Highlights of The Year 2014
Compiled by Webmaster and Jim Gilbreath

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.

Mono County Sheriff Search and Rescue Team
2014 Operations Summary

by Jim Gilbreath

The Team responded to 31 calls

There were 41 victims/subjects involved

The Team was in the field for 275 hours, with a total of 1587 man-hours volunteered. The average duration of a mission was 9 hours with an average of 8 members responding, and an average of 52 man-hours per call.

The maximum turnout was 14 members, with 138 man-hours.

2 missions were snow related. None involved aviation.

10 missions involved injuries, with 3 fatalities.

Mission Categories:

We were able to obtain helicopter aid for 16 missions

Of the 41 subjects there were:

Training man-hours totaled 3272.

January

A quiet month with no operations

Officers for 2014 were approved: President - Dan Corning, Vice President - Jutta Schmidt, Equipment Officer - Rick Dodson, Training Officer - Barry Beck, Secretary - Jon Robertson, Member - Jeff Holmquist, Member - Glenn Goryl, Member - Jim Gilbreath, Member - Heidi Vetter, Financial Officer - Bill Greene.

January 4, 2014 - Lake Ice Rescue Training - at Gull Lake

Megan and Barb in the latest fashions
Megan and Barb in the latest fashions
Going out on the ice
Going out on the ice

More Lake Ice Rescue Training Pictures

January 5, 2014 - Vertical Ice Training - held at roadside ice by Silver Lake

Pete near the steeper fun section
Pete near the steeper fun section
Dan on the way up
Dan on the way up

More Vertical Ice Training Pictures

January 17, 2014 - Polaris and Ranger Training

Ranger right, Polaris left
Ranger left, Polaris right
Ranger left, Polaris right
Ranger left, Polaris right

Jeff Holmquist modeling expanded avalanche air bag
Jeff Holmquist modeling expanded avalanche air bag

February

Equipment Officer and Board Member Rick Dodson will be hiking the Pacific Crest Trail beginning in April. He will start at the Mexican border below San Diego, and walk 2665 miles to Manning Park, Canada.

He expects to hike through the normally snowy Southern Sierra in good time, and get to the Mammoth area sometime in June.

September is a goal for Canada. Great adventure! There are at least two other Team members who have done it - Steve Case and Ron Hall.

Glenn Goryl is our new Equipment Officer.

John and Leslie McGrath from Ski Patrol presented a very interesting program at the February meeting on avalanche air bags.

They even did a live demonstration by pulling the rip-cord. Take a look at Jeff wearing his snow-wings. Very angelic, don't you think?

See more information here.


February 4, 2014 - Search Dog Training at Mammoth Scenic Loop

The reward after the find
The reward after the find
What a great day to be out!
What a great day to be out!

More Search Dog Training Pictures

February 15, 2014 - Polaris and Ranger Training - February in the Sierra ... sand instead of snow!

Checking out the area map. The team has had a number of prior missions in the training area at Dead Man Summit
Checking out the area map. The team has had a number of prior missions in the training area at Dead Man Summit
Ranger and its trailer on the left
Ranger and its trailer on the left, Polaris on the right

More Polaris and Ranger Training Pictures


Heavy damage as a result of the rollover
Heavy damage as a result of the rollover
More Pictures

February 27, 2014. 14-163, #1 Two non-residents were driving up a steep road to the Champion Spark Plug Mine in Jeffrey Mine Canyon. The vehicle left the roadway and rolled over repeatedly down into a steep canyon sustaining heavy damage.

Both victims sustained injuries in the accident but were able to extricate themselves and call 911 on a cell/satellite phone. Multiple agencies were dispatched and responded to the accident scene. The responders included Chalfant Valley FD, White Mountain FD, CHP, Symons Ambulance, USFS, CDF, Mono County Sheriffs Deputies, and Mono County SAR.

The Ranger ATV was launched and assigned to conduct a patient assessment and possible transfer with personnel already on scene. One of the victims had been secured on a backboard in the rear of a USFS pickup truck and the other back seat of a CVFD Expedition with both enroute down the mountainside.

Upon patient contact and assessment with the treating medical personnel, it was determined the victims were adequately packaged for transport so no transfer was conducted. The victims were taken by ambulance to the hospital. Responders were: DeGeorge (Ops), Greene, Glenn Goryl, and Andrea Goryl.

March

March 1-2, 2014 - Joint Avalanche Training With Ventura County SAR by Jeff Holmquist

Discussion of weather factors - how to evaluate the snow pack
Discussion of weather factors - how to evaluate the snow pack
Mono SAR Team doing a probe line
Mono SAR Team doing a probe line

More Avalanche Training Pictures

March 2, 2014 - Snowmobile Training - Some of it was more like getting unstuck practice! Enjoying some of the latest snow in the high country.

Checking out and launching the machines
Checking out and launching the machines
Bringing along the right safety gear
Bringing along the right safety gear

More Snowmobile Training Pictures

March 8, 2014 - Snowmobile Training With Litter Sled

This snowmobile training concentrated on practice using the patient transport litter ("the BUS") with several machines in different snow conditions.

Snowmobile training with litter
What a great day to be out! - Jon Robertson, Glenn Goryl, Natai Endo
Snowmobile training with litter
Always plan ahead when towing the litter. It adds lots of extra weight and drag behind a snowmobile. You have to keep up momentum, plan where you will turn and stop with in and it takes practice to see what you can do with it in varied snow conditions

More Snowmobile With Sled Training Pictures

March 12, 2014 - Recco Training at Team Meeting

The Recco Unit is designed to detect reflector chips attached to ski clothing or embedded in ski equipment. More information here.

Dan Corning demonstrating the Recco Unit
Dan Corning demonstrating the Recco Unit
Steve Case testing the Recco Unit
Steve Case testing the Recco Unit

RECCO® reflectors are not transceivers. They are thin, card-size units that are embedded by some manufacturers into ski products such as jackets, pants, boots, helmets—and even inside the Ortovox 3+ and S1+ transceiver models.

RECCO reflectors complement—but do NOT replace—the use of avalanche transceivers. These passive reflectors enhance the radio signals sent by the RECCO detector units used by many search-and-rescue organizations. This may mean quicker acquisition of a victim's position in an avalanche.

The RECCO system offers many benefits:

  • The reflector is a passive, battery-free device that requires no action or education on the part of the wearer.
  • It is imbedded in the gear, so it's likely to stay with the person buried in an avalanche.
  • When a signal is received, RECCO detectors lead the operator in a direct line to the victim. These signals can be picked up by either ground- or helicopter-based searchers.
  • RECCO signals are not related to, nor do they interfere with, transceiver searches, so both approaches can be used in the same area at the same time.

From REI



SAR Recruitment March 19, 2014

SAR Recruitment Meeting
SAR Recruitment Meeting

2014 Candidate Class

Mike Britton Lisa Cowan Joe Cucura John Dubrawsky Luke Hammack Cheryl Hart
John Haugh Nick Holt Caara Hunter Jeff Hunter Gerald Kosen Tony Saway
Donald Soucy Candice Tonseth Dan Tonseth Lia Webb

April

Evidence search - Chidago Loop area

April 6, 2014. 14-251, #2 At about 0800, the Team was called out to aid in a search for human remains in the Chidago Loop area.

Six SAR team members responded and staged at Chidago Loop Rd.

The area was searched with a RECCO device for any electronics present and the team conducted visual line searches as well.

The line searches of the area yielded discovery of a number of weathered bone fragments.

The items were photographed in place, GPS coordinates taken and then collected by investigators.

The case remains under investigation by the Sheriff's Department. Responders were: DeGeorge (Ops), Greene, Holmquist, Schmidt, Scotese, and Case.


April 8, 2014 - Ben & Jerry's Free Cone Day Fund Raiser

Ben & Jerry's Free Cone Day Fund Raiser
Ben & Jerry's Free Cone Day Fund Raiser

Ben & Jerry's Free Cone Day Fund Raiser

Ben & Jerry's Free Cone Day Fund Raiser

April 9, 2014 - Team Meeting - New Candidates

The dangers of Bloodborne Pathogens is explained by Barry Beck. New Candidates were sworn in by Sargent Tim Minder.

Bloodborne Pathogens explained by Barry Beck
Bloodborne Pathogens explained by Barry Beck
New Candidates sworn in by Sargent Tim Minder
New Candidates sworn in by Sargent Tim Minder

April 12, 2014. 14-251, #3 At about 0700, the Team was called for further searching in the Chidago Loop area. The area was searched by line searches as well as directed area searches. The line searches of the area yielded discovery of a number of weathered bone fragments and discovery of a depression/disturbed area in the ground which was excavated. Found items were photographed in place, GPS coordinates taken and then collected by investigators. The case remains under investigation by the Sheriff's Department. Responders were: DeGeorge (Ops), Endo, Andrea Goryl, Porges, Merchant, and Corning.

April 12, 2014 - Candidate Basic Training Class was conducted for the incoming candidate members.

Jim Gilbreath reviewing team procedures
Jim Gilbreath reviewing team procedures
Practice moving a patient by wheeled litter
Practice moving a patient by wheeled litter

Learning how to assemble the litter
Learning how to assemble the litter
Moving the litter in varied terrain
Moving the litter in varied terrain

April 16, 2014 - Communications Training

Communications Training
Communications Training

Communications Training

April 24, 2014. 14-290 #4 At dusk on the afternoon of April 24, 2014 the Mono County Sheriff Search & Rescue (SAR) Team was called out to search for a missing person. Approximately 1 mile north of Highway 203 on Highway 395 the subject left his family and walked into the forest west of the highway. The SAR team was called out to search for the subject due to concerns of a pre-existing medical condition, and the lack of proper clothing for the expected cold night temperatures. Shortly after the SAR team began to track the subject's footprints he telephoned a family member and reported that he had come back to the highway and had hitchhiked to Lone Pine. Responders were: Greene (Ops), French, Glenn Goryl, Scotese, Julao, Guffey, and Ackerman.

May

Injured hiker on Rush Creek Trail rescued via wheeled litter
Injured hiker on Rush Creek Trail rescued via wheeled litter

May 5, 2014. 14-340 #5 A 34 year old woman from Berkeley, CA started in Yosemite on a solo hike. After coming over Donahue Pass she joined up with two other hikers.

On the Rush Creek Trail she twisted her left ankle on some rocks and fell to the ground. Upon attempting to walk she was unable to weight her ankle and was experiencing a high level of pain.

One of her companions walked out to get help.

The Team responded with eleven members and staged at the Rush Creek trailhead at Silver Lake.

Ground teams hiked to the victim's location, did a patient assessment, and evacuated her to the trailhead by wheeled litter.

Once at the trailhead, the injury was further stabilized/splinted. The victim refused further treatment, signing a Release of Care Against Medical Advice form. The RP drove her back to her vehicle parked at Tuolumne Meadows. She intended to seek medical treatment near her residence.

Responders were: Vetter (Ops), Corning, Greene, Dodson, Andrea Goryl, Glenn Goryl, Schmidt, Holmquist, Toussaint, DeGeorge, and Hammack.


Injured hiker on Rush Creek Trail rescued via wheeled litter
Injured hiker on Rush Creek Trail rescued via wheeled litter

May 14, 2014 - Team Meeting - Sheriff's Office BBQ for the team The May meeting was held at the Sheriff's Office in Bridgeport to give new members a tour of the facilities, issue ID Cards and enjoy a BBQ provided by the Sheriff's Office. Pack Checks for new members were also conducted.

Sheriff's Office Barbeque
Sheriff's Office Barbeque
Sheriff's Office Barbeque
Sheriff's Office Barbeque

Sheriff's Office Barbeque
Sheriff's Office Barbeque
Pack check in the street for Caara and Jeff Hunter
Pack check in the street for Caara and Jeff Hunter

Dan Tonseth with the 'little' wheel
Dan Tonseth with the 'little' wheel
Cheryl shows how to pack a litter half
Cheryl shows how to pack a litter half

Injured Forest Service Trail Crew worker evacuated by helicopter
Injured Forest Service Trail Crew worker evacuated by helicopter

May 22, 2014. 14-364 #6 A 20 year old Forest Service trail maintenance crew member sustained a knee injury near Davis Lake #2.

The Team requested the assistance of California Highway Patrol Helicopter H40 based in Fresno, California.

H40 was able to land in a meadow 1/3 of a mile from the trail crew's campsite, and with the assistance of other trail crew members they carried the injured man to the meadow landing zone.

He was flown to Mammoth Yosemite Airport, and then taken by Mono County Paramedic Ambulance to Mammoth Hospital for treatment. Responders were: Greene (Ops), Andrea Goryl, and Glenn Goryl.


May 31, 2014 - Steep Angle Rigging Training

Steep Angle Rigging Training
Steep Angle Rigging Training

Steep Angle Rigging Training
Steep Angle Rigging Training

More Steep Angle Rigging Training Pictures

June

June 3, 2014 - Litter Attendant Training

Litter Attendant Training
Litter Attendant Training

Litter Attendant Training
Litter Attendant Training
Litter Attendant Training
Litter Attendant Training

More Litter Attendant Training Pictures

June 6, 2014 - High/Vertical Angle Rigging Training

High Angle Rigging Training included reviewing knots used in the rigging, how to rig anchors and the safety and hauling lines, practice retrieving a "victim" by lowering and by raising in a harness, practice retrieving a "victim" by lowering and by raising in a litter. Proper verbal communications via radio headsets was part of the practice. Safety of both the "victim" and the rescuers was stressed. Methods for protecting the ropes from abrasion on the rock were discussed and utilized.

The movie shows the raising and lowering practice. The pictures add additional information. Movie and pictures by Jim Gilbreath.

High/Vertical Angle Rigging Training
High/Vertical Angle Rigging Training

High/Vertical Angle Rigging Training
High/Vertical Angle Rigging Training

High/Vertical Angle Rigging Training
High/Vertical Angle Rigging Training

More High Angle Rigging Training Pictures

June 16, 2014 - Helicopter Training with California Highway Patrol

Helicopter Training

Helicopter Training

Helicopter Training
Helicopter Training

Helicopter Training

Helicopter Training

More Helicopter Training Pictures

June 16-17, 2014. 14-431 #7 Mutual aid to Inyo County. A 60-year old man from Dumont, New Jersey was reported overdue at camp by his hiking partners during a hiking trip on Mt Whitney. Search teams from Inyo and China Lake began searching on the night of the 15th, and the Mono County Sheriff Search and Rescue Team was activated on the 16th. Mono assignments on the 16th and 17th were centered in the 99 Switchbacks and Consultation Lake areas. Additional teams joined the search, and the body of the hiker was spotted in steep terrain to the west of Mirror Lake on the 19th. His remains were recovered on the 20th. Responders were: Holmquist (Ops), Andrea Goryl, and Glenn Goryl

Long night, but ready to hike out
Long night, but ready to hike out


June 21, 2014. 14-441 #8 Mutual aid to Tuolumne County. The Team was called out to assist the Tuolumne County Sheriff's Department with rescuing a stranded backpacker.

While on a three-day trip a backpacker slid down a snowfield just west of the Mono County/Tuolumne County border approximately six miles south of Highway 108.

Due to her precarious situation on the edge of a cliff, her hiking partner called for help using his cell phone.

CHP helicopter H40 from Fresno was tasked with inserting two Tuolumne County technical search and rescue personnel. They were able to reach the uninjured subject just as the sun was setting.

Mono County SAR personnel hiked into the location that night to bring in additional rescue gear and over-night gear.

All parties hiked out the following morning to the SAR base located at Leavitt Lake. Responders were: Greene (Ops), Andrea Goryl, Glenn Goryl, Hartstrom, Hammack, Case, Dodson, Endo, and Roski


Ops 14-441
Ops 14-441

June 21, 2014 - Swiftwater Rescue Training

Swiftwater Rescue Training
Swiftwater Rescue Training

Swiftwater Rescue Training
Swiftwater Rescue Training

More Swiftwater Rescue Training Pictures

CHP Helicopter off-loads rescued backpacker
CHP Helicopter off-loads rescued backpacker

June 24, 2014. 14-449, CAL OES 2014-LAW-3934 #9 Mutual Aid to Fresno County. A Muir Trail hiker from Florida became disoriented in the Cascade Valley area. For 24 hours she attempted to re-locate the trail and became ill in the process.

She activated her SPOT personal locator beacon, sending out a distress signal via satellite communications.

Fresno County was notified and a helicopter from CHP responded to the area to attempt the rescue.

Due to the location and weather conditions, the helicopter was unable to land. The crew was unable to determine the severity and nature of the hiker's situation from the air, and flew to Mammoth Airport and requested the Mono County Sheriff's Search and Rescue Team to assist with a hoist operation.

Team members responded to the airport. A SAR Team member who is an EMT accompanied the H40 crew back to the hiker's location and was lowered down to evaluate her medical condition.

No medical treatment was needed and she was hoisted out, with the SAR member, and flown to the Mammoth airport.

No further medical treatment was needed and she was taken to a hotel in Mammoth Lakes. Responders were: DeGeorge (Ops), Andrea Goryl, and Glenn Goryl.


June 28-29, 2014 - Overnight Camping Training - A series of different scenarios were "played" to familiarize everyone with typical search and rescue situations - based at the Sherwin Lakes trailhead.

The Team participants
The Team participants
Base at Sherwin Lakes Trailhead
Base at Sherwin Lakes Trailhead
Caara driving the 1-wheeler big rig
Caara driving the 1-wheeler big rig

Our version of a working lunch
Our version of a working lunch
Lowering 'Randy'
Lowering 'Randy'

Garmin GPS mysteries solved
Garmin GPS mysteries solved
He ain't my brother, but he's heavy
He ain't my brother, but he's heavy

Bringing  out 'Randy'
Bringing out 'Randy'

July

Nikon Scope and Canon Binoculars

The Team has acquired a fine piece of Nikon optical equipment - a Model 85P Fieldscope with a detachable eyepiece for 20X to 60X zoom. It makes a great optical companion for our recently acquired Canon image stabilized binoculars. Bill Greene ordered and configured a hard case to contain and protect both of them.

Fourth Of July Parade

July 4, 2014 - Fourth Of July Parade The team participated in the Mammoth Lakes Fourth of July Parade.

July 4, 2014. 14-485 #10 The Mono County Sheriff Search and Rescue team was notified at 5 am that a pair of backpackers from Los Angeles (brothers, 40 and 45 years old) were overdue, as of the previous evening, from a trip between McGee Creek and Coldwater Campground. Upon inquiry with family, it was learned that the brothers believed that the hike was only fourteen miles in length and had planned to do the hike in 24 hours including one night of camping and with fishing en route. The journey is in fact 24 miles long, and it seemed likely that the brothers were simply delayed because of the underestimation of trip length. At 2 pm, the family received a cell call indicating that the party was nearing Red's Meadow. Lacking a map, the two had departed from their intended route and had found themselves hiking along trails through Cascade and Fish Valleys, moving downslope and west towards the San Joaquin River.

The family drove to meet the brothers at the trailhead and reported that the two had been sighted approaching the parking lot. A follow-up call to the family revealed that the brothers had in fact separated in the morning in Fish Valley and that only one brother had exited the backcountry. The brothers were moving at different paces and had decided to separate so that the family could be notified as soon as possible. The slower-moving hiker was expected to be one to two hours behind the brother who had exited. The SAR team had been in contact with Devils Postpile National Monument concerning an earlier disoriented hiker who had hiked south instead of north as she attempted to return to the trailhead from Rainbow Falls. The law enforcement ranger who had located this person on the trail was contacted by the Postpile, and she hiked below Rainbow Falls to see if she could either locate the slower hiker or someone who had seen him, in order to confirm his progress towards the trailhead. She did not make contact with anyone who had seen the hiker. Given the heat, shortening day, and likely minimal remaining food, the decision was made to send SAR hikers down the trail in search of the backpacker. Seconds before the callout was made to the team, the ranger reported that she had encountered the remaining brother, and the two of them exited the trail together. Responders were: Holmquist, Devils Postpile National Monument

July 8, 2014. 14-497 #11 A woman and her husband were hiking with 3 llamas in the area of Burro Pass, toward Matterhorn Peak. She was injured and was flown out by YOSAR on July 6. Her husband began hiking out with the 3 llamas, but had difficulty with them, and did not get out when expected on July 8. A search was organized, but before it got started he arrived at the Twin Lakes trailhead. The llamas were still in the backcountry. Responders were: Corning (Ops), DeGeorge (IC), and Vetter.

July 8, 2014. 14-494 #12 Mutual aid to Tuolumne County, Dodge Ridge. Search for an overdue couple who were not prepared to be out overnight. The PLS was at Burst Rock, last seen at 1200 July 6. The subjects were located just before Mono SAR members arrived at 0700, and were hiking out with Tuolumne SAR members. Mono SAR members carried food and supplies to teams in the field. Responders were: Dodson, and Glenn Goryl.

July 18-19, 2014. 14-529 #13 On Friday July 18, 2014, the Team responded to a call for help from the parents of a 22 year old backpacker who was separated from friends on the Pacific Crest Trail and lost in the general area of Cora Lake, which is about 12 trail miles south of Highway 108. The subject was able to send a text message that he was waiting to be rescued. Search teams reported at 4 AM, and were given assignments covering three routes toward Cora Lake. California Highway Patrol helicopter H40 from Fresno was requested to join the search. Another text message from the subject indicated a more precise location. In rapidly deteriorating weather and increasing winds the crew of H40 was able to extract and transport the subject to Mammoth airport in late afternoon. Ground teams were in the field for 14 hours, and logged 120 hiking miles. Responders were: Vetter (Ops), DeGeorge (IC), Corning, Greene, Glenn Goryl, Andrea Goryl, Jeff Hunter, Caara Hunter, Hartstrom, Ackerman, Beck, Hammack, Dodson, and Hall.

Cell phone tower plots - from Bill Greene
Cell phone tower plots - from Bill Greene

July 18, 2014. 14-546 #14 Friday afternoon a couple were returning from a multi-day guided backcountry pack trip. Approximately 1.5 miles from the Agnew Meadows pack station both of their mules spooked and both were thrown. The male suffered a bruised leg and the female sustained more serious injuries with her chief complaint being her shoulder and ribs. The Team responded with eleven volunteer members, and after medical evaluation put her in a full body splint and evacuated her with a single wheel litter. At the trail head she was transferred to the care of the paramedic crew who took her to Mammoth hospital. Eight team members were in the field with three members in base. Responders were: Corning (Ops), Hall, Beck, Dodson, Greene, Leyen, Britton, Robertson, Maroti, Roski, French, and Carole Schilz.

July 20, 2014. 14-452 #15 Shortly after midnight on Sunday morning the Team was called out for two climbers that were stranded on Clyde Minaret. The two had begun the climb on Saturday, July 19, but due to thunderstorms during the day they were unable to complete the climb before darkness fell, becoming stranded at the 12,000 elevation. Due to hypothermia and dehydration they were unable to complete the climb and descent on Sunday morning. The Team was able to obtain the assistance of two helicopters, H40 from the California Highway Patrol based in Fresno, and the other from the California National Guard based in Stockton. The CHP helicopter crew was able to hoist one of the climbers, but due to the arrival of heavy rain and clouds they were unable to rescue the second climber. Once the rain and clouds cleared two hours later, the National Guard helicopter was able to retrieve the second climber. Both climbers were flown to the SAR base located at Minaret Vista. Neither climber required medical treatment after an initial evaluation by the Mono County Paramedics. Responders were: Greene (Ops), DeGeorge (IC), Beck, Case, Dodson, Glenn Goryl, Hartstrom, Scotese, Thompson, Barnum, Endo, Roski, Hammack, and Cucura.

CHP H40 landing at Minaret Vista SAR Base
CHP H40 landing at Minaret Vista SAR Base
Taking a 'care package' to CHP H40 to take to the stranded party. They spent a cold/wet night on Clyde Minaret
Taking a 'care package' to CHP H40 to take to the stranded party. They spent a cold/wet night on Clyde Minaret

We also had the help of this military Chinook, twin rotor helicopter. Can you say FLYING BUS?
We also had the help of this military Chinook, twin rotor helicopter. Can you say FLYING BUS?
The Chinook heading in
The Chinook heading in

The last subject was successfully hoisted out and brought back to SAR Base at Minaret Vista
The last subject was successfully hoisted out and brought back to SAR Base at Minaret Vista
The de-brief once everyone was wrapped up. It is always good to review and learn from a mission
De-brief once everyone was wrapped up. It is always good to review and learn from a mission

July 28, 2014. 14-564 #16 To access a family mining claim on steep and rocky slopes above Mill Creek in Lundy Canyon, two brothers from Utah and Nevada climbed up with backpacks and tools. They became stranded in rainy weather on a steep slope and were unable to go up or down safely. They talked to a family member below with Family Radio transceivers, who drove down to the Forest Service fire station to call for help. The Team responded and climbed up above the subjects, then belayed a member down with harnesses and helmets for the cold and wet miners. They were belayed and assisted in climbing up to safety, then escorted down to the trailhead. There were no injuries. Responders were: Greene(Ops), DeGeorge (IC), Cucura, Endo, Cowan, Hammack, Candice Tonseth, Dan Tonseth, Dodson, Gilbreath, and Glenn Goryl.

Lundy Canyon Rescue - A long way up
Lundy Canyon Rescue - A long way up
Lundy Canyon Rescue - UP we go
Lundy Canyon Rescue - UP we go

Lundy Canyon Rescue
Lundy Canyon Rescue
Lundy Canyon Rescue - Down we go
Lundy Canyon Rescue - Down we go

Lundy Canyon Rescue - Joe got the fallen Black Bag
Lundy Canyon Rescue - Joe got the fallen Black Bag
Lundy Canyon Rescue - Last few steps
Lundy Canyon Rescue - Last few steps

August

August 2, 2014. 14-577 #17 At approximately 3 p.m. on Saturday, August 2, 2014, the Mono County Sheriff's Department received a call for aid of a father and son climbing team on Mount Ritter, a popular peak to climb located 13 miles northwest of Mammoth Lakes, California. The two, from Washington, D.C., had reached a point on their descent that was blocked by a waterfall, and they were unable to continue their descent from the peak due to the high volume of water coming down the steep slope. The Mono County Sheriff Search and Rescue Team responded, along with a helicopter from the California Highway Patrol based in Auburn, California. The helicopter inserted a two person search and rescue climbing team in the valley 400 feet below the father and son. Due to favorable wind conditions, the helicopter was then able to hover over the father and son, and was able to load them in the helicopter while maintaining a hover next to the rock ledge where they were stranded. It took them to Mammoth Yosemite Airport, and then went back to the scene and extracted the two search and rescue members. Responders were: Greene (Ops), DeGeorge (IC), Dodson, Holmquist, Webb, Buccowich, Endo, Glenn Goryl, Cucura, Roski, Case, Thompson and Hammack.

August 4, 2014. 14-581 #18 Shortly after 1 AM, the Team was called to respond to Frog Lake in the Virginia Lakes area in aid of a man with severe medical symptoms. The victim had hiked back to his camp at Frog Lake following dinner and drinks at Mammoth Bluesapalooza. During the hike, he had no jacket and had become chilled by light rain. He told the RP he did not feel good and after a short time, was unable to feel his feet or his hands. After a couple hours, was unable to move his extremities and alternated between being lucid and then losing consciousness. The RP ran to the Virginia Lakes trail head and phoned 911. The Team was called out and Mono County paramedics were also dispatched to the scene. He was assessed for effects of hypothermia and stabilized, and a medical carry out was conducted. The subject was transported to Mammoth Hospital for further treatment. Responders were: Holmquist (Ops), DeGeorge (IC), Schmidt, Robertson, Cucura, Britton, Dodson, Glenn Goryl, Hammack, Beck, and Leyen.

Ops 14-582 - Preparing to evacuate subject
Ops 14-582 - Preparing to evacuate subject

August 4, 2014. 14-582 #19 About 1 PM, a 16 year-old boy was injured while hiking in the Deer Springs area on the PCT with his family on a 10 day trip. He jumped from a rock and twisted his ankle, sustaining an injury to the top of his foot. He was initially in a high level of pain and unable to carry a backpack or continue to hike. His father called 911.

The Team was called out, and hiked in about 5 miles over Mammoth Pass. His injury was splinted and he was able to walk out of the back country with the aid of crutches and the SAR team members. Once back at Horseshoe Lake, he declined further medical treatment. He and his family were transported to lodging in Mammoth Lakes by SAR personnel. Responders were: DeGeorge (Ops & IC), Brad Schilz, Carole Schilz, Robertson, Webb, Dodson, Corning, Scotese, Dan Tonseth, Glenn Goryl, Barnum, Roski, and Greene.

China Lake Naval Air Station helicopter delivering subject to Mammoth Airport
China Lake Naval Air Station helicopter delivering subject to Mammoth Airport

August 5, 2014. 14-585 #20 A 68 year old man was camping with two of his friends at Big McGee Lake when he was injured when he fell on rocks during building of a line for hanging food. He sustained a significant laceration to his right knee with extensive bleeding.

His friends were able to come to his aid and then sent out a distress signal with a SPOT beacon. The signal was relayed to staff at the California Office of Emergency Services. Upon confirming the location, the Mono County Sheriff's Department was contacted to conduct a rescue.

Ten SAR members staged at McGee Creek trail head, and ground teams hiked toward the victim's location with medical equipment while a helicopter was being sought. A Navy Seahawk helicopter crew from China Lake Naval Air Station responded, and just before midnight was able to land near the victim.

Following a patient assessment, he was flown to Mammoth Airport and transferred to Mono County Paramedics, who transported him to Mammoth Hospital for medical treatment. Responders were: Vetter (Ops), Corning (Ops), Greene, Hammack, DeGeorge (IC), Dodson, Robertson, Gilbreath, Barnum, and Britton.

August 6, 2014, 14-587 #21 On the evening of Wednesday, August 6, 2014, at approximately 6:00pm, Mono County Sheriff's Dispatch received notification that a SPOT device had been activated on the PCT Trail near Upper Piute Meadows. Two ultra-marathon runners were attempting to run from Tuolumne Meadows to Sonora Pass in 24 hours. They departed Tuolumne Meadows around noon, carrying only minimal food and supplies. Numerous storm cells were passing through the area, and they got wet, cold, and were concerned about stream crossings and flooding. Team members responded to the incident, and readied food and shelter to be hiked in to the runners. A Navy Seahawk rescue helicopter crew from the Top Gun school at Fallon Naval Air Station located the runners, safely hoisted them aboard the helicopter and transported them to the Bridgeport Airport. Mono County Paramedics assessed the runners, one of whom was experiencing stage-two hypothermia. After providing warmth and food, SAR team members transported the runners to their vehicle parked in Tuolumne Meadows. Responders were: Vetter (Ops), DeGeorge, Greene, Hammack, and Dodson.

August 12, 2014. 14-595 #22 A 911 call from a day hiker indicated that he and his fiancé were lost in the San Joaquin River valley. They had walked from Reds Meadows to Rainbow Falls, but then became lost trying to get back up to Reds Meadows. The woman was diabetic, and did not have any medication with her on the hike. She was chilled and felt she would soon be ill and unable to hike. At this point they were nearly six miles south of Reds Meadows. The Team staged at Minaret Vista, and were able to get air support for a search from Yosemite National Park helicopter 551. The helo crew was briefed and then flew to the subject's location, landed, and loaded both subjects for transport to SAR base at Minaret Vista. The diabetic subject was assessed by Mono County Paramedics, signed a medical waiver, and was transported to her vehicle at Mammoth Mountain. Responders were: Greene (Ops), DeGeorge (IC), Cucura, Barnum, Dodson, Endo, Hartstrom, Gilbreath and Hammack.

August 13, 2014. 14-598 #23 A family of 4 and another party of 7 were climbing Mt. Conness. The leader told the others he would take his family up a steep route of the mountain and meet the others who were taking an easier route at the top. The other group got to the top but the family of 4 never showed up.

The Reporting Party then called 911 for Search and Rescue from the summit, reporting the family overdue. El Dorado County Sheriff Department and Alpine County Sheriff Departments put their SAR teams on standby. YOSAR staff did an urgency assessment and could only commit searchers for daylight the next day. A Mono County Sheriff deputy confirmed the vehicles were at the trailhead, consistent with them still being on the mountain. Six Mono SAR team members responded to Saddlebag Lake. Upon their arrival, several head lamps could be seen descending the area south east of Mt. Conness. Phone contact revealed the family was okay and with the others. There were no injuries, and further efforts were suspended. Responders were: DeGeorge (Ops), Dodson, Case, Robertson, Cucura, and Hammack.

Ops 14-599 - Transporting subject from Arrowhead Lake via wheeled litter
Ops 14-599 - Transporting subject from Arrowhead Lake via wheeled litter

August 14, 2014. 14-599 #24 At approximately 2 p.m., a 32 year-old woman sustained a leg fracture by striking a tree while swinging from a rope out over Arrowhead Lake.

The SAR team, Mono County Paramedics, and Mammoth Lakes Fire Department personnel hiked to her location, stabilized the fracture, and transported her 1-1/2 miles to the ambulance at the trailhead using a wheeled litter.

The rescuers were assisted in the carryout by a group of cross-country runners from California State University San Marcos. She was taken to Mammoth Hospital for treatment. Responders were: Greene (Ops), DeGeorge (IC), Dodson, Guffey, and Gilbreath.

August 15, 2014. 14-607 #25 Two hikers were attempting to climb a ridge in the Sawtooth Range near Bridgeport. During the ascent, they were climbing a 45 degree ice field with ice axes. One of the climbers, a 31 year old visiting from Japan, fell when his ice axe failed to hold during a self arrest. He slid and tumbled 125 feet down the ice into the rocks below. He sustained serious injuries to his arms, ribs and abdomen with bone visible on an arm injury. There was heavy bleeding. The subject asked his friend to pressure dress both of his arms with his bandanna and webbing.

There was no cell phone coverage at the location so, after treating the injuries, his friend hiked out 2.5 hours to call for rescue. Six team members staged at Bryant Field while helicopter 551 from Yosemite attempted to locate the injured subject. Initially, the subject was not found, so a ground team was inserted to search for him. He had moved from where his friend had left him and attempted to walk out of the area. Fortunately, he was located a short time thereafter by the ground team. He was stabilized and flown out of the area for further medical treatment. The ground team walked out. Responders were: Greene (Ops), DeGeorge (IC), Guffey, Beck, Dodson, and Hartstrom.

Ops 14-636 - evacuating subject via wheeled litter
Ops 14-636 - evacuating subject via wheeled litter

August 26, 2014. 14-636 #26 A 77 year old woman from San Diego hiked to the top of Duck Pass with other members of her hiking club, but on the return on a short climb out of the Barney Lake basin she became quite ill with some loss of consciousness, and was unable to continue.

The Team responded with a hasty team hiking from the Coldwater trailhead to locate and assess the subject, closely followed by 3 other teams with other gear and wheeled litter, which was fortunately carried part way by a mule and packer from the Mammoth Lakes Pack Outfit.

She was evacuated approximately 3 miles via litter to the trailhead, where she was met by Mono Country Paramedics, and transported by ambulance to Mammoth Hospital for treatment. Responders were: Vetter (Ops), DeGeorge (IC), Dodson, Greene, Corning, Guffey, Soucy, Cowan, Holmquist, Schmidt, Hartstrom, Gilbreath, and Robertson.

Andrea and Glenn Goryl are now in Asia (Cambodia) on a medical mission, and Glenn has resigned from the Board of Directors. Rick Dodson is now the Equipment Officer.

Megan Guffey is back in Mammoth after a summer of guiding river raft trips in Colorado, and has already responded to the last 3 ops. Megan will be teaching a NOLS Wilderness First Aid course October 4 & 5.

We Get Letters

If you sometimes wonder if what we do is worth your time, please read these letters carefully.

From Ron Rel.
Thank you!!!  Thank you for bringing me home to my family!!!  Special thanks to Rick for driving us back to our car in Tuolumne Meadows.

Words and $$ cannot express my gratefulness and appreciation for what you folks do.  I have shown your card with your motto "We do search......"  I have a family of 7 with 5 children ages 15, 13, 13, 4.5 3.5.  Radley is 15, Ryle 13, Diego 13, Valentina 4.5, and Mateo 3.5.  I am the sole breadwinner and cannot even think of the devastation had I not returned home.  I am convinced that there was little chance of survival with the entire night coming and the condition I was in.

I really wish I could give more but the demands of 5 children and living in the SF Bay constrains the resources.  Please accept this small gesture as a donation to your amazing organization.  I plan to keep in touch over the years and am following you on Facebook.  Again thank you, thank you.....there is not enough paper in the world to be able to write how grateful I am.

From Robert Kronkhyte.
I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks for our rescue on the night of 08/16/14.  Your team facilitated our rescue from the Lower Piute Meadows area to the east of Sonora Pass.  We were on the verge of completing our ultra distance run from Tuolumne Meadows, and were shut down by hail, thunder, and lightning.  My friend Ron Rel and I are deeply indebted to you for your fine, professional, help, and service.  Enclosed is my donation to Mono County SAR.

From Carmine and Cathy Mitri
On behalf of our family, we'd like to extend our sincere thanks and appreciation for your support in the successful search and rescue of our son, Michael Mitri, in the Mono County area of the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) in mid-July 2014.  Your team (I mainly spoke with Pete & Heidi over a 24 hour period July 17th to 18th  executed the search & rescue operations for our son Michael in the most professional and efficient manner.  Please ensure all those that were involved are advised of our deep gratitude and thankfulness. 

When Michael lost his way off the PCT, we were thankful he had enough cell phone battery life left to send out his approximate location. GPS coordinates from his friend (the person he was separated from) were extremely useful to the "on the ground" search teams and the CHP who worked closely together.  The team leads (Pete or Heidi) kept in frequent contact with us and they also discussed "backpacking" details with other family members and friends who had discussions with Michael before he left for the Mono County area. We appreciate your team reaching out to family/friends in a very timely manner.  We are most grateful for your assistance, and as a symbol of our appreciation please accept the enclosed donation to be used for equipment or continued training for your hard-working volunteers in the hope that they may always continue to locate one more person in distress.  God bless you all in your angelic work!

From Lonna Anderson
It's been a while since you rescued me, but I just wanted to personally thank you.  You people are the real treasures of the world.  You risk your lives to save others and I can't thank you enough for saving mine.  Because of your rescue, I am blessed to thrive in my life.  Please accept this small give of appreciation with sincere heartfelt gratitude and gratefulness.

We got two notes from Jeanne Borofsky.  (1) "Big animals you ride can hurt you".  That was me. I want to thank you all for the great effort you gave to get me out in my full body splint to the ambulance.  You were terrific, all of you.  I am home in Massachusetts now, healing my many broken bones, and looking forward to getting back into the mountains next year.  On foot.  Thank you thank you thank you!

(2) I'm the "female" in this report. I want to thank you all for my rescue trip out. You all were incredible. You kept me going and reasonably comfortable until the body cast and litter arrived. You all cheerfully hauled me out over some interesting terrain (and I know I'm not the lightweight I once was)! I was delivered into the ambulance without incident...in spite of 4 broken ribs, a broken scapula and clavicle, and collapsed lung.  I'm back home now, on the road to recovery, and looking forward to coming back out to mountains next year.  I think, however, that the mules will only be carrying our gear next time You are all amazing to volunteer yourselves this way.  Thank you once again!  Jeanne Borofsky.

From Carol Schryver
Thank you Mono County search and rescue for coming to my rescue.  I'm post surgery and on the mend. For the record, I'm a runner not a hiker and I wasn't swimming - too damn cold.  Also a big thank you all to the cross country team carrying me down the mountain.  I apologize to the guy in the red shirt for saying "I was going to rest my fist in your face" but next time don't accidentally bump into the injured limb.  Not cool. Mammoth paramedics you were awesome, keep it up. I'll be back next summer, and will steer clear of the rope swing!!! Thanks again from the 32 year old female.

From the Ayala family.
"Thank you" are two little words, often thought, but seldom heard.  It doesn't take that long to say, yet, on our lips, it fades away.  A gentle word, a casual hand, a caring thought, to understand.  A droplet in this cold world's pond that sends its ripples far beyond.  For who's to know the joy it brings, the comfort from another's wings, unless the word that lies so small becomes the greatest of them all.  Unless we learn to take and give, appreciating who we're with, it doesn't take too long to say, but "thank you" goes a long, long way.  May the Lord Bless you all,  Thank you!  Harry E. and Mike J. Ayala.

From Briony Greenhill, Berkeley, CA
Dear wonderful rescue team at Mono County: Thank you so much for rescuing me   I am the English woman who twisted my ankle badly in May at Silver Lake, the first of the season.  The doctor says I tore a ligament behind my outer ankle bone - the one that sticks out.  It's doing OK - still pretty sore, but that's because I make for a bad invalid and can't go too long without dancing.  You took such great care of me!  Thank You!  I'd like to offer you dancing - or a least music (some of which is quite good for dancing around the living room) - my favorite music of the moment.  It's a data CD, so will work in your computer I guess, but not your CD player.  That way there can be lots of music.  I also enclose a little donation to Search and Rescue.  Have a great summer, and thanks again.

Briony took a lot of time putting together a CD with the music files she mentioned above, including a very personalized cover.  It will be in the Team library for you to enjoy.

September

September 6, 2014 - High Sierra Fall Century Bicycle Ride - Dori Leyen coordinated the Teams support of the SAG station at Black Lake (on the corner of Benton Crossing Road and 120 east).

September 10, 2014 - Megan Guffey elected to the Team Board of Directors at the Team Meeting.

September 11, 2014. 14-681 #27 A hiking party of two heard someone possibly calling for help while hiking the trail below Mammoth Rock. SAR personnel responded to the location on the trail. Just prior to reaching the area a person called in saying they were searching for a lost dog in the area and were the persons the RPs were calling out to. Responders were: Greene (Ops), DeGeorge (IC), Guffey, Dodson, Cowan, Cucura, Webb, and Maroti.

September 14, 2014. 14-691 #28 A hiker heard from two other hikers that they saw someone who might need help descending on Mt. Ritter and was cliffed-out. YOSAR helo 551 searched Mt Ritter but was unable to located anyone needing assistance. The possible person needing help subsequently called saying they were OK and needed no assistance. Responders were: Greene (Ops).

September 13, 2014. 14-692 #29 At 7 p.m. on September 13, 2014, the Mono County Sheriff Search and Rescue Team was called out for two day hikers that had become disoriented in the Garnet Lake area and couldn't find the trail back to the trailhead. Team members hiked to their location based on cell phone data, and were able to locate and guide them out to the trailhead at 1 a.m. Responders were: Greene (Ops), Dodson, Robertson, and Hammack.

Tuolumne SAR members and Mono SAR  Mike Britton and Natali Endo
Tuolumne SAR members and Mono SAR Mike Britton and Natali Endo

September 22-23, 2014. 14-709 #30 On Monday evening about 2030, Dispatch received a 911 call of a report of a lost hunter near Poison Creek. Two hunters from Southern California set up camp in late afternoon near Poison Creek. Then one of the hunters took his rifle and left camp to do some scouting, intending to be back in 20 minutes and before nightfall. He failed to return to camp, and was not equipped to spend a cold night outdoors.

Tuolumne County SAR Team and Members of Mono SAR  Caara Hunter and Natali Endo
Tuolumne County SAR Team and Members of Mono SAR
Caara Hunter and Natali Endo

The Team was called out that night, with four members responding. The search area was in varying terrain including thick timber, willows, brambles, a creek and rocky slopes. Cal OES was contacted for mutual aid. On Tuesday SAR teams from Alpine and Tuolumne Counties responded, as well as CHP helicopter H-40.

About 1700, the helicopter crew spotted a person partially matching the hunter's description lying in a wash about a half mile north of his camp, near Poison Creek. The person appeared to be unable to move but could wave at the helicopter. Ground searchers went to his location and confirmed it was the lost hunter. He had fallen down a steep section of wash and spent the night in cold temperatures. Although he was not injured, he was exhausted and unable to walk out.

He was evacuated by hand carried litter to a road, and transported in a truck to Base. After evaluation by Mono County Paramedic he was released to family who had come to the search base. Responders were: DeGeorge (Ops & IC), Vetter (Ops), Corning (Ops), Dodson, Hartstrom, Hammack, Caara Hunter, Jeff Hunter, Endo, Gilbreath, Robertson, Dan Tonseth, Britton, Beck and Cucura.

September 30, 2014 - Jeff Holmquist presented a TED-like Know-How Flash-Talk on SAR at Jimmy's Taverna.

We Get Letters

If you sometimes wonder if what we do is worth your time, please read this.

September 1, 2014

To all my beautiful Angels.

I am thanking you from the bottom of my heart for getting me down the mountain safe and sound (on August 26, 2014). 

You are doing a wonderful job being there for people in distress like me.  Never in my life did I think I would need to be rescued off a mountain.  This would only happen to others, we see on the news.

I am so very thankful to all of you.  You are selfless by giving your time and skill to a great cause.  I admire your devotion.

I am back home all well and recovered.

Thanks you, thank you,

(Heart and many Xs)

Ingrid Goodbody

October

Ops14-740 - extracting subject via wheeled litter
Ops14-740 - extracting subject via wheeled litter
photo and movie by Megan Guffey

October 1, 2014. 14-730 #31 A 59-year old Camarillo woman on a backpacking trip fell while crossing a creek near Skelton Lake, not far from the Duck Pass Trail. She injured her ankle, and her husband hiked to the trailhead and called for assistance.

The SAR team was dispatched and hiked to the patient along with her husband. The team stabilized her ankle with a vacuum splint and transported her to the trailhead by wheeled litter. Responders Were: Holmquist (Ops), Gilbreath (Ops), Schmidt (Ops), Dodson, Cowan , Guffey, Corning , Soucy, French, and Roski.


October 4-5, 2014 - Wilderness First Aid Training with Megan Guffey

October 8, 2014 Team Meeting - Luke Hammack and Lisa Cowan had completed all the required steps, and were voted in as Rescue Members. Shalle Genevieve was voted in as a Support Member. Here they are in their new Team shirts at the October meeting:

Luke Hammack, Lisa Cowan, Shalle Genevive

October 8, 2014 - ELT Classroom Training with Jim Gilbreath

Jim reviewing the gear with team members
Jim reviewing the gear with team members
Looking for me? =)
Looking for me? Smile

Practice makes perfect
Practice makes perfect
We even have a big directional antenna to use!
We even have a big directional antenna to use!

October 18, 2014 - Search Training - Playing cards were used for the "clues" to find in this joint training with Mammoth Lakes CERT (Community Emergency Response Team).

Managing the search line
Managing the search line
It was good to train with some of our friends from Mammoth Lakes CERT
It was good to train with some of our friends from Mammoth Lakes CERT

Have to be thorough, most of the clues were hidden well
Have to be thorough, most of the clues were hidden well
There were even playing cards from prior years discovered and added to the collection of 'clues'
Even playing cards from prior years were discovered and added to the collection of "clues"

October 26, 2014 - ELT Field Training with Jim Gilbreath

Jim reports: "We only had 3 receivers, and thus only 3 field teams. Rick, Luke, and Steve took the Ranger out and got to two spots on the west side of 395, and two on the east, including Casa where all the repeater and cell tower electronics is located. They reported minimal interference from all the RF energy up there."

"Heidi and Caara stayed in base at the SAR building to do ops. As usual, there were MANY frustrations with weak signals, reflections and multi-paths, inconsistent bearings, and ungainly equipment."

"The transmitter was hidden on a small hill in dense woods with many downed trees above Horseshoe Lake. It was NOT at the former crash site up there, but still a realistic one, since airplanes tend to crash on forested mountainsides."

ELT Training
ELT Training

ELT Training
ELT Training

November

Dori Leyen is again organizing the pot luck awards dinner for December 10.

We Get Letters

If you sometimes wonder if what we do is worth your time, please read this.

We received some wonderful mail after the Jim Everhart rescue, including a nice donation.  Here are some cards, and a transcription of his marvelous hand-written letter giving the details of his adventure:

Thank You Note
Thank You Note

Letter from Jim Everhart to the Team.

Monday evening September 22, about 6 PM, with an hour of daylight remaining until it gets dark.

I said to Morrris my hunting partner "Guess I'll take a scouting walk upstream for 10 minutes up and 10 minutes back.  I'll be gone 20 minutes to see if deer might be having a drink".  (1 year we saw 9 deer go up the opposite bank single file).  Seemed like a good idea.  I took my rifle and 3 cartridges,   no canteen with water, no candy bars, no day pack, no extra clothes, no knife.  After all it is going to be a short hike!

I walked along the ridge looking at the stream and the opposite hillside.  Somehow I crossed a bit lower on some loose dirt;  next thing I know my feet went out from under me and I'm sliding on my backside (bottom) 35 feet down a 45 degree slope.  Went about 25 ft. hit a bump then 10 ft more into the creek with my feet getting soaked.  It took about 5 seconds.  What a ride!

I held my rifle up across my chest.  The dirt had little stones in it, also a few larger ones.  My left buttocks had a big bruise - probably hit a large rock on the way down.  The back of my left hand was bleeding.  The bore of my rifle was full of fine dirt.  The scope got a ding or two, and the stock looked like someone was using it for batting practice with stones.

I kind of laid there taking inventory of my body.  My bad right knee was worse and now my left leg hurt also.  I tried to stand up to walk and found out I could not, so I crawled on my hands and knees.  I crawled back up the hill about 5 feet every fifteen minutes.  My knees could get no traction, they kept slipping backwards so I just used my hands to pull on what bushes and larger rocks I could find.  Sometimes the bush was brittle and broke before I could make any upward progress.

Other times they were greener and had firmer roots.  Once when I was pulling up on a rock about the size of a 5 lb. bag of sugar it worked for a few seconds then it started slipping under me and finally crashed down the hill all the way to the water below.

It was going to get dark by 7 o'clock, so I told myself I better get to a tree and spend the night.  I crawled to one overlooking the stream.  It was about 2 feet in diameter on a slight upward slope.  I put my feet against it and pushed my back up every once in a while to keep moving and also moving my arms + hands to keep from falling asleep.  I put my hands in my armpits to keep them warm.  Kept telling myself to stay awake and keep wiggling.  I ALSO PRAYED TO God for help.   My prayer was just 3 words: "Help Me Lord."

I didn't want to die under this tree.  It had been 38 degrees in Bridgeport the night before.  It was between that and 44 degrees now, and no moon tonight, it was going to be dark.

I had on a thermal underwear top and a thick cotton plaid shirt.  Glad the temperature wasn't any colder.  I thought "Oh Boy 4-1/4 hours and it would be light and I could start for camp".

That would be the start of a 7-1/2 hour ordeal of crawling.  I could see in the morning which way the stream was flowing so knew which way to go (down stream).  I was still on the hillside most of the morning.  I scooted down on my bottom 3  different times for several handfuls of water, then back up   The water was refreshing. Found out later the stream was named Poison Creek.

I thought they should rename it Salvation Creek.  I'm quite sure this is the same stream Morris and I got our water supply from on past hunts.  It comes out of an underground stream a ways up stream.  It is swift flowing and thus aerated.  We used purification tables then, but Not Now.

While on the hillside, I looked downstream and thought I saw 2 guys on a 4 wheeler coming upstream in the creek bed.  I looked through scope and it wasn't 2 guys on a 4 wheeler, it wasn't anything!

Finally decided I couldn't  make any progress trying to crawl up to the ridge.  The trail was 40 to 50 yards up from where I was.  I knew I couldn't make it.  I decided my only hope was to go down and follow the stream.  I was getting weaker and weaker.  The stream bed was rocky - that's where my knees got bloody and sore crawling on rocks and up and around willow branches overhanging the stream.  I scooted on big logs, and mushy ground. I was getting nowhere, at least not forward.

Finally in the afternoon I came to a big boulder by the side of the stream bed.  I said to myself "This is the Rock Of My Salvation - I'm not going any farther".

I sat by the rock in the warm sunlight.  Shortly a helicopter came over and a voice said "Jim stay put".

Shortly a young man named Kirk came and found me by the rock.  He offered me a drink from a hydration bladder and said pinch the tube.  Could hardly get any water out of it.  I said "Have you got a regular water bottle?"  He handed me his plastic water bottle.  I drank a 1/4 of it right there.  He offered me a granola bar or one with peanuts.  I took the granola and gobbled it down.  He radioed his position and 6 guys and 1 woman from Search and Rescue came with a 7 ft stretcher.  The leader of the group came to me and said "Who is the president of the United States?"  Guess he wanted to see if I had hit my head or lost my marbles.  I said "ba ba bana".  He said "bananas?".  That was close enough.  I thought later I should have said Herbert Hoover just to get a laugh out of him.  Guess this Search and Rescue is serious business.  It has to be.

They strapped me in the stretcher so well they could have turned it upside down and I wouldn't have fallen out.

Anyways, they carried me out of the woods in about 15 minutes to a staging area and unstrapped me. I looked and saw my son Jim and nephew Gilbert.  They came to see me from Colfax and Auburn.  Heard I was sliding down 45 degree slopes.  They brought food.  It was good to see them.

When they were carrying me out of the woods I looked up and saw a tree with big white plume of flowers in which I saw sculptured the faces of Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, and Dumbo.  I thought I'm not going to tell anyone this - it is an illusion - can't be possible.  Nobody is coming 400+ miles from Disneyland to carve Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, and Dumbo in trees up in the woods above Bridgeport.

I am thankful I'm alive.  It could have been worse.  Thankful that Morris called 911 at 8:30 for help.  Thankful for 26 volunteer Search and Rescue personnel who came from 3 counties - Mono, Tuolumne and Alpine to find me.  Thankful Morris heard my rifle shot to know I was alive.

Most of all thankful to God for hearing my cry, my prayers, and for His help.

We had no operations in November.

December

December 10, 2014 - Year End Party and Rewards Ceremony - The annual awards dinner and holiday party on December 10 was a fine event, with marvelous food. Dori Leyen did a great job of organizing the event, with lots of help from others too.  Here are some pictures:

2014 year end party and rewards
2014 year end party and rewards

With Jeff's mom and Caara's dad
With Jeff's mom and Caara's dad
2014 year end party and rewards

2014 year end party and rewards
2014 year end party and rewards

The Hammack Clan
The Hammack Clan
New Rescue Member Joe Cucura with his new red shirt
New Rescue Member Joe Cucura with his new red shirt

He's a bit thin, but looking very festive and happy
He's a bit thin, but looking very festive and happy.
Jennifer Langlo Sheldon
Jennifer Langlo Sheldon did a marvelous job for the Team by organizing the recent very successful fund raising event with the showing of the Valley Uprising movie at Canyon Lodge.  The theater was completely full and then some.  Thanks are also due to Mammoth Mountain for providing the venue, and to the many sponsors and prize donors.  The Team gave her this plaque in recognition and appreciation of the great idea she had to do this, and her devoted effort to making it all happen so successfully. She has a connection to the Team since her Step Father was Rick Mosher.

The Team voted to award the Pete Schoerner Rescue Member of the Year Award to Bill Greene.  This is the second time Bill has received this honor.  This year Bill responded to 21 operations and was the Ops Leader 12 times.  Over the course of his time on the Team he has responded to 461 operations.  He was not able to attend the awards dinner, but his plaque was there.

Bill Greene - Pete Schoerner Rescue Member 2014

Training Officer Barry Beck received a plaque for ten years of service.

Barry Beck ten years of service


The Team voted to award the Rick Mosher Candidate Member of the Year Award to Luke Hammack.  Luke responded to 8 meetings, 13 operations, and 31 trainings for a total of 52 Team events in his first year on the Team.

Luke Hammack - Rick Mosher Candidate Member 2014


The Team awarded a special plaque to Gary Boyd as the Honorary Rescue Member of the Year.

Gary Boyd - Honarary Rescue Member of the Year 2014

Rick Dodson (trail name Big Red) was recognized for his 305 miles on the Pacific Crest Trail this spring with this lovely plaque.

Rick Dodson special award - Big Red
Rick Dodson special award - Big Red

Heidi Vetter was looking very good with her strawberry birthday cake!
Heidi Vetter was looking very good with her strawberry birthday cake!
Then she presented Dan with this plaque of ?honor?
Then she presented Dan with this plaque of ?honor?

Lindy and Takoda posed nicely for a picture of the Candidate and the Old Pro
It isn't People News, but Lindy and Takoda posed nicely for a picture of the Candidate and the Old Pro.
Master of the Universe - Dan Corning - SAR President 2014

The Mono SAR 2014 Year In Review video produced by Barry Beck was enjoyed by all.

We had no operations in December.

December 10, 2014 - Board Of Directors Election

Jeff Holmquist, Jutta Schmidt,Jim Gilbreath, Dan Corning and Luke Hammack were elected to fill expiring terms on the Board of Directors. Officers will be determined at the January, 2015 Board Meeting.


These three plaques list the Pete Schoerner Member of the Year, Rick Mosher Candidate of the Year and Life/Lifetime Members as of August 3, 2015.

Pete Schoerner Rescue Members Of The Year
Pete Schoerner Rescue Members Of The Year
Life Members/Life Time Members
Life Members/Life Time Members
Rick Mosher Candidate Members Of The Year
Rick Mosher Candidate Members Of The Year

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