Highlights of The Year 2005

Compiled from Newsletters by Webmaster

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.

2005 Mono SAR Operations Statistics

January

Team Officers: At their January meeting, the Board of Directors selected the officers for 2005. The same people who have done such a fine job have agreed to continue with their tasks, so there are no changes in the Team Officers. President - Jeff Holmquist. Vice President - Pete DeGeorge. Secretary - Jim Wright. Treasurer- Jutta Schmidt. Training Officer- John Hronesh. Equipment Officer- Dave Michalski

VISITORS: We had several at the January meeting. Former Rescue Member and Board member Patrick Byrne is now living in Arizona, and is doing Ski Patrol at the mountain near Flagstaff. Gary Hampton is the new Captain of the Inyo team, and expressed interest in some joint training events, for example an ELT search in the fall. Alan DeFever is with the newly organized Nordic Ski Patrol, a volunteer group for the Forest Service that does weekend patrols on many of the popular routes. He has found our web site to be very useful and interesting, and we have Don Deck to thank for that. Jeff Buennagel is a Mammoth resident, working at the hospital, and is a potential candidate.

We are really going to miss Walt Matell, who will be moving soon to another location. Walt has been very active and has helped the Team in many ways, also serving as a Board member. He participated in close to 40 operations in less than two years.

Craig Knoche was elected to finish out Walt’s 2-year term.

Congratulations to our SAR Coordinator Sgt. Tim Minder (8S4), and his predecessor Lt. Robert Weber (8L1), who recently received promotions in the Sheriff’s Department. There have been numerous other callsign changes, including Pete DeGeorge (805).

Tim related an exciting time getting caught in an avalanche with the county’s Thiokol snowcat near Twin Lakes while on a mission to help some people living in a known slide path. Thankfully there were no serious injuries; the status of the snowcat and a snowmobile is unknown at this time.

Thanks to Noreen McClintock for a demonstration and workshop on removing boots from injured victims at the January meeting.

Friends of Otto Loennekker, Shahid Iqbal and Faramarz Maghsoodlou, gave us $135 in memory of Otto, who died on Mt. Ritter last August.

Since the December meeting, CFO Jutta Schmidt reports that we have gratefully received the following donations: Richard Levak - $1,000, Michael Sokolsky & Susan Blockstein - $1,000, Terry Lee - $500, John Grisafe - $100, Don Saueressig - $100, Edison Employee Contributions Campaign - $61.20 and from the Union Bank of CA Employee Workplace Campaign. $100.02.

The community service Avvy Savvy public awareness program organized by Dori Leyen and Noreen McClintock was a great success with at least 160 people in attendance. Additional impact was provided by the announcement that a real avalanche rescue of George Swiggum in the Sherwins was completed just as the meeting was starting.

The new snowmobile trailer is now in use, and we have a new lightweight litter.

The snazzy new T-shirts are now available for sale. $10 to members, $15 to the general public. Contact Dave Michalski to get some.

Sometimes we get a LOT of letters, full of gratitude and admiration for what we do for our victims. Here is one to remind us of why we do what we do.

From Richard Levak (rescued April 2000): I think of you often and can’t believe how hard you worked to save me. I will always be grateful to you. I hope this (donation) helps for something you need. With Gratitude, Richard Levak.

January 2, 2005. 05-001. The SAR team was dispatched to locate and aid a group of three snowmobilers (Diane Ziola, 46; Cody Coffman, 21; and Dylan Lewis, 27) that were stuck in deep snow a few miles from Shady Rest. Mr. Lewis was also very ill and was having difficulty standing. The party was able to self-extricate and return to Shady Rest before the SAR team launched its snowmobiles. Mr. Lewis was taken to SME by the other members of the party. Responders were: Holmquist (ops), Hronesh, Schmidt, and Michalski.

January 3, 2005. 05-002. The SAR team was dispatched to aid a person who had fallen through the ice on June Lake. While enroute, the team was notified that the movement seen in the water was not a flailing person but was rather a flock of birds gathered around a hole in the ice. Responders were: Holmquist (ops), Schmidt, Michalski, Greene, Leyen, Anne Knoche, and Burns.

January 5, 2005. 05-003. George Swiggum, 32, of Mammoth Lakes, was snowboarding with a friend, Jeremy Plum, in the Sherwin Range. While beginning his descent he was struck by an avalanche and carried approximately 600 feet. He broke both his legs when the avalanche carried him into a tree. He was not buried by the avalanche, and Plum was able to reach him quickly.

After seeing the extent of Swiggum’s injuries, Plum quickly descend the rest of the slope and called 911. The Team requested the assistance of a helicopter rescue team from Fallon Naval Air Station, and ski patrol personnel from Mammoth Mountain Ski Patrol. SAR Team personnel began the hike to Swiggum, accompanied by Plum.

Prior to the teams reaching Swiggum, the rescue helicopter from Fallon was able to lower a crewman to him, and during difficult conditions and failing light was able to use its hoist to lift him off the side of the slope. He was flown to a landing zone set up in the Mammoth Lakes High School parking lot where he was transferred to a waiting Mono County Paramedic ambulance for transport to Mammoth Hospital.

The Mammoth Lakes Police Department and U.S. Forest Service personnel also assisted in the rescue operation. In addition, two other persons in the area at the time of the accident, Matt Hegeman and Aly Denk, reached Swiggum after Plum had left to call 911. They were able to assist the helicopter crew in his extraction, and then skied out to a waiting vehicle on the south side of Mammoth Lakes. Responders were: Greene (Ops), Holmquist, Schmidt, Michalski, A. Knoche, C. Knoche, Zahn, Huntsman, Gilbreath, Hansen, Hronesh, DeGeorge, and Lee-Lewis.

January 5, 2006. 05-004. Sam Gaglani from Los Angeles was one of five snow boarders who dropped off of Hemlock ridge. Two of them were familiar with the terrain and turned right for the traverse at the correct spot. Sam's two buddies dropped too low, but were able to hike back up.

They called SAR when Sam failed to show up that evening. The Team responded and fielded four teams on snowmobiles and skis. The victim was ultimately able to climb back up far enough that his cell phone would work, and contacted his friends, who called the S.O. The ops staff was intermittently able to talk to him via phone, and get clues as to his location based on what he could hear and see.

One of the snowmobile teams made contact as he was coming down the ridge north of Reds Lake, and brought him in. He had lost sight of all the other boarders as he was making turns. He said the powder was too good to be true and found his mistake when he got pretty low on the ridge. Responders were: DeGeorge (Ops), Holmquist, Schmidt, Michalski, Walker, A. Knoche, Zahn, Gilbreath, and Hronesh.

January 6, 2005. 05-005. Ryan Denman from Los Angeles was among 9 snowboarders who climbed Hemlock Ridge about 1230 and began descent northward and out of bounds of the ski area intending to bear right and re-enter the ski area near Chair 13/14. The subject was the last of the group and veered too far left and was too low to re-enter the ski area. He walked north and followed tracks, but after losing them retraced his own tracks and walked back into the ski area and was picked up by a MMSA grooming snowcat. Responders were: Zahn (Ops), Walker, Hronesh, DeGeorge, Anne Knoche, Holmquist, Enright, and Gilbreath.

January 9, 2005. 05-006. Ronald Joseph from Tustin, California was reported missing while snowboarding in the eastern side of Mammoth Mountain. The Team met at Canyon Lodge and in combination with a MMSA ski patrol supervisor began a search from the Goldrush lift eastward using snowmobiles, skis, and snowshoes.

Mr. Joseph was snowboarding back to the Little Eagle lodge via the Holiday run when he missed a turn and descended into Gorilla Gulch past the bottom of Chair 9. After he discovered his mistake and climbed back out he was too exhausted to continue and found refuge in the Chair 9 lift shack, where he was found about 0100. Responders were: Zahn (Ops), Holmquist, McClintock, Brenninkmeyer, Greene, Hronesh, Schmidt, Rudolph, and Walker.

January 22, 2005. 05-007. Mike Tarakhchyan and Tarsian (Kate) Tatevik from Los Angeles were involved in a snowmobile accident on the Vista Trail near Smokey Bear Flats. They failed to negotiate a turn and their machine left the trail and struck a tree at about 45 MPH. Deputy Madrid, Deputy DeGeorge and SAR member Greene were on OHV patrol and responded to Smokey Bear.

Staff from DJ's Snowmobile and Mammoth Dog Teams aided in transporting paramedics to the scene. Enright brought the rescue toboggan. The victims were stabilized and transported to the ambulance by dog sled and snowmobile toboggan. Tarakhchyan sustained a head injury and Tatevik sustained two broken femurs as a result of the accident. Responders were: Greene (Ops), DeGeorge, and Enright.

January 30, 2005. 05-008. Robert McKeegan from Los Angeles had been snowboarding in the Fresno Bowl area of Mammoth Mountain and got lost trying to get to Tamarack Lodge.

McKeegan was out overnight and kept moving to stay warm as he tried to find his way. He was eventually able to use his FRS radio to call other skiers at the resort for help.

Four ski patrollers searched the area and located him near the trail to Rainbow Falls. MMSA snowcat groomed the trail to Agnew Meadows.

The Team, deputies, and patrollers transported the victim back to the resort. Responders were: DeGeorge (Ops), Michalski, Beck, Hansen, and Holmquist.

February

February 5, 2005. 05-009. Robert Kirsten, 50, from Malibu, injured his ankle when he took his snowmobile over a short drop in a wash near Bald Mountain. He was unable to extricate his machine, and began walking in an attempt to locate a road. Not long after, he called 911 with his cell phone and requested assistance.

The SAR team was dispatched to locate and extricate Kirsten. Meanwhile, Sheriff Dan Paranick and his party of six other snowmobilers came across Kirsten's boot tracks and followed the tracks to the victim where the group splinted Kirsten's ankle. Two of the Sheriff's party remained with Kirsten, making a fire and providing warm clothing and water.

The Sheriff and four other party members drove to the trailhead to meet the SAR team. The SAR team launched snowmobiles and followed Sheriff Paranick's party to the victim. After medical assessment, Kirsten was extricated by litter up a short draw and transported to the trailhead, where he was transferred to waiting paramedics. Responders were: Holmquist (ops), Enright, Michalski, Schmidt, McClintock, Hansen, Wright, DeGeorge, A. Knoche, and Greene.

February 22, 05-010. Scott Saltsman and Mathew Daggett from Mammoth were taking 10 minute turns riding a snowmobile in the hills south of Sierra Meadows Ranch off Old Mammoth Road. Scott did not return from his turn for over an hour. Matthew walked out to the area where they had been riding but could not see Scott.

The team was called out at 6:23, and Scott walked out to the trailhead at 6:25 pm. The callout was cancelled at 6:27. Scott said he had gotten the snowmobile stuck on a hillside and could not get it out. He hiked a half an hour to get out to the trailhead. He said he was stalked by one coyote then several more on his way out. Responders were: Enright (ops).

February 26, 2005. 05-011. Peter Hartwick and two friends went snowboarding down Fresno Bowl. One was able to hike out, but could not locate his two friends. Subsequently one of the missing was scanned at the bottom gondola, but there was no sign of the other friend.

Just as teams were going to be inserted into the field the friend that was scanned called from their condo and said that the other friend was with him. They had been together all afternoon, but only one was scanned when they rode the gondola. Responders were: Greene (Ops), C Knoche, Zahn, Michalski, Holmquist, A Knoche, Beck, perhaps others.

February 27, 2005. 05-012. Teresa Ong, 30, of West Covina CA, suffered back spasms after a snowmobile accident near Smoky Bear Flat, one mile east of Highway 395. Paramedics were dispatched to the scene and in turn requested that SAR transport Ong by toboggan to the waiting ambulance. SAR team members were guided to and from the scene by the staff of DJ's Snowmobile Adventures. Ong had three fractured vertebrae and a fractured pelvis. Responders were: Holmquist (ops), Michalski, Hronesh. Dave Michalski Photos.

March

Lt. Boe Turner will be retiring in May. We are definitely going to miss him!

Thanks to Craig Knoche for organizing the annual recruiting meeting at the Community Center, and to all those who made presentations and helped to make it a success. A highlight was Mike Burditt telling the story of his little early winter adventure and rescue by the Team.

VISITORS: Fred Weatherly, Guy Thomas, and Mitch Pain attended the March meeting.

The Thiokol snowcat has been rescued from Twin Lakes, repaired, and is back in service. The lost snowmobile is still in the lake, and will be recovered after the lakes thaw.

Team CFO Jutta Schmidt reports receiving the following donations:
Robert Kirsten - $1,000
Todd Miszner - $50
Sunset Foundation (Don Slager) - $1,000
C. Dana White - $1,000
Mammoth Emergency Room Physicians - $1,000
Henry Jordan - $500
United Way of LA (Valero Energy Corp) - $167.

March 5, 2005. 05-013. Eric Kupferberg, 39, of San Juan Capistrano, became separated from his group while snowmobiling in the Bald Mountain area on Saturday afternoon, March 5, 2005. He went down a steep gully where his machine got stuck, and his party lost both visual and voice contact with him. He seemed uninjured but had stated he would try to walk downhill to find an exit route before contact was lost.

The rest of his party returned to Mammoth and called for help. The SAR team was dispatched, and with the aid of Russ Markman and four other helpers from Arctic Cat, located the victim and his rental sled, and both were extracted successfully. The victim, whose chief complaints were exhaustion and cold feet, was evaluated at Mammoth Hospital and released. Responders were: Greene (ops), Schmidt(ops), Holmquist, Beck, Brenner

March 18, 2005. 05-014. Sheriff dispatch received a 911 call from the Pumice Flats pay phone. Unfortunately the phone would dial out, but the phone was broken so no voice was heard. The Team responded and picked up a skier (William Sullivan) and his two dogs. He had taken a wrong turn when going out to Minaret Vista and somehow ended up going down the road towards Reds Meadow. Responders were: Greene (ops), Holmquist, and Hansen.

March 20, 2005. 05-015. Jim Dixon and a friend drove out highway 120 east to recover a motorhome that had become stuck in the snow earlier in the season. They went around a road closed barricade and became stuck themselves. One hiked out and notified dispatch that his friend was with a dog in the stuck vehicle. SAR team members rode snowmobiles to the vehicle and brought him out. Responders were: Greene (Ops), Beck, and Holmquist.

April

April 2 & 3, 2005. 05-016. The SAR team was called to search for Jesse Garcia, 37, of Castaic, who had become separated from his group of fellow snowmobilers and was overdue. The group had launched from Shady Rest, and Garcia was last seen in the late afternoon.

Two SAR snowmobile teams searched trails and nearby terrain, and a vehicle team searched along the Scenic Loop. Garcia was located early on the morning of the 3rd by one of the snowmobile teams. He was ten feet above the snow in a tree where he had sought safety from bears.

Garcia had gotten his machine stuck and had walked about two miles from his snowmobile before being located. Responders were: Holmquist (ops), Schmidt, Michalski, A Knoche, C Knoche, Zahn, Greene, Beck, and Brenner.

April 13, 2005 - Tracking Classroom Training with Greg Enright

April 21-25. 2005. 05-17R. Doug Pearse, 84, of Mariposa, was reported missing on 21 April 2005 after his car was found disabled and abandoned on a dirt road at 5500' above the town of Mariposa.

Mono County responded in mutual aid along with many west-side SAR teams. Mono personnel contributed in searching the heavily wooded and brushy terrain for two days. He has not been found as yet. Responders were: Holmquist, Schmidt, and McClintock (as WOOF).

May

A quiet month with no operations .. primarily due to heavy winter snow pack.

Dave Michalski received the Rotary Volunteer Award on May 12. It’s great to see Dave’s dedication and excellence formally recognized. Former winner Jeff Holmquist introduced him.

May 31, 2005 - Avalanche Beacon Training

June

June 6, 2005 - Technical Rescue Rigging Classroom Training with Bill Greene.

June 27, 2005. 05-018. Tim Aranki got separated from his backpacking friends somewhere between Garnet Lake and Agnew Meadows, and was reported overdue by the others. He was located just a little bit late at Agnew Meadows. Responder; Greene (Ops).

July

July 3, 2005. 05-019. Vince Capasso from Lancaster slipped on snow patches and fell about 20 feet while hiking the Duck Pass trail near Arrowhead Lake. He had severe facial lacerations and loss of consciousness and could not walk. CHP helicopter happened to be nearby but could not land due to weather conditions. The Team carried him out the old fashioned way. Responders were: Greene (Ops), Holmquist, Hansen, Schmidt, Leyen, Case, McClintock, Michalski, Beck, and Wright.

July 3, 2005. 05-020. While breaking down equipment from 05-019, the team received word that Jorge Soto, 67, and Al Tomei, 68, both of Los Angeles, were overdue from a day hike to Shadow Lake. Team members were asked to standby while information was gathered and coordination with Devils Postpile National Monument was established, during which time Soto and Tomei arrived at the Postpile Ranger Station. Responders were: Holmquist (ops) Greene, Hansen, Schmidt, Leyen, Case, McClintock, Michalski, Beck, and Wright.

July 3, 2005. 05-021. Yosemite National Park reported to the Mono County Sheriff’s Office that Andy Sands, 40, of Minneapolis, and Mariuth Poleiac, 52, of Reno, were overdue from a climb of the 3rd Pillar of Dana, near Ellery Lake. The reporting party did not answer phone calls, and team members still cleaning equipment from 05-019 responded to the location of the reporting party while the rest of the team was put on standby. While enroute to Ellery Lake, the team received notice that the overdue party was behind schedule but not in danger. Responders were: Holmquist (ops), Case, and Schmidt.

Thanks yet again to Dori Leyen, who organized our entry in the July 4th parade.

BIG CONGRATULATIONS to Dadre Albaugh and Bosley (K9). Dadre and Bosley passed their OES area Search Dog Team test July 10, near Kirkwood in an area between Hwy 88 and Lake Margaret. The evaluators were Sgt. Keith Hardcastle (Inyo County Sheriff's Office and SAR coordinator), Lisa Whatford (El Dorado and Alpine counties SAR K9 handler), and Tom Humphries (Calaveras County SAR K9 director and handler).

According to the evaluators this was a challenging type 1 area to navigate. They found all their victims within the 4 hour time limit and they also managed to survive the rigorous debrief and critique at the end of the test. Dadre's commitment to training multiple days weekly for the past two years with Bosley contributed to their success on the test!

July 10, 2005. 05-022. Ricky Poedtke, 46, of Crowley Lake, slipped while climbing on Nevahbe Ridge above Crowley. He came to rest in a steep gully below the ridgeline and was uninjured but unable to make progress up or down the gully due to terrain difficulties. Poedtke contacted his wife, Michele, by radio and asked her to request Search and Rescue.

The SAR team responded, but upon arrival learned that Poedtke was now making downward progress. A team was dispatched to the jeep track below his descent route and met the climber just above the Hilton Lakes trailhead. Responders were: Holmquist (ops), Schmidt, Brenninkmeyer, Case, Rudolph, and Hronesh.

July 13, 2005. 05-023. John Dawson from Hazelhurst, Georgia had problems with internal bleeding while backpacking from Tuolumne over Donahue Pass. CHP helicopter H40 was available, and picked him up about a mile south of the pass. They landed at Minaret Summit, where Medic 3 was waiting to take him to Mammoth Hospital. He was care-flighted to Washoe in Reno. He later called Bill Greene and indicated that bleeding was caused by ulcers that had formed around the site of gastric bypass surgery done three years ago. Responders were: Greene (ops), Holmquist, Schmidt, Beck, Hansen and Weatherly.

The numbering scheme for our operations has recently been changed to coincide with the sequential case numbers assigned by the Sheriff’s Dispatcher. For our own use only we will add a sequence number such as #24 to indicate that is our 24th op of the year.

July 23, 2005. 05-472 #24. The team responded to a mutual aid request for an evidence search in Yosemite National Park. The search yielded many clues. Responders were Holmquist and Schmidt.

July 30, 2005. 05-499, #25. Michael Hastings from Lafayette, California was descending the trail from Shadow Lake when he felt a pop in his left leg above the knee. His son called for help using a satellite phone, and the Team responded to begin a carryout. The Team stabilized the victim and transported him to Agnew Meadows Campground via wheeled litter. Team member Hansen transported him to Mammoth Hospital for treatment. Subsequent contact by Bill Greene revealed he had a tear in his quad muscle, and was returning to the Bay area for surgery within a few days to re-attach the muscle. Responders were: Greene (Ops), Hronesh, Hansen, Rudolph, Leyen, Beck, Hall, and Brenninkmeyer.

August

We haven’t had a newsletter for a long time, mainly because we have had a nearly record period of NO callouts from April through most of June, (due to late snow melt?) thus not much news to report. We’re getting busy now though, as is usual for the summer.

Lots of kudos and thanks to John Hronesh, who served us well for a long time as Training Officer. Barry Beck has replaced him, and has lots of good things (and fun things) in mind for us in the future.

Congratulations to Daniel Hansen, who completed all his Candidate Member ladder requirements, and was promoted to Rescue Member.

Craig Knoche is replacing Jim Wright as Team Secretary. Many thanks to Jim for his service, and to Craig for taking on this important job.

Our new Candidate Member class is well into their training. They are Mike Burditt, Greg and Petra Dallas, Ron Hall, Christina Isaacs, Maureen Keese, Michele Merchant, and Fred Weatherly. Fred is coming back for a re-tread, having been a Rescue Member in past years. Heidi Nelson and Colleen Beck are starting as new Candidates as of the July meeting, and will be working hard to catch up with the rest.

BIG THANKS to Craig Knoche for teaching two excellent and interesting medical classes. The CPR and AED class had a lot of hands-on practice, as did the Wilderness First Aid class. Craig worked lots of hours to organize these and tailor them to the kinds of problems we are most likely to encounter. It was a great job, and we all learned a lot.

Two new satellite phones have been received.

Team CFO Jutta Schmidt reports receiving the following donations since March:
Arthur B. Schultz Foundation - $1000
Jesse Garcia - $100
Chevron Texaco- $50
Willoughby - $200
UDBC - $100
United Way – Valero Energy - $275
Edison Employees –$ 213

In memory of our former member Sam LaLande, his wife Louise donated $1000 to the Team. Additionally, friends of his son John donated $125. Sam’s grave is at the Mt. Morrison Cemetery. It’s the one with the radio antenna attached. Very appropriate! We miss him.

Thanks to Barry Beck and Daniel Hansen for helping to survey a new compass course West of Bishop that we can use when our other one is snowed under. Daniel needed it to complete his list. It’s not an easy one. If you want to try it, contact Jim Gilbreath.

August 4, 2005. 05-515 #26. Brent Bowen, 20, of El Cajon, and Brian Brogie, 27, of Chino Hills, separated from the rest of their hiking party near Helen Lake on the afternoon of August 3. It was believed they would attempt to travel cross-country from Lundy Canyon to the Virginia Lakes drainage via Burro Lake, although they were only equipped for day-hiking. The SAR team was dispatched when the subjects failed to show up by midnight. Bowen and Brogie hiked out the Lundy trailhead at 10 am on August 4, having abandoned their original plan due to the difficult terrain. Responders were: Schmidt(ops), Holmquist, Case, Beck, Hall, Michalski, Albaugh, DeGeorge, Craig Knoche, and Anne Knoche.

August 4, 2005. 05-518 #27. Peter Olds hiked to Devil’s Postpile Ranger Station to report that his nephew, Aaron Olds, was suffering from headache, fever, chills and nausea, and was unable to hike out from Minaret Lake.

The Team responded, along with CHP helicopter H40 from Fresno. H40 was able to land near the camp site, and transported the subject to Minaret Vista.

Subject was examined by Medic 3, and refused transport to Mammoth Hospital for treatment.

Responders were: Greene (Ops), Hronesh, Walker, Weatherly, Enright, Anne Knoche, Craig Knoche, Michalski, Wright, DeGeorge, Greg Dallas, and Petra Dallas. Dave Michalski Photo.

August 10, 2005. 05-542. #28. Richard Kauffman, 64, of Alamo, California, was disabled with lower back spasms, severe leg pain, and distal numbness, at his campsite near Crown Lake.

A ground team hiked in, assessed the subject, and spent the remainder of the night with him.

In the morning, the team transported Kauffman via wheeled litter to an appropriate landing zone, and CHP H80 flew the subject to Mammoth Lakes Hospital, where he was treated and released.

Responders were: Schmidt(ops), Holmquist, Michalski, Brenninkmeyer, Case, Beck, Hall, Merchant, C Knoche, A Knoche.

Click here for additional photos.

#29 Mutual Aid Tuolumne County, Missing Motorist. (Beck) Data not available at this time.

August 19-20, 2005. 05-570, #30. Sandra Keith, 57, of Rohnert Park, was reported overdue from a peak climbing trip to the Virginia Lakes area. Investigation indicated that she was likely to be on the ridgeline to the north of Excelsior Mountain, and searchers spotted a possible body on a snowfield in this area.

A Sheriffs Office coroner was flown to the area by CHP helicopter H80 that was assisting with the search, and the dead victim was confirmed to be Keith who may have died of a fall from the ridgeline above. The victim was extracted by helicopter. Responders were: Holmquist (ops), Schmidt, Beck, Enright, Albaugh, Riggs, A Knoche, Isaacs, DeGeorge, and Gilbreath.

August 19 & 20, 2005. 05-572, #31. Marylin Somoano of La Canada, California was camping with her husband, 2 grand kids and 2 dogs at Hilton Lake #4 (about 5 miles in from the trail head). She was burned while trying to get her camp stove lit.

She had attached the fuel bottle to the stove and began to prime it. When she couldn't get a flame she thought that the stove and bottle weren't connected correctly. When she began to unscrew the fuel bottle the pressure released, spraying fuel on her face and neck and at the same time igniting.

She received second degree burns on her wrists, chest, face, and injury to her head, shoulder, and left ankle. The Team hiked in, arriving at the site at UTM 344138, 4149733 at 0042 on Saturday morning. They stabilized the victim, stayed with her during the night, and moved her about 1/4 mile via wheeled litter to a meadow LZ.

CHP Helicopter H40 arrived at the victim's location at 0720, and transported her to the University Medical Center Burn Unit in Fresno.

Responders were: Greene (ops), Holmquist, Schmidt, Michalski, Rudolph, Hansen, Petra and Greg Dallas, Case, Beck, and Gilbreath (ops).

Click here for additional photos.

August 31, 2005. 05-605 #32. Judith Lehman from Orange, California injured her back when dismounting a horse near Rainbow Falls.

The Team moved her in a wheeled litter to the trailhead where paramedics took her to the hospital.

Responders were: DeGeorge(ops), Greene, Case, Michalski, Holmquist, Brenninkmeyer, Anne Knoche, Schmidt, McClintock, Beck, Enright, Beck, and Hall. Dave Michalski Photos.

Click here for additional photos.

September

Linda Cobb was a visitor at the September meeting.

Thanks to all who worked so busily at the Fall Century Ride SAG station. Pictures here.

Thanks to Daniel Hansen for setting up an ink and toner recycling program to raise money for our Team. Make your friends and business contacts aware that we can get money for the Team by saving the empties and getting them to Daniel.

Our Team Secretary Craig Knoche is setting up an archive system for our Team history. If you have any material that could be included, please contact Craig. This would include reports, letters, pictures, videos, etc.

All Ortovox type M1 and M2 avalanche transceivers are being recalled for battery door replacements. If you have one, whether Team owned or personally owned, get it to our Equipment Officer Dave Michalski, and he will take care of the problem for you. Please do this very soon!!

Sometimes we get a LOT of letters, full of gratitude and admiration for what we do for our victims. Here are some to remind us of why we do what we do.

From Ted Mandryk. To members of the Mono SAR Team, particularly to responders Greene, Michalski, Huntsman, Zahn, Walker, Wright, Aguirre, and Matell. My name is Ted Mandryk. You rescued me on the southeast couloir of Dunderberg Mtn. on April 30, 2004 after I had the misfortune of being in the path of a random rockslide probably set off by solar warming.

I've been wanting to write you all for some time to express my gratitude and to give you an update. I was amazed to discover that members of your team placed a photo essay of my rescue on your website. I wasn't aware of this until some workmates informed me of it after one of their husbands who had been affiliated with Mono SAR in the past came across it while browsing the website.

As you accurately implied in the report, I suffered a closed tibia shaft fracture, a compound left index finger fracture, and a severe laceration to my left ear and face that transected my parotid gland and resulted in a significant hemorrhage which made for some impressive snow staining as documented in your photos. Dunderberg is already a reddish brown mountain, but I think I made it a little more so.

After initial evaluation at Mammoth Hospital, I requested to be transported to Ventura County Medical Center where I work as an emergency physician. My lacerations were repaired by our fantastic plastic surgeon, Dr. William Starr. My compound fracture was irrigated out by our equally excellent orthopedist, Dr. Mark Robinson who will soon be on the staff at Mammoth Hospital, and who will surely be caring for many of your rescues in the future.

My hemoglobin dropped to around 9, so I estimated that I lost close to a third of my blood volume, but I didn't require any transfusions. However, the status of my ear, which had been almost completely torn off and was hanging by a small pedicle, was quite tenuous, so I received five days of hyperbaric oxygen treatment to increase tissue oxygenation to the ischemic areas. The end cosmetic result has been quite excellent, although I still have some loss of sensation and occasional pain.

I elected not to have surgical treatment (either internal rodding, or external fixation) of my tibial shaft fracture because of concern about potential short and long term complications, so I was placed in a long legcast for three weeks followed by a functional plastic brace for three months during which time I worked very hard at progressive ambulation. My tibia has healed very well and I'm back to running as much as ten miles a day.

I started skiing again in November, and ventured into the backcountry again last spring, taking care to be vigilant of danger of random hazards. My only real long term deficit has been with the function of my index finger which has some restricted range of motion at the proximal joint. The proximal phalanx bone was shattered, but Dr Robinson did a great job of plating the fragments together. I went through months of hand therapy, but I never fully regained range of motion, although my hand is very functional.

I want to thank all my rescuers for the superb and professional job that you did. You guys provide a fantastic service and deserve accolades. I would like to meet each of you again to personally express my thanks. If you get together for monthly meetings, perhaps I could attend sometime. Sincerely, Ted Mandryk.

From Robert Somoano: As you can imagine, we've been very busy, so I apologize for my late reply to you. Marylin is doing very well. The helicopter took her to the Fresno UMC Burn Center where they treated her very well. In fact, by the time we backpacked out on Saturday and got to cell phone coverage at Tom's Place, she was ready for release and to go home!! Her burns were said to be "only" 2nd degree. Since I was on the eastern side of the Sierra, her early release, while very welcome, was a logistic problem. Fortunately, my daughter in San Francisco was able to leave immediately to pick her up and bring her home to Los Angeles.

Yesterday (Monday), we went to the USC Burn Center (heavyweight burn care capabilities) for Marylin's first "scraping off" of the dead skin--very painful, even with morphine. But everything looks fine, and the doctors gave her permission to go to Tuolumne Meadows over Labor Day!! We have tons of medicines/creams, etc. and more appointments. It appears that everything we did, and your team did, at Hilton Lakes was right on.

I can't begin to thank you and your teammates for your service. If there is anything I can do, or write to, please let me know. You can count on me to spread the word of the great deeds of the Mono County Sheriff SAR team.

From Marylin Somoano. I wanted to drop you a personal note to not only thank you ALL so much for all you did for me and to also update you on my healing process. I have been SO lucky that things were not as bad as they could have been. The only potential 3rd degree burns were around my ear area, but mostly all 2nd. The healing has been better than I ever expected, so good in fact that I am now on a mini vacation (just left Tuloumne meadows and on to way to Mt Rushmore-must do things in life while you can).

I still have areas on my neck and ear that have to be debrided each day(the worst and MOST painful part of the healing process), but minor compared to original. My left hand is ok, just still healing, but not painful or have to keep bandaged. Of course my hair is quite short now, but I'm getting spoiled by the convenience. I continue to heal, the last of my "scabs" coming off, now I just have to get rid of the multi toned skin look-a minor price to pay. My hand still continues to be the lingering sore/tender area, but very minimal now. In all, I am one lucky person to have gotten such quick, excellent care. I hope we can do something for your gang sometime. My regards and beyond thanks to all involved. Thanks and God bless you all.

From John Dawson (Hazelhurst, Georgia): I am writing this letter to express my deepest gratitude to your organization for making my rescue possible. On July 13, 2005, my wife and I had just hiked out of Yosemite National Park over Donahue Pass. Beginning on the 12th and continuing into the 13th I had a bleeding ulcer that, according to the attendants at Mammoth Hospital, caused me to lose 40% of my blood. After realizing I could go no further, my wife called 911 and was connected to your team member Bill Greene.

It was a miracle in itself that we had phone service where we were! Mr. Greene ultimately arranged for a helicopter that picked me up and moved me to Mammoth Hospital. They gave me blood and had me transported by air ambulance to a hospital in Reno. According to the doctors there my hike was not the direct cause of the hemorrhage. They did tell me, however, that if I had not been removed from where we were to get proper medical help, I would not be here today.

I was told that Mr. Greene voluntarily took off from work to assist and coordinate my rescue. He most graciously offered to help my wife in any way he could. When one is in a strange area under very adverse circumstances, one (and especially me) can appreciate such dedication and commitment to helping others.

On your brochure I read your motto about dedication, search, and recovery. I am definitely one of the recipients. I will be forever be indebted to your organization. Please accept my small contribution to your organization. I will be back in your area again next year and hope to see you but under different circumstances of course. I have enclosed a photo taken by my wife. You were the answer to her prayers. John Dawson.

From Mike Hastings (Lafayette, CA): Team 1, 2, 3, and Bill: Thank you again for your assistance last Sunday. This is a short thank you note and reminder for me of the effort by everyone to bring me down from the trail below Shadow Lake.

First on the scene were Daniel and John (Team 1) after running through the woods and hiking up the trail were ready to administer any necessary aid. John's energy was not only an immediate help to me but well received by the other members of this SAR group.

Team 2 (Dori, Tim, Barry, Ron) arrived after doing the last 1/4 mile in 18 seconds. As the litter and air splint were being prepared, Team 3 (Brian) arrived. Brian's task besides supporting the litter was to carry my pack out. I was initially concerned over the weight, but he said it was not very heavy at all. Funny it felt very heavy to me going over Donahue Pass.

Quickly the 3 teams became one and off we went. I was very thankful that you recommended using my sleeping pad. On the trail back the only remaining questions were: 1. Would the team take advantage of the free spill provided when we started, and 2 would Bill join up after we were over the last hill? Well no spills for me and Bill arrived well before the last hill was reached.

Finally, I am most appreciative of the SAR team taking my son Matt to dinner and then having Barry and Ron drive out of their way to take him to his car at Tuolumne. From my perspective the Team made a frustrating, painful, and difficult end to my six day trip as comfortable as possible. I hope that my small donation will help you with your equipment needs (e.g. air splint, case of energy gum). An additional donation will arrive before your Christmas Party. P.S. The injury was a quadriceps muscle and tendon tear, now repaired and healing.

From Bob and Sandy Bowen (Alto Loma, CA): Please accept our heartfelt gratitude for your search for our son Brent Bowen August 3, 2005. We will never forget the professionalism and competency of each person we dealt with during our night of fear for our son. Our thanks to Jutta, Jeff, and Steve for responding in the middle of the night and conducting the search during the early morning hours. You will never be forgotten.

From Vince Capasso (Cincinatti, Ohio): Thank you! I don't know how to express my thanks for you getting me out of the mountains after my fall on the Duck Pass trail July 3. It turned out the fall was caused by low potassium, which was due to a change in blood pressure medication in the spring, apparently the brain stopped functioning while walking, not a good thing while on a trail in snow conditions.

Being on medication for irregular heartbeat prevented the usual symptoms of irregular heartbeat. Doctor told me altitude makes the problem worse. The right eye socket was repaired at Loma Linda, and thank Heaven it is finally back to normal. My left eye is not good, so was not able to read or use the computer until about two weeks ago, which is why the time delay in getting thanks to those who assisted me. Enclosing a contribution for the Team which I am sure you will find a use for.

From Richard Kauffman (Alma, CA). Dear Jeff: A note to say thanks for getting me out of the mountains. Having been in pain for 20 hours and expecting no relief for at least another 10 hours, I was quite amazed to hear and see you arrive in camp at 0230. But even more significant was the level of competence, professionalism and passion that you and your team members exhibited in taking care of my situation.

Our whole group was highly impressed with your operation. Several nights later, we all met for dinner, which lasted many hours, and the only topic was the rescue. All six of us were able to tell of the experience from their viewpoint and we were better able to understand the number of people and the coordination necessary to facilitate such a smooth successful operation.

So my thanks extend not only to the rescue team of yourself, Dave Michalski, Brian Brenninkmeyer, Ron Hall, and Michele Merchant, but also to Jutta Schmidt for coordination, the other SAR team members on standby at the trailhead, CHP pilot Scotty and Officer Ellen and of course the Mono County Sheriff personnel Sgt. Tim Minder and others. There are probably others that I don't know about that deserve my thanks as well.

Needless to say, this pack trip was a memorable event. I have done my best to suppress the pain involved, but I will never forget the rescue event and the people involved for the professional manner with which you went about doing the task. All of us are sure glad that there are people like you and your team who want to, and are CAPABLE OF helping people in difficult situations. Again my thanks.

From Rob and Gail Crawford (Alma, CA). We want to thank the SAR team for the assistance in rescuing our friend, Dick Kauffman, from Crown Lake on August 10 and 11. The team was very professional, polite, and competent. They were a pleasure to interact with, even in our stressful times. We hope that the enclosed contribution will be used to help others that need assistance.

From David Kurtzman and Bunny Martin: You all do a fantastic job. We were part of the Kauffman group that you helped out on August 10 and 11. Thanks for your caring professional help.

From Judy Lehman (Orange, CA). On August 31 I fell as I dismounted on a horse ride to Rainbow Falls. Your team did a magnificent job of evacuating me safely out of the wilderness area and seeing me off to Mammoth Hospital. It was hard work which was done with great cooperation and morale. Please accept our enclosed contribution as our grateful thanks.

September 4, 2005. 05-616 # 33. Sherie Thacker from Rocklin, CA was hiking with family members on the Rush Creek Trail near June Lake. She felt a pop in her knee and was unable to walk so family members hiked to the Rush Creek Pack Station to call for help. The Team responded and transported her to the trailhead where she was taken by Mono County ambulance to Mammoth Hospital. Responders were: Greene (Ops), Michalski, Enright, Walker, Holmquist, Schmidt, Case, DeGeorge, and Burditt.

September 7 - 9, 2005. 05-629 #34. Leon Zheng, 27, of Santa Clara, was reported overdue from a backpacking trip in northern Yosemite. The SAR team assisted the Yosemite National Park search by blocking trails and interviewing backpackers in northern Mono County. Zheng was found in Yosemite National Park on 9 Sept, tired and with a sprained ankle but otherwise in good condition. Responders were: Holmquist (ops), Albaugh, Brenner, Hall, A Knoche, C Knoche, Merchant, Schmidt.

September 11, 2005. 05-639 # 35. Rachael Miller from Kernville was reported to be two miles in on the High Trail with a knee injury and unable to walk. The Team found her on the trail, splinted her leg, and assisted her in moving the remaining distance to the Agnew Meadows trailhead. She was transported to the hospital by friends. Responders were: DeGeorge (ops), Greene, Holmquist, Schmidt, Walker, Michalski, Enright, Case, Anne Knoche, Craig Knoche, and Hronesh

September 17, 2005. 05-645 # 36. Steve Hanni from La Mesa, CA had severe symptoms of altitude sickness at Dorothy Lake. Two teams were sent in and CHP Helicopter H40 responded. H40 was able to evacuate the victim directly to University Medical Center in Fresno, where he was treated for High Altitude Pulmonary Edema and hyponatremia. Responders were: Michalski (Ops), Holmquist, Schmidt, A. Knoche, C. Knoche, Brenner, Case, Burditt, and Beck.

September 24, 2005 - ELT Training done jointly with the Inyo County team. Meet at Mammoth airport at 0800. This will be a realistic exercise for multiple aircraft and victims, and should be a lot of fun to work with our neighbors from the LO (Lower Owens).

Note: This can also be a GPS checkoff for Candidate Members who need that. Just be practiced up on your GPS buttonology, and be the member of your field team assigned to do the GPS work. You will need to be able to enter locations in memory, convert coordinates, etc.

September 25, 2005. 05-673 #37. Tom Cronin and Christopher O'Donnell were reported overdue from a climb of Mt. Conness. The Team responded to search. The next morning DeGeorge located them in good condition walking on Saddlebag Lake road returning to their vehicles. They were delayed by headlamp failure and spent the night out. Responders were: DeGeorge (Ops), Beck, Anne Knoche and Craig Knoche.

September 29, 2005. 05-683 # 38. Xiaodong Yuan from Stockbridge, GA and his mother Zhaohui Wang from China were missing for several days on a trip from Yosemite to Death Valley. A multiple agency search located their vehicle over the side of a steep slope on the Tioga Pass road. The occupants were deceased. The Team worked with the tow company to access, rig, and recover the vehicle and personal belongings scattered on the slope. Responders were: Greene (Ops), DeGeorge (Ops), Beck, Brenner, Brenninkmeyer, Burditt, Case, Enright, Gilbreath, Hansen, Hronesh, McClintock, Merchant, Michalski, and Weatherly.

October

October 10, 2005. 05-709 #39. Missing motorist, Sonora Pass road 108. Responders were: DeGeorge (Ops), Holmquist, Schmidt.

November

Aryeh Brenner completed all his Candidate ladder steps, and became our newest Rescue Member at the November meeting.

Thanks to Daniel Hansen (our other recent Rescue Member) for setting up an ink and toner recycling program to raise money for our Team. Make your friends and business contacts aware that we can get money for the Team by saving the empties and getting them to Daniel. As of early November he had received $153.

Thanks to Laura Mogg for teaching the blood borne pathogen training at the November meeting.

We have six new Kenwood radios on order.

Two used snowmobiles have been donated to the team, and are being checked out.

Our CFO Jutta Schmidt reports we have recent donations of $87 from United Way, $50 from Texaco, and $100 from Union Bank.

Dori Leyen is again organizing the AVVY SAVVY avalanche awareness show in early January, in conjunction with Telebration. Colleen Beck, Jeff Buennagel, Greg Dallas and Heidi Nelson are also working on this.

November 10, 2005. First backside operation that didn't happen - overdue snowboarder on Saturday night. Sgt. Minder started working up the operation, but before the team was called out the victim called in from the Pumice Flats payphone! Ski patrol picked him up. Amazing with such little snow for this to happen.

December

Our annual election of the Board of Directors was held at the December meeting. This year there were four open seats. Tim Rudolph and Jim Wright did not seek re-election, and have our thanks for years of service, including many long nights in board meetings.

Candidates for the open seats included two incumbents, Pete DeGeorge and Dave Michalski. Steve Case and Daniel Hansen were nominated to replace the vacancies. Pete, Dave, Steve, and Daniel were elected unanimously. Team officers were elected by the Board members, and remain unchanged as follows:

President - Jeff Holmquist
Vice President - Pete DeGeorge
CFO - Jutta Schmidt
Secretary - Craig Knoche
Training Officer - Barry Beck
Equipment Officer - Dave Michalski
Member-at-Large - Steve Case
Members-at-Large - Daniel Hansen
Member-at-Large - John Hronesh

Welcome to new Candidate Members Mark and Dagmar Zila, and Jason Senior. They spent the day on February 12 taking the Basic Training from Jim, Jeff, and Dave, as did Elysia Chapman, who may become a Candidate.

Congratulations to Noreen McClintock and Ursa. They are now an OES certified Cadaver team, - the only one on the East side.

Thanks to Craig Knoche for training on our new pulse and oxygen saturation meter (Pulse Oximeter) following the February meeting.

Thanks to Sue Burak and Nate Greenberg of the Eastern Sierra Avalanche Center for attending our February meeting and their comments and pictures concerning the Blacksmith Canyon avalanche.

Sgt. Minder announced that two Deputies will serve as Assistant SAR Coordinators - Jeff Beard for North County, and Pete DeGeorge for South County.

Our Annual Holiday and Awards Dinner was held at the Convict Lake Restaurant on Thursday December 15.

Each year the Team honors members for their individual excellence and public service. 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 2005 Pete Schoerner Rescue Member of the Year is Barry Beck. Barry serves the team as a board member and Training Officer, and participated in more than 50 team events this year, including 23 rescue operations. Although Barry has been on the team for less than two years, he has already served on 82 team events and 35 field operations-including the most physically challenging, many requiring overnight bivouacs. He has quickly become one of the team's key players in all types of rescues.

New members in training are called Candidate Members, and must undergo training, practice and testing in 18 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 on spotter duty in a small airplane that crashed during an operation on August 15, 1979.

This year the team selected Daniel Hansen as the Rick Mosher Candidate Member of the Year. Daniel has been very active and faithful in both his training and in rescue operations, and has recently advanced to Rescue Member status. He has participated in more than 60 Team events, including 17 rescues since he began his training. He was recently elected to the team's board of directors.

President Jeff Holmquist and his partner in crime Jutta Schmidt presented some fun awards to team members:

• Ice Putter: Jim Gilbreath
• Snowboarding starter set: Jutta Schmidt
• SpittlebaK: Tim Minder
• Champipple: Dave Michalski
• Fair-weather Raiders fan t-shirt: John Hronesh
• LuvSlug: Ron Hall
• Take-a-Number: Barry Beck/team
• Giant ink cartridge: Daniel Hansen
• Orville Wright's bowler: Steve Case

Barry Beck did a great job of producing the video of the Team’s 2005 highlights. It took many many hours to put that together. DVDs are available.

December 12, 2005. 05-855 #40. Plane Crash, Sherwin Summit. Gregory Little from Highland, CA, and Geoffrey Kostiuk from Perris, CA were enroute from Redlands to Mammoth in a 1969 Beechcraft Musketeer. They were bringing some paint for a friend in Mammoth. Their last radio contact was Independence, about 60 miles south.

A witness reported hearing the engine sputtering, and a spiraling descent near the top of Sherwin Grade. The Team was dispatched to search for the crash site, which was in a sparsely populated Pinon Pine forest. Once the wreckage was located and approval given by NTSB and FAA, the Team assisted Deputy Coroners in the removal and transport via wheeled litter of two deceased victims.

NTSB investigators and Team members were on scene Dec. 13 to gather more information and determine the best way of removing the plane. The cause of the accident is still under investigation. The SAR community was saddened to note that Geoffrey Kostiuk was the son of Ed Kostiuk, the SAR Coordinator for the State of Oklahoma. Responders were: Greene (Ops), DeGeorge (Ops), Barry Beck, Buennagel, Case, Hansen, Holmquist, Schmidt, Craig Knoche, Michalski, and Merchant.