of the Mono Craters for a launch point. The first one airborne was in the process of making turns above the west aspect of the craters when he lost altitude as the result of a turn and collided with the mountainside about 500 feet above the valley floor.
The group went to his aid, finding him initially in and out of consciousness, and also complaining of back and leg pain. The group then called 911 requesting assistance. Mono County Paramedics, the SAR Team, Lee Vining Fire, and a Care Flight helicopter responded to the area.
The Paramedics and 10 search and rescue members climbed up the mountainside to the victim. Following a medical evaluation/stabilization, he was transported down the side of the crater via technical low angle lowering to the helicopter. He was then flown to Renown Medical Center for further treatment. Responders were: Holmquist (Ops), Schmidt, Robertson, Carole Schilz, Brad Schilz, Vetter, Walker, Corning, Thompson, Beck, Greene, and DeGeorge (IC).