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
2015 Operations Summary
by Jim Gilbreath
The Team responded to 44 calls
- 30 were searches
- 25 were rescues
- 11 were both
There were 60 victims/subjects involved
- 49 were visitors
- 11 were Eastern Sierra residents
The Team was in the field for 292 hours, with a total of 1640 man-hours volunteered. The average duration of a mission was 7 hours with an average of 6 members responding, and an average of 38 manhours per call.
The maximum turnout was 17 members, with 204 man-hours.
10 missions were snow related. None involved aviation.
14 missions involved injuries, with 5 fatalities.
Mission Categories:
- 9 Overdue
- 2 Stranded
- 7 Lost
- 8 Falls
- 2 Illness
- 10 False alarms
We were able to obtain helicopter aid for 8 missions
- 20 subjects were transported in some way
- 8 received medical aid
Of the 60 subjects there were:
- 44 Hikers and backpackers
- 1 Skier
- 3 Snowboarder
- 2 Snowshoers
- 0 Snowmobilers
- 5 Climbers
- 0 Hunters
- 0 Fishermen
- 1 Motorist
- 0 Fliers
- 4 Others
Training man hours totaled 2000.
Map of 2015 Operations
January
Officers for 2015 were approved by the Board on January 13: President - Dan Corning, Vice President - Jutta Schmidt, Equipment Officer - Rick Dodson, Secretary - Heidi Vetter, Member - Jeff Holmquist, Member - Jim Gilbreath, Member - Luke Hammack, Member - Jon Robertson, Training Officer - Pete DeGeorge, Financial Officer - Bill Greene.
January 14, 2015 - ABS Avalanche Airbag Training - John Clausen from ABS came to our meeting and demonstrated proper set up and use of our new avalanche airbag packs.
Airbag backpack
Airbag deploying
More Avalanche Air Bag Training Pictures
January 25-26, 2015. 15-056 #1 On the evening of Sunday, January 25, 2015, at approximately 10:00pm, the Mono County Sheriff's Office received a call regarding a hiker with an ankle injury in the White Mountains.
A male hiker, age 19, from Dyer, Nevada was hiking in the backcountry of the White Mountains when he injured his ankle jumping off some rocks along the trail, during a camping trip to Crooked Creek.
Upon attempting to walk, he was unable to put weight on his ankle and requested assistance to exit the backcountry in the morning.
On the morning of Monday, January 26, 2015, at 6:00 am, the Team responded to the Crooked Creek area with two rescue trucks and the Polaris Ranger.
The Team was able to locate the injured hiker. He was evaluated by an EMT and safely transported out of the backcountry.
Responders were: DeGeorge (Ops), Corning, Guffey, Holmquist, Cucura, and Hammack.
Honorary Rescue Member of the Year - At our December 2014 awards dinner, The Team awarded this special plaque to Gary Boyd as the Honorary Rescue Member of the Year.
Gary responded with this email message:
"WOW! Thank you so much for the making me the Honorary Rescue Member for 2014. It was such a shock to receive the plaque. Over the past two years when the SAR calls came in I wanted to go out so bad, but I knew my health just wouldn't let me. I was certainly with you all in spirit.
Thank you, Gary"
Gary passed away on January 29, 2015 after a very long series of medical problems.
After joining the team, Gary participated in many calls and also supported the team by being active in our fund raisers. His jovial and very sociable presence will be missed!
February
February 5, 2015. 15-081 #2 The Team was called out for a report of a hiker stranded on or near Iron Mountain. A 22 year old male from Idaho flew to Mammoth intending to hike to Iron Mountain. He walked from Main Lodge to Devils Postpile, and camped there two nights. The next morning (Feb 5), he started toward Iron Mountain, but soon lost the trail. He was concerned about a storm coming, and low food, so called his father, who initiated an emergency call.
The Madera County Sheriff handled the requests for air support. CHP H40 responded, but was unable to safely operate in the high winds. The Team sent two snowmobiles down for ground support in the event helicopter aid was not available or successful. Late in the afternoon a big twin rotor CH-47 Chinook helicopter from the National Guard at Sacramento located the subject, and hoisted him up on a jungle penetrator. He was taken to Mammoth airport, where he was met by a Team member and taken to his hotel. Responders were: Corning (Ops), Vetter (Ops), DeGeorge (IC), Hammack, Guffey, Soucy, Hartstrom, Gilbreath, Robertson, and Dan Tonseth.
February 11, 2015 - Lake Ice Rescue Classroom Training with Natai Endo after the Team meeting.
February 21, 2015 - Triage Training with Ray McGrale - Seven Team members got up-to-date on triage procedures.
March
March 3, 2015 - Orientation meeting with Mineral County Nevada SAR Team in case a mutual aid situation should occur in the future.
March 12, 2015 - Bridgeport Winter Recreation Area Orientation. Six members of the team attended an all day orientation at the Bridgeport Winter Recreation Area at Sonora Pass in preparation for any rescue's that might occur there.
More Bridgeport Winter Recreation Area Orientation Pictures
March 14, 2015. 15-161 #3 At 0830 the Team was called out to conduct search operations in the Owens Gorge for a missing climber in conjunction with Inyo County SAR. Spontaneous search efforts by the subject's friends and family had been underway for several hours prior to authorities being notified. Prior to our arrival, a friend of the subject located his deceased body at the bottom of a climbing route in the Sub Gorge below the paved access point.
Twelve Mono SAR members staged on the lower gorge access road, joining the lnyo SAR team already on scene. Though the location was in Mono County, it was determined that the best course of action would be a combined effort. Due to steep terrain and to minimize rock fall hazards, the victim was brought upstream about a quarter mile via hand carried litter, traveling in and out of the river in the bottom of the gorge to more moderate terrain where a rope aided haul could complete the extrication. 600 feet of rope was rigged with a 4 to 1 mechanical advantage, anchored to SAR trucks on the road. Responders were: Greene (Ops), DeGeorge (IC), Case, Corning, Carole Schilz, Brad Schilz, Hammack, Dodson, French, Endo, Gilbreath, Ackerman, Soucy, and 8 members of Inyo SAR.
Reported in Accidents in North American Climbing 1916, American Alpine Club
FALL ON ROCK, BOLT FAILURE | Climbing Alone
Owens River Gorge, Silent Pillar Wall
Scott Sederstrom (44) fell to his death on March 13 when a bolt failed on Life in Electric Larvae Land (5.10b) at Silent Pillar Wall in the Owens River Gorge. When Sederstrom did not return from climbing that evening, his fiancée drove to the Lower Gorge parking lot, where she found his van and dog. Inyo County Search and Rescue began an organized search in the morning. About an hour into the search, a family friend of Sederstrom's found his body at the base of the climb. Sederstrom was on the ground, with a stick clip attached to his harness and an eight- foot loop of slack between the tie-in point on his harness and the Grigri attached to his belay loop. A quickdraw was on the rope within the loop, with a bolt hanger (missing its bolt) clipped to the other end of the quickdraw. The evidence suggests that Sederstrom was using the stick clip to go bolt to bolt-unclipping the bolt below as he went and using the Grigri to ascend the short loop of rope to the bolt above him-when the third bolt on the climb failed. A Mini Traxion device was found in his pack, suggesting he was planning to set up a fixed line for top-rope soloing. Sederstrom fell 25 to 30 feet to the ground, suffering trauma to his head. He was not wearing a helmet. (Sources: Rock and Ice, Dan McDevitt, Marty Lewis, and Greg Barnes.)
ANALYSIS
The bolt in question was a 5/16-inch buttonhead (a pound-in compression bolt). The buttonhead bolt snapped approximately half an inch into its hole. Inspection of the bolt revealed corrosion below the surface and that the bolt may have been fractured prior to the accident. While most modern expansion and glue-in bolts are strong and reliable (when placed correctly in good rock), climbers should be suspicious of any older-style bolts, which are often not drilled deeply. Age greatly affects the integrity of most bolts; this one was likely placed on the first ascent in 1992. The climber could have prevented this accident by implementing some form of redundancy or a true self-belay (utilizing an anchor near the ground) into his rope-solo system. Instead, he put his faith in single points of protection, well off the ground. It's impossible to say if a helmet would have saved Sederstrom after falling from such a height. (Source: The Editors.)
Jutta Schmidt presenting "What it takes to be a member"
2015 Candidate Class
Ops 15-174 location - Barry Beck Photo
CH-47 Chinook Helicopter extracting subject - Barry Beck Photo
March 21, 2015. 15-174 #4 On Saturday, March 21, 2015, the Mineral County (Nevada) Sheriff dispatch center received a 911 call from a climber, age 33 of Reno Nevada, who reported that he had broken his leg in a fall. He reported his location as being near Matterhorn Peak, which is approximately 15 miles southwest of Bridgeport, California in the Sawtooth mountain range.
His 911 call was transferred to the Mono County Sheriff's office dispatch center in Bridgeport California, but the call was terminated due to poor cell phone reception. Attempts to re-establish contact were unsuccessful, so his exact whereabouts were unknown. Mono County Sheriff deputies located his vehicle at Mono Village, Twin Lakes, the trailhead used for access to the Matterhorn Peak area.
The Mono County Sheriff Search and Rescue Team responded along with a helicopter from the California Highway Patrol based in Auburn, California. Due to high winds the CHP helicopter had limited capability for searching the peaks and valleys near the 12,000 foot peak, so a larger helicopter was requested.
Just prior to dark a rescue helicopter from Fallon Naval Air Station reached the search area and was able to spot the subject at approximately the 10,000 foot level on a steep slope just below the crest of a ridgeline known as The Cleaver two miles north of Matterhorn Peak. The Navy helicopter tried numerous times to lower a medic, but were unsuccessful due to high winds, the steep slope angle, and darkness.
That evening Mono County SAR personnel began hiking in to the subject's location. A larger helicopter and assistance from the Inyo County SAR team was requested for Sunday morning.
While SAR personnel were climbing to the location a California National Guard CH-47 Chinook helicopter from Stockton, California, was able to lower a crewman to the subject, and he was hoisted up to the helicopter. He was flown to Bryant Field in Bridgeport, and transferred to Mono County Paramedics. Medics transferred him to a CareFlight helicopter for transport to Renown Medical Center in Reno, Nevada.
The CH-47-F helicopter was one of ten delivered to the National Guard in December, and this rescue was the first one for this model. New equipment on this model was a critical component in the helicopter being able to rescue the climber from his high altitude, windy, steep slope location.
The helicopter pilot was able to use the new 'hover hold' feature to maintain a precise position while very near the cliff face during the extraction operation.
Other agencies providing valuable assistance in obtaining and coordinating military resources used in this rescue were the California Office of Emergency Services and the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center in Langley Virginia.
Responders were: Greene (Ops), Minder (IC), DeGeorge (Ops & IC), Beck, Hammack, Dodson, Cucura, Barnum, Jeff Hunter, Caara Hunter, Robertson, and Thompson.
The victim of this accident writes this story about his experience.
Discussing situation with Navy Flight Crew that located subject
Chinook Helicopter on the scene
Setting up GPS for possible walk-in to subject
Setting up GPS for possible walk-in to subject
Potential extraction route
Team hiking in after dark
Bivouacking for the night
Reported in Accidents in North American Climbing 1916, American Alpine Club
FALL ON ROCK AND SNOW | Inexperience, Off Route
Sawtooth Range, Cleaver Peak
On March 21 the Mineral County Sheriff (Nevada) received a 911 call from Brandon Reiff (33) of Reno, who reported that he had broken his leg in a fall near Matterhorn Peak (12,280 feet). His 911 call was transferred to the Mono County Sheriff, but the call was dropped due to poor reception. Attempts to re-establish contact were unsuccessful, so his exact whereabouts were unknown.
Mono County SAR responded, along with a helicopter from the California High- way Patrol. Due to high winds, the helicopter had limited capability for searching near the 12,000-foot peak, so a larger helicopter was requested. Just prior to dark, the subject was spotted at approximately 10,000 feet on a steep slope below the crest of ridgeline forming Cleaver Peak (11,760'), two miles north of Matterhorn Peak. The helicopter tried numerous times to lower a medic but was unsuccessful due to high winds, the steep slope, and darkness.
That evening Mono County SAR personnel began hiking to the subject's location. A larger helicopter and assistance from the Inyo County SAR team were requested for the morning of March 22. While SAR personnel climbed to the victim's location, a Chinook helicopter was able to lower a crewman. The climber was hoisted up to the helicopter, then flown to Bryant Field in Bridgeport. (Source: Mono County SAR.)
ANALYSIS
In late winter or early spring, any route on Matterhorn Peak or Cleaver Peak is a mountaineering objective, involving a considerable amount of steep snow climbing and exposed, steep, and possibly snow-covered rock. Although this climber's equipment included mountaineering boots, crampons, a climbing helmet, and an appropriate clothing system for winter mountaineering-but no ice axe-he did not have technical mountaineering skills or experience.
According to the climber, he made the decision to attempt Matterhorn Peak late the night before and did not leave the trailhead until after 8:30 a.m. He was unable to locate the trail toward the peak; instead, he chose to scramble and bush-whack up a streambed toward the mountain. After realizing he had underestimated the approach to Matterhorn Peak, he decided to attempt Cleaver Peak instead, without foreknowledge of any route. He climbed the snow slope up to the ridgeline forming Cleaver Peak with crampons. Once reaching the steep rock walls on Cleaver's northeast side, he continued upward but soon realized the terrain necessitated rock climbing equipment, and so he began down climbing.
While negotiating a steep section, the climber decided to let go and drop a short distance to a ledge below. Upon impact with the ledge, the climber broke his leg and went into a free fall down rock cliffs and snow slopes, eventually coming to a stop on a snowbank. He placed a call to 911 and attempted to splint his leg. The climber noted he'd also dislocated his left shoulder and broken multiple ribs; he also had pain and swelling on the back of his head and neck. Due to his injuries and the difficulty of rescue, the climber spent a full night out in single-digit temperatures and was lucky to survive without additional cold injuries.
What can novice mountaineers take away from this?
Plan ahead. Knowledge of the route and general area is important to success and survival.
Leave early. Most individuals attempting high peaks in winter, or under winter conditions, depart in the predawn hours.
Have the right equipment. In this terrain the climber should have been using an ice axe in conjunction with his crampons. With a rope and rock climbing protection-and the knowledge to use it-the climber could have built anchors and facilitated a safer descent. (Source: The Editors, with information from a blog post by the climber.)
April
April 8, 2015. 15-203 #5 At approximately 10:00AM, the Sheriff's Office received a call regarding a stranded backpacker near Glass Creek. A male backpacker, age 43, from Ramona, California began a two week backpack trip. The backpacker started his trip at Dead Man Creek and was hiking to Yost Lake.
On day four of the trip, while near Glass Creek, the backpacker twisted his ankle and camped at his location to recover. During this time, a storm moved into the Eastern Sierra and the area received 18" to 2 1/2 feet of fresh new snow over the dry landscape. The backpacker was unsuccessful in keeping his equipment dry. He became wet and cold with numb feet.
On Wednesday, April 8th, he called 911 via his cellphone and requested rescue/extrication. The Team was dispatched to rescue the stranded backpacker. SAR team members staged at June Mountain Ski Area. The ground teams accessed Glass Creek through the ski area and the trailhead at Hartley Springs. The teams were able to locate the stranded backpacker, conduct an EMT patient assessment, and assist in re-warming the backpacker's extremities.
The backpacker was given snow shoes, and with the teams' assistance, was able to hike back to the trailhead. Once back at the rescue base, the backpacker signed a medical release to seek his own further medical treatment. He was given a ride to his family members in the Mammoth Lakes area. Responders were: Corning (Ops), Vetter, DeGeorge, Beck, Robertson, Caara Hunter, Jeff Hunter, Hartstrom, Soucy, Hammack, Cowan, Scotese, Dodson, and Webb.
April 8, 2015 - Blood-bourne Pathogen after meeting class with Dori Leyen.
April 11, 2015 - Candidate Basic Training class at the SAR Building with Jim Gilbreath, Jeff Holmquist and Rick Dodson.
Jeff Holmquist discussing operations
Rick Dodson and Jeff Holmquist reviewing ready pack contents
More Basic Candidate Training Pictures
April 15, 2015 - Communications Training at the SAR Building with Jon Robertson and Rick Dodson.
Jon Robertson answering a question
Rick Dodson instructing on how the team radios work
More Communications Training Pictures
April 17, 2015 Tracking Classroom class with Steve Case.
Steve Case introducing the tracking class
Steve Case explaining a typical tracking scenario
Steve Case instructing use of tracking stick
Steve Case instructing use of tracking stick
Steve Case explaining evaluating tracks
Steve Case explaining evaluating tracks
April 18, 2015 Tracking Field class with Steve Case.
Evaluating footprint
Evaluating footprint
Click Here For More Tracking Pictures
April 25-26, 2015 - Fishmas Patrol - Team members patrolled opening weekend of fishing season to provide assistance as needed and put the Team in the Public Eye.
May
May 6, 2015 Knots and Ropes Technical Rescue Training with Bill Greene.
May 8, 2015 Candidate Basic Training make-up with Jim Gilbreath and Rick Dodson.
May 9, 2015 Mountain Navigation Training with Jim Gilbreath.
May 11-12, 2015. 15-282 #6 The Team was called out at 2130 to aid a hiker who was injured during a climb of Pyramid Peak in the Sherwin Range. About 4 PM, as he was descending a rocky area, his right foot slipped on the snow between two boulders, and the fall pinned his leg between the boulders. He was unable to extricate his leg for four hours. During this time he lost his jacket in high winds and his headlamp fell down a crack and was lost. As darkness fell, he was able to free his leg and called 911 due to being wet, cold and having no light source.
Twelve Team members staged at the Mammoth Lakes SAR Facility and dispatched two field teams. They were able to access the area and hike to the subject's location. Following an EMT patient assessment it was determined he would be able to hike slowly down the mountainside with aid from the rescuers. Upon reaching the trailhead, an additional patient assessment was conducted. The subject signed a medical care release form, and was transported to his vehicle to seek his own treatment. Responders were: DeGeorge (Ops), Dodson, L. Hammack, Robertson, Greene, Guffey, Drake, Wenzlau, Brodbeck, T. Hammack, Hartstrom, and Corning.
May 13, 2015 Pack Check at Team Meeting in Bridgeport
May 16, 2015 Low Angle Technical Rescue Training with Jeff Holmquist
May 30, 2015 Steep Angle Technical Rescue Training with Jeff Holmquist
Click Here For More Technical Rescue Steep Angle Training Pictures
May 31, 2015. 15-316 #7 On Sunday May 31, the Mono County Sheriff Search and Rescue (SAR) Team was called out at 11:16 AM to rescue a backpacker from the Bay Area who was injured following a fall near Fern Lake in Madera County, about 5 miles southwest of Devil's Postpile. His right knee was painful and he was unable to put weight on it.
Seventeen SAR Team members staged at Minaret Vista, and ground teams hiked to Fern Lake with a litter and equipment. The first 9 responders put in 10 miles round trip in difficult terrain, with downed trees blocking the trail, and including a nighttime stream crossing.
Following an EMT patient assessment it was determined the patient would not be able to walk, and was evacuated by litter, arriving at Devil's Postpile at 11 PM. He signed a medical waiver to seek his own medical treatment. New Candidate Members were in the field for the first time on this long and difficult evacuation. Responders were: DeGeorge (IC & Ops), Corning (Ops), Dodson, Robertson, Tonseth, Buccowich, Brodbeck, Case, Greene, Barnum, Cowan, Vetter, Holt, Drake, Endo, Gilbreath, and Beck.
Daylight stream crossing
Daylight creek crossing
Moving wheeled liter up the trail in the dark
Trees across the trail
Night stream crossing
Re-grouping after crossing creek in the dark
Crossing the creek in the dark
June
June 2, 2015. 15-323 #8 The Team was called out to aid Mono County Sheriff deputies in an evidence search on a steep hillside near Monitor Pass on S.R. 89. A single car rollover accident resulted in a fatality for the driver, and scattered vehicle parts and contents along the path of the car. Responders were: Ackerman and K-9 Takoda, Ron Hall, Jon Hall, Jeff Hunter, Greene, and DeGeorge.
June 4, 2015 Litter Attendant Technical Rescue Training with Jeff Holmquist
June 6, 2015 High Angle Technical Rescue Training with Barry Beck
Click Here For More Technical Rescue High Angle Training Pictures
June 6, 2015. 15-000 #9 The Team was asked to shadow participants in the 24 hour Adventure Race from Mammoth Mountain to Bishop City Park, and be ready to assist if needed. A missing bike team was located, and a water rescue done of a kayak team at night on Crowley Lake with a Mono County Sheriff Boat Patrol officer. Responders were: Vetter (Ops).
June 7, 2015. 15-334 #10 The Team was called out to assist with recovery of the remains of a visitor from Fresno, who was killed in a single vehicle rollover from the Laurel Creek road above Laurel Lakes. At approximately 6 P.M., the accident was witnessed from the slope above the road. The road at this location is steep, narrow, and has multiple sharp turns. The vehicle left the road and rolled down the steep slope, where it overturned several times, ejecting the driver and two dogs. One dog survived. Responders were: Greene (Ops), DeGeorge, Dodson, Robertson, Webb, Tonseth, Drake, Maroti, Hartstrom, Jon Hall, Endo, Viren Perumal, and Holt.
June 10, 2015 Helicopter Classroom Training with Bill Greene after team meeting
June 13, 2015 Helicopter Field Training with Bill Greene and CHP Helicopter
June 27-28, 2015 - 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.
July
July 1, 2015. no number #11 A half hour was spent on the phone guiding a lost person down from Deer Mountain back to the Inyo Craters trailhead. Responder was: Greene (Ops).
4th of July Parade with Dori Leyen
July 13, 2015. 15-417 #12 At 3 PM, the Team was called out for a female hiker with an injured ankle near Gem Lake and Rush Creek. Teams hiked in while base attempted to reestablish cell phone contact to determine the exact location and extent of injuries. Team reached the dam at Waugh Lake, interviewing persons along the way, but were unable to locate the subject. All teams were instructed to return to base. On the following day contact with YOSAR determined that subject was seen hiking out to Tuolumne Meadows and did not require assistance from Mono SAR. Responders were: Greene (Ops), Endo, Luke Hammack, Dodson, Thompson, Guffey, Jon Hall, Hartstrom, Drake, Webb, and Wenzlau.
July 13, 2015. 15-418 #13 On the evening of Monday, July 13, 2015, at approximately 8:40 PM, the Mono County Sheriff's Office received a call regarding an overdue day hiker near the Sherwin Creek campground. A male day hiker, age 44, from Orange, California, set out on a day hike around 2:30 PM. The hiker wasn't expected to be out for long, and when he didn't return when he said he would, the family became concerned.
The Team was dispatched to help in the search for the overdue day hiker near the Sherwin Creek campground. After securing the campsite for tracks, two SAR teams started searching nearby dirt roads and spoke with nearby campers to see if anyone had seen the overdue hiker. The hiker had walked to a familiar place but had found himself turned around when he tried to return to his campsite. Realizing he was lost, he tried to hail some motorists and knocked on an RV's door but no one would help.
Eventually he walked towards a light which put him at the closed-up YWCA Camp. The caretaker of the camp had previously spoken with one of the SAR teams, so when she found the overdue hiker, she gave him food and water, as he was very dehydrated and shivering, and called 911. The SAR team returned to the YWCA Camp and safely returned the overdue hiker to his family. Responders were: Vetter & Corning, (Ops), Drake, Wenzlau, Brodbeck, Ackerman & K-9 Takoda, and Case.
July 20, 2015. 15-443 #14 On the afternoon of Monday, July 20, 2015, at approximately 12:30 pm, Mono County Sheriff's Dispatch received a call regarding an unresponsive male climber in the Clark Canyon area. The subject, age 37, of Mammoth Lakes, was rock climbing in a popular area known as Area 13 in Clark Canyon where he fell approximately 60 feet from the rock face. Mono County Paramedics, June Lake Fire Department, Mono County Sheriff's Search and Rescue (SAR) Team, and Mono County Sheriff's Office were dispatched to the area. Life saving measures were conducted but were unsuccessful and the subject was pronounced deceased at the scene. Responders were: Corning (Ops), Soucy, Scotese, Brad Schilz, Taj Hammack, Luke Hammack, Beck, and Endo.
July 22, 2015. 15-451 #15 About midnight, a 66 year old diabetic man was reported missing from camp between Garnet and Shadow lakes. He had left camp to get water from Shadow Creek, and did not return. The RP was the wife (at home) of one of the hikers. She had received a text message from the missing subject's hiking partner who asked her to call Mono County Sheriff to request SAR.
The ops leader spent most of the night working up helo support with calls to CHP/OES/AFRCC/Fallon/Mather. Just as the Team was about to be called out, he got text message contact with the RP in the backcountry. 5 minutes later, the missing subject walked back into camp - okay but cold and hungry. A Mather Air Guard Blackhawk helicopter was just getting ready to launch when cancelled. Responder was: Greene (Ops).
July 24, 2015. S.O. incident 1507240028 #16 A cross country running team reported one of their runners overdue or lost east of Smokey Bear Flat. He was located while the Team Operations Leader was enroute. Responder was: Greene (Ops).
July 25, 2015. 15-462 #17 Three separate SPOT emergency messages were sent from the Saddlebag Lake area. One from the resort boat dock, one from the north dock, and one from the trail north. The source was a 13 member Boy Scout backpack party headed to McCabe Lake and then on into Yosemite. Ops leader work-up only. Responder was: Greene (Ops).
July 25 & 26, 2015. 15-466 #18 On Saturday night about 10:30 PM, the Team was called to aid two hikers from Petaluma who had summited Mt. Conness, but then could not find the descent route. They called from a ridge southeast of the summit, approximately on the Park boundary, at 12,300 feet. They were advised to stay where they were and shelter as well as possible until rescuers could reach them.
They attempted to find their way down, and last contact was at 2:30 AM north of Alpine Lake. SAR members hiked in from Saddlebag Lake, and within a few hours were able to find the pair about a mile west of the Carnegie research station. They were escorted out to Saddlebag Lake. Their car was at the Lundy Canyon trailhead, but their camp was at Steelhead Lake. Responders were: Corning (Ops), Beck, Luke Hammack, and Cucura.
July 26, 2015. 15-468 #19 The Team was called to respond to the June Lake area for an injured man. Our response was cancelled shortly after as the situation was handled by other agencies on scene. Responders were: Greene (Ops), Taj Hammack, and Luke Hammack.
Ops 15-474 - CHP Helicopter extracting victim
July 27, 2015. 15-474 #20 On Monday, July 27, 2015, a hiker on the Pacific Crest Trail at Lake Harriet, approximately 18 miles east of Bridgeport, called for help using a satellite phone. She had sustained an ankle injury and was unable to hike out.
Due to the extreme distance from the nearest trailhead, the Mono County Sheriff Search and Rescue Team requested the assistance of a California Highway Patrol helicopter to extract the hiker from the backcountry.
Due to steep terrain it was unable to land near the hiker so the helicopter flew to Bridgeport to pick up additional fuel and also requested a Team rescue member to be available for insertion.
The Team member was taken by helicopter to the hiker's location and lowered by the helicopter's cable hoist to the ground near the injured hiker. The hiker was hoisted up to the helicopter and taken to Bridgeport for evaluation by Mono County Paramedics. Responders were: Greene (Ops), Hartstrom, and Beck.
August
August 2, 2015. 15-492 #21 At about 2:30 PM, two people near Roosevelt Lake were reported in need of evacuation. The case involved a 63 year old male with an ankle injury that occurred the previous day, plus one additional person who was having some sort of stomach distress and was also unable to walk out. The two subjects spoke with a hiking party that morning, asking them to request assistance when they reached the trailhead.
They spoke with both the campground host at the Leavitt meadows campground (who called dispatch), and with personnel at the pack station, which sent three riders up the trail looking for the subjects at about 1 PM, based on the report from the hikers. The Team responded to Leavitt Meadows, but the evacuation was already under way by pack animal from the Leavitt Meadows Pack Station. Mono County paramedics responded, and took charge of the subjects. Responders were: Hartstrom (Ops), Barnum, Haugh, Cucura, and Jon Hall.
August 3, 2015. 15-493 #22 While backpacking with her family in the Saddlebag Lake area, 52 year-old female from Ventura began experiencing severe high altitude sickness symptoms. Family members hiked out and called 911 when they obtained cell phone coverage. The Team responded to their camp site at Shamrock Lake, and were able to carry her out using a wheeled litter. She was evaluated by Mono County Paramedics and taken to Mammoth Hospital for treatment. Responders were: Greene (Ops), DeGeorge (IC), Dodson, Luke Hammack, Beck, Jeff Hunter, Barnum, and Endo.
Preparing victim to be evacuated via wheeled litter
Evacuating victim via wheeled litter
Evacuating victim via wheeled litter
Evacuating victim via wheeled litter
Transporting victim via ferry boat across Saddlebag Lake
August 8, 2015. #23 Dispatch called Saturday about 1800. Worked up op for separated/over-due party. During work-up RP established contact with missing party - waited with RP till party hiked out about 2200. No case number. Responder: Greene (Ops).
August 8, 2015. #24 Ops Leader heard radio traffic that SO/MLPD were looking for a lost person off Scenic Loop. Went to lat/lon from 911 call and picked him up. Transferred to Deputy, who took him to his campsite. No case number. Responder: Greene (Ops).
August 10, 2015. 15-513 #25 The subject was on a back pack trip with a Boy Scout group starting from Silver Lake into the back country. When the group got to Horse Tail Falls above Silver Lake, the subject began feeling weak and trailed behind the group. The other pack leaders found the victim suffering from chest pains and radiating pain consistent with a heart attack. The RP then called 911.
The SAR Team was dispatched to the area along with June Lake Fire, Mono County Paramedics and a helicopter from Careflight. During the response, members of the scout group were able to obtain help from personnel from the Southern California Edison power plant, who have a tramway to Agnew Lake. They were able to use the tram to transport the victim to waiting paramedics who transferred him to a Careflight helicopter at the June Mountain Ski Area parking lot. The helicopter flew him to renown Medical Center in Reno for further treatment. Responders were: DeGeorge (Ops), Beck, Luke Hammack, Tajia Hammack, Drake, Barnum, Endo, Greene and Cucura.
August 12-13, 2015. 15-521 #26 At 7 PM on Wednesday, during the monthly Team meeting, the SAR team responded to the report of an overdue hiker. A 45 year old woman from Mammoth had not returned from a hike as expected in the Convict Lake Area. The team dispatched two hasty teams, one of which spent the night in the field, tracking, and interviewing backpackers at their camps.
The next morning additional teams were sent into the field in addition to CHP Helicopter H40 from Fresno assisting in the search. The hiker eventually walked out on her own Thursday morning, after encountering hikers at Ram Lake who helped keep her warm and nourished during the night.
In the morning, she enlisted assistance from a horse pack group to call her husband and report that she was okay and walking out to Coldwater campground. After becoming disoriented and losing her way, she hiked over 20 miles, much of it cross country, climbing over 6300 feet, crossing a high ridge above Franklin Lake, and finishing 1500 feet higher than she started 30 hours earlier. Responders were: Vetter (Ops), Corning, DeGeorge, Gilbreath, Barnum, Cucura, Case, Jon Hall, Guffey, Thompson, Beck, Carole Schilz, Brad Schilz, Holt, and Greene.
Ops15_521 - Estimated route in blue taken by subject
Ops15_521 - Profile of estimated route taken by subject
Bill Greene ready to fly in and be hoisted down
August 16, 2015. 15-528 #27 On Sunday afternoon, the SAR Team responded to a report of a climber fall near Patricia Lake above Rock Creek Lake. While on the crux of the climb, the subject fell off the route.
The protective anchor he had placed in the rock failed when loaded, resulting in an unprotected fall of 50 feet, and a subsequent tumble of 40 feet.
He was not wearing a helmet, and was found to be unresponsive with multiple injuries due to the fall.
California Highway Patrol helicopter H40 was fortunately in the area, but was unable to land nearby due to high winds and terrain. The helicopter landed at the helispot near Tom's Place, and a SAR team member was flown to the victim's location and inserted by hoist.
With the aid of others at the scene, the subject was stabilized on a backboard with other medical equipment and hoisted into the helicopter.
He was transported to Mammoth Airport where Mono County Paramedics assisted SAR members and CHP aircrew in packaging the subject for direct transport by the CHP helicopter to Fresno Medical Center. Responders were: DeGeorge (Ops), Greene, Drake, Gilbreath, Robertson, Dodson, Ackerman, Webb, Maroti, and Brodbeck.
Subject unloaded from helicopter
Subject being prepared for flight to hospital
August 16, 2015. 15-532 #28 While on a pack trip on the Pacific Crest Trail near Lake Harriet with a group of 4 hikers and pack animals, a 52 year old female member of the group fell into a creek bed, sustaining a lower leg injury. She was unable to continue the hike out of the back country. A SPOT emergency locator beacon was activated to summon help.
The Mono County Sheriff's Department was then contacted by California Office of Emergency Services to handle the call. Due to the remote location, the SAR Team was put on standby and a helicopter was requested from the California Highway Patrol. Helicopter H20 from Auburn then responded to the area. The crew was able to land near the injured subject, assessed her injuries, and flew her to Mammoth Airport for Paramedic transfer to Mammoth Hospital for further treatment. Responders were: DeGeorge (Ops/IC), Beck and Hartstrom were standing by, but were not needed.
August 19, 2015. S.O. Incident #1508190023, OES Mission #2015-LAW-15534, #29. A 58 year old woman near the outlet of Thousand Island Lake reported via DeLorme satellite communicator that she was feeling lethargic with a headache and nausea. Communication via text messaging through International Emergency Response an hour later indicated she was walking out to Agnew Meadows, and SAR assistance was not needed. Responder: Greene (Ops).
Megan Guffey getting ready to be flown in and lowered down
August 22, 2015. 15-541 #30 On Saturday, August 22, 2015, a backpacker from Moraga, California, was injured while hiking on the trail below the Garnet Lake outlet.
He was not able to weight his left leg or continue hiking.
One of the people he was hiking with walked to a point where cell phone reception was available and called 911 for help.
Four Team members were sent into the field hiking to the subject. CHP Helicopter H40 was requested, and responded, but was not able to land.
They picked up a SAR member at Minaret Vista who was lowered to the ground near the subject.
With the help of other hikers the subject was packaged and carried to a spot where H40 could hoist the subject and fly him to Minaret Vista, where a Mono County Paramedic ambulance transported him to Mammoth Hospital for treatment. Responders were: Corning (Ops), DeGeorge (IC), Thompson, Dodson, Guffey, Brodbeck, Maxwell, and Beck.
To the SAR Team -
Thanks to all who coordinated & helped me get out of the back country just below Garnet Lake. I truly admire all that you had to do to even get to me and on a steep hillside & put me in a CHP helicopter & to be in Mammoth Lakes.
Although the only member I had contact with was Megan - who was awesome and totally took charge & made me feel I was getting out of this ordeal. Finally, the others all pitched in. I would have liked to have met the ground crew and their Hummer type stretcher. I'm glad the helicopter was the way out.
I never knew this whole operation is done by volunteers. You are all remarkable.
I am at home resting comfortably having had successful kneecap surgery, and should heal up completely in a few months.
Sincerely, Paul
P.S. My fellow hikers called Megan a real "Badass".. The nicest compliment!
August 27, 2015. 15-558 #31 A woman was belaying her husband who was rock climbing near Emerald Lake. During the climb, he pulled a boulder off the climbing route which fell, striking the victim. She sustained injuries to her foot, head and fingers. He called 911 and began to carry her out from the accident site down the trail on his back. The dispatch center sent Paramedics to the area and the Team began a response for a medical carry out. The paramedics were able to meet up with the couple on the trail. Following their patient assessment, the husband continued to carry his wife to the ambulance. Further response by SAR was then canceled. Responders were: DeGeorge (Ops & IC), and Greene.
August 28, 2015. 15-549 #32 On August 25 a hiker from San Diego was on the north east glacier of Banner Peak. Near the base of the glacier, he saw the tip of a leather boot toe protruding from under a large boulder. He believed the boot was possible evidence of human remains under the boulder. He reported the find to the Mono County Sheriff's Department on 08/27/15 when he exited the back country. He provided photos of the boot, the GPS coordinates of the location and a view up the fall line of the glacier upon making the report.
Due to the location of the find being in Madera County, the Madera SAR Coordinator was contacted, and requested the Mono County to conduct an initial assessment of the scene. The California Highway Patrol was contacted and provided helicopter H-40 to assist in the operation. The helicopter inserted a ground team of two SAR members on 08/28/15. The ground team hiked to the glacier and located the boot.
They determined the area was too unstable to attempt to excavate the snow away from or extract the boot on the down side of the car sized boulder. A further check of the area yielded discovery of another, matching boot (left) lying about 25 feet away on the glacier. The boot was an old leather high top boot with a delaminated rubber sole. It was roughly 11 inches long, with hobnails. It was very weathered with some of the leather and rubber sole missing due to animal activity or weather. The lace was present but not tied with some of the lace missing. It bore no trace of any human remains inside.
It appeared the boot had been at the location for a number of years. The ground team returned to the location of the pinned boot, and determined they could check the inside of that boot by cutting the toe of it to determine if any remains were inside. After performing the cut, the toe was opened, showing no remains. Nothing further/remarkable was found and the team cleared the area. Madera County was advised of the above findings. Responders were: Greene (Ops), DeGeorge (IC), Bold, and Brodbeck.
August 30, 2015 - Annual Golf Fundraiser - from Heidi Vetter: Hoot and hollers and high fives to all the Summit Adventurers, Sherpas and Dayhikers that made our golf tournament a success. It took a whole team to bring it all together into an awesome day enjoyed by everyone (once the sun came out and the wind calmed down.) While some of the figures are still coming in, it looks like we cleared well over $10,000.
Click Here For More Golf Tournament Pictures
Memorial Bench at June Lake Store - In spring of 2002 the team was called out for a missing hiker. Unfortunately the search ended in a recovery, the subject had apparently slipped and fell down Rush Creek falls.
James Jenkins was 19 years old and 6'-7" tall, so the bench is 6'-7" long and has 19 slats in the back. He was a star basketball player for his high school, #45, and had started college on a basketball scholarship at San Jose State, #55.
It was pure coincidence that Team President Dan Corning's Mountaindog Woodworks was chosen to make the bench, but he was very honored to do so.
James Jenkins Bench - August 2015
James Jenkins Family at bench dedication - August 2015
September
September 4, 2015. 15-575 #33 A wife called from Mono Village reporting that her husband (Colorado resident) had not returned from a backpacking trip as planned Friday afternoon. She had dropped him at Saddlebag Lake on Tuesday. She had not received any PLB text messages as they previously planned so she thought that he may need rescuing. She was not in a cell phone coverage area so two SAR team members met her and brought her to MONO-1 for contact with the Ops leader. While driving, her phone received messages from his PLB. As he had not activated his PLB emergency button, the RP agreed that SAR was not needed. Saturday morning he contacted MONO-1. He had terminated his hike early due to the hike being more difficult and longer than anticipated, and was with his wife. Responders were: Greene (Ops), Caara Hunter, and Jeff Hunter.
September 11, 2015 - Ranger Training - A Ranger and area familiarization training was held in Sand Canyon & the Wheeler Ridge. It was an enjoyable outing for everyone who came along. There was some challenging terrain and new country explored.
September 23, 2015. 15-629 #34 The Team responded to the Rush Creek trail in response to a cell phone call from a Louisiana woman who had injured her Achilles tendon when she slipped on a rock. She encountered a physician who recommended she get an X-ray, so decided to exit the back country at Silver Lake. The Team met the injured party below Agnew Lake. She refused assessment of the injury and use of crutches the Team brought. Team members carried her pack to the trailhead, where she declined the need for EMS services. She was given a ride to Mammoth, where she signed a release of liability, and sought care on her own. Responders were: Corning (Ops), Guffey, and Jon Hall.
September 24, 2015. 15-630 #35 A hiker on the River Trail was reported overdue. The RP had misunderstood the expected day and time of finishing the hike, and eleven minutes later the hiker arrived. Responder: Gilbreath (Ops), via phone only.
September 24, 2015. 15-632 #36 Two backpackers from South Carolina became separated while on a backpacking trip from Tuolumne Meadows to Whitney Portal. The RP, who hiked out to Reds Meadow, reported at 9 PM that he had last seen his partner north of Garnet Lake. She had no map. A cell phone ping located her on the north side of Garnet Lake at 1503. Early the next morning she called, reporting that she was okay and back on the trail to Reds to meet the RP. Responder: Greene (Ops).
September 28, 2015. 15-641 #37 A Mammoth resident became lost while hiking from McCleod Lake to the Crest. Direction was given to the Crest trail via cell phone. No further SAR action was needed. Responder: Greene (Ops).
October
October 14, 2015 - DeLorme InReach Training before meeting for Ops Leaders with Jon Robertson
October 14, 2015 - Team Meeting
Trey Roski provided this cake for "after the meeting training"
What a great cake! It seemed a shame to cut into it, but we did.
October 14, 2015 - GPS Training after meeting with Luke Hammack
October 14-15, 2015. 15-694 #38 A backpacker from Southern California was reported overdue to the Virginia Lakes trailhead, and was last seen by the RP on the east side of Burro Pass about 4 PM. The next morning he was contacted at the trailhead and given a ride to Bridgeport. Responder: DeGeorge (Ops).
October 15, 2015, 15-695 #39 On Tuesday, 10/13/15 at 0730, the RP dropped her husband off at the Duck Pass trailhead after leaving his vehicle at his intended exit point, McGee Creek trailhead. The subject knew the area well and was expected to be out of the backcountry by Wednesday afternoon. When he had not returned to his vehicle by Thursday morning, Mono County Sheriff dispatch was contacted and the SAR Team was called out. Team members were preparing to enter the field to search for him when dispatch was notified that he had hiked out. Responders were: Corning (Ops), Vetter, DeGeorge, Luke Hammack, and Brad Schilz.
October 25, 2015 - SAR Team Picnic at Gull Lake Marina - We didn't manage to pick a day with warm sunny beach weather, but we had a good time anyway in the glass enclosed deck at Gull Lake Marina. The potluck food was scrumptious!
Nobody left hungry!
Loading up on fuel.
Trey's marvelous BBQ pulled pork.
Is that enough chocolate?
Yum - leftovers to take home.
Every party needs a cleanup committee.
If you are not in the picture, come next year. We missed you.
November
November 2, 2015, 15-737 #40 Two Mammoth locals hiked out HWY 203 to Smuggler's Ridge to go snowboarding. They rode the ridge then became lost when they followed the wrong tracks at the bottom. They tried to use their cell phones to navigate back to the road but were unable to find it. They were able to call a friend, who called 911. They started a warming fire using one of the snowboards for fuel. Team snowmobiles were staged at Mammoth Mountain Ski Area. The lost snowboarders were located, assessed, and transported back to the ski area. There were no injuries. Responders were: Greene (Ops), DeGeorge, and Robertson.
November 11, 2015, 15-755 #41 At 2000 the SAR Team was requested to assist Mammoth Mountain Ski Patrol in locating an overdue snowboarder who lost his way near Fresno Bowl. The Peruvian native was reported overdue around 1630 hours although he was last seen at 1330. Ski Patrol followed his tracks to Sotcher Lake where the SAR team continued the search, locating the 39 year old snowboarder holed up in an impromptu shelter at midnight. He was returned to Main Lodge by 0100 in good condition and reunited with his friend. Responders were: Vetter (Ops), Corning, DeGeorge, Greene, Beck, Robertson, Gilbreath, Maxwell, Brodbeck, Taj Hammack, Luke Hammack, Jon Hall, and Drake.
November 11, 2015 - ELT Classroom Training with Jim Gilbreath
November 14, 2015 - ELT Field Training with Jim Gilbreath
November 20, 2015, 15-779 #42 Two hikers from Ventura, California called 911 for help. The two friends had attempted to summit Mt. Morrison, but reached a spot on a steep slope where they were unable to continue either up or down. The Team responded to the trailhead at Convict Lake and sent teams into the hikers' location. The field teams were able to assist them down from their location and escorted them back to their campsite. Responders were: Greene (Ops), Endo, Viren Perumal, Taj Hammack, Hartstrom, Leyen, Gilbreath, and Webb.
November 20-21, 2015, Mutual Aid 2015-LAW-20086 #43 On Thursday, November 19 the Sheriff's office received a request for mutual aid to help search for a missing hiker in the Mt. Whitney area. A Rescue Member responded on Friday to assist with the search, along with approximately 40 additional personnel from various other California rescue teams. Friday's search resulted in a helmet and beanie being located near avalanche debris on the slope to the west of Meysan Lake. A second Rescue Member responded on Saturday morning with the Team's Recco device and avalanche probes. They were inserted via California National Guard CH-47 helicopter to a LZ on the south shore of Meysan Lake, along with two avalanche dog teams and approximately 40 personnel for probing the debris field. The two Mono County members began searching the toe of the debris field with the Recco device, and started receiving detection signals within a few minutes of beginning their search pattern. The hiker was located deceased under approximately 18 inches of snow. Responders were: Luke Hammack and Greene.
November 28, 2015, 15-799 #44 Two men from Southern California rented snow shoes and hiked down from Main lodge at Mammoth Mountain. They became bogged down near Agnew Meadows, sinking 2-1/2 feet into the snow, and one of their snowshoe straps broke. They called 911 for assistance. Dispatch was able to provide a location which put them at the junction of Postpile Rd. and the turn-off to Agnew meadows. Three team members on three snowmobiles located and extracted the subjects, who were cold but otherwise OK. Responders were: Corning (Ops), Soucy, Beck, and Luke Hammack.
December
December 9, 2015 - Year End Party and Rewards Ceremony - The annual awards dinner and holiday party on December 9 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:
Each year, the Team honors members for their individual excellence and public service.
The team’s primary honor for achievement is the Pete Schoerner Rescue Member of the Year award. The award is named in memory of a beloved teammate who was killed in an ice climbing accident in 1996.
The Pete Schoerner Rescue Member of the Year for 2015 is Luke Hammack. Luke serves the Team as a member of the Board of Directors and as a very active responder. He participated in 47 Team events in 2015, has a wide variety of technical outdoor skills, and is a key player in everything the Team does.
Luke Hammack - Pete Schoerner Rescue Member of the Year
An award for 20 years of service to the Team and victims was presented to Pete DeGeorge. Since joining the Team in 1995, Pete has participated in 741 Team events, including 315 search and rescue calls. He currently serves as the Team’s Training Officer.
New members in training are called Candidate Members, and must undergo training, practice, and testing in eighteen skill categories before being considered for advancement to Rescue Member. Examples of these skills include first aid and victim care, tracking, technical rescue, mountain navigation, helicopter operations, and skill with electronic aids such as computers, radios, avalanche transceivers, and GPS receivers. Completion of all requirements takes a lot of dedication and faithfulness over a period that is typically a year or more.
The team honors one candidate member each year with the Rick Mosher Candidate Member of the Year Award. Rick Mosher is the only team member to have died in the line of duty and was killed while searching in a small airplane that crashed during an operation on August 15, 1979.
This year the team selected Andrew Drake as the Rick Mosher Candidate Member of the Year. Andrew has been very active and faithful in both his training and in rescue operations. Since beginning his training in April of 2015, he has participated in 40 Team events.
Andrew Drake - Rick Mosher Candidate Member of the Year
Training Officer Pete DeGeorge received a plaque for twenty years of service.
New Rescue Member Tajai Hammack with her new red shirt
The 2015 honorees were presented with laser engraved wood plaques at an awards dinner December 9 in the Team’s building.
The Mono SAR 2015 Year In Review video produced by Barry Beck was enjoyed by all.
We had no operations in December.
December 9, 2015 - Board Of Directors Election
The team elected new Board members. Re-elected were Jon Robertson and Heidi Vetter. Dori Leyen and Tajai Hammack were elected to replace retiring Rick Dodson and Megan Guffey. Officers will be determined at the January, 2016 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 February 25, 2016.
Pete Schoerner Rescue Members Of The Year
Life Members/Life Time Members
Rick Mosher Candidate Members Of The Year