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
2016 Operations Summary
by Jim Gilbreath
The Team responded to 35 calls in 2016
- 19 were searches
- 23 were rescues
- 7 were both
There were 50 victims/subjects involved, the average age was 41
- 47 were visitors
- 9 were Eastern Sierra residents
The Team was in the field for 176 hours, with a total of 1719 man hours volunteered. The average duration of a mission was 7 hours with an average of 7 members responding, and an average of 49 man hours per call.
The maximum turnout was 23 members, with 313 man hours.
7 missions were snow related. None involved aviation.
15 missions involved injuries, with 5 fatalities.
Mission Categories:
- 5 Overdue
- 4 Stranded
- 6 Lost
- 12 Falls
- 3 Illness
- 6 False alarms
We were able to obtain helicopter aid for 15 missions (8 last year)
- 17 subjects were transported in some way (litter, ATV, truck, helo, medics, etc)
- 12 received medical aid
Of the 50 subjects there were:
- 32 Hikers and backpackers
- 5 Skier
- 2 Snowboarder
- 0 Snowshoers
- 0 Snowmobilers
- 5 Climbers
- 1 Hunter
- 4 Fishermen
- 0 Motorist
- 0 Fliers
- 4 Others
There were 70 training sessions, with 1529 man hours. Total man hours for missions and training was 3248.
January
Officers for 2016 were approved by the Board on January 4: President - Dan Corning, Vice President - Jim Gilbreath, Equipment Officer - Jon Robertson, Secretary - Tajai Hammack, Member - Dori Leyen, Member - Luke Hammack, Member - Heidi Vetter, Training Officer - Pete DeGeorge, Financial Officer - Bill Greene.
January 9, 2016 - Vertical Ice Climbing Training was conducted near June Lake. Avalanche Beacon Testing was also conducted in preparation for winter callouts.
January 10, 2016, 16-016 #1 A 37 year old Los Angeles man, while snowboarding with friends off of the backside of Mammoth Mountain, became separated from his companions. He contacted Mono County Sheriff via cell phone, and a rescue was started. Vetter, who was working at Tamarack that day, deployed two Tamarack snowmobiles to the Twin Lakes campground and Horseshoe Lake. His location was relayed as 37.618647/119.020514. He was found near the Bottomless Pit area and returned to his friends before 1700 hours. Responders were: Vetter (ops), and Corning.
January 13, 2016 - Avalanche Beacon Training with Dori Leyen after meeting.
January 13, 2016, 16-025 #2 On January 13 at 0914, the Sheriff's Department received a 911 call from a Livermore, CA man, age 24, stating that he was stuck on Paoha Island in Mono Lake. He told dispatch that he had departed from Navy Beach the prior morning at 0700, and kayaked to Negit then Paoha Island, where he set up camp. He indicated that while sleeping the winds began to blow at a high rate, which blew his tent away and destroyed it. He said he did not have enough supplies to make it through another night and was unable to kayak back to Navy Beach. A deputy responded, towing a Sheriff patrol boat to the launch ramp at the shrimp plant in Lee Vining, where he was met by a SAR Rescue Member and a Lee Vining Fire Department member. At 1100 the patrol boat launched on Mono Lake enroute to Paoha Island. At 1142 the subject was located on the Northeast side of the island and picked up. He was transported back to the launch ramp at the shrimp plant in good health and required no medical attention. He was given a ride back to his car at Navy Beach. Responders were: Luke Hammack, a Sheriff deputy, and a Lee Vining Fire Department member.
Here is a video by Luke Hammack of the boat ride.
January 16, 2016 - Lake Ice Rescue Training with Long Valley Fire Department at Crowley Lake with Pete DeGeorge.
Lia and Ron using a Carlson Board to extricate Tyler from the water
Out of the water and across the ice we goooo...
Click Here For More Lake Ice Rescue Pictures
January 24, 2016 - Snowmobile Training at Bridgeport Winter Recreation Area
January 26, 2016 - Snowmobile Training at Smokey Bear Flat with Pete DeGeorge
Digging out Andrew Drake and Andrew Brodbeck - both liked this spot!
More deep powder - it is everywhere. We want to have fun and a good challenge to negotiate while towing a litter!
Click Here For More Snowmobile Training Pictures
February
February 13, 2016, 16-096 #3 On Saturday February 13, the Team responded to rescue a 43 year old woman from Southern California who was with a guided group heading in to attempt a winter accent of Matterhorn Peak. Approximately 2 miles in from the Horse Creek trailhead at Twin Lakes Bridgeport, she displayed symptoms of stroke. Team members hiked in to her location to assist members of Bridgeport Fire who were already on scene. Litter transport was very slow due to icy conditions. CHP Helicopter H40 from Fresno arrived on scene and was able to extract the subject via winch and Bosun's chair. She was flown back to the Twin Lakes parking lot, and transferred to a Care Flight helicopter for transport to medical care in Reno. Responders were: Sgt. Minder (Ops & IC), Beck, Hartstrom, Ron Hall, Jon Hall, Dodson, Thompson, Corning, and Barnum.
February 14-16, 2016, 16-097 #4 On Sunday night February 14, Mono County dispatch received a 911 call from a 28 year old man from Santa Barbara who was lost in the White Mountains. The 911 call gave coordinates for the subject in the Millner Creek drainage. The Mono County Sheriff Search and Rescue Team was called out at 11:30 PM, and made cell phone contact with the subject. He had ridden a motorcycle up to the Spark Plug mine area, and had then hiked to the summit of White Mountain Peak, but became disoriented on the descent and went into the wrong drainage. The subject was not prepared for a night out, wearing jeans and sneakers, but was able to start a fire and had enough fuel to last the night.
The Team drove to Sierra Vista with three snowmobiles, a Polaris Ranger, and two quad ATVs. The subject was advised to call 911 every hour so his progress toward the Barcroft station could be tracked. He made progress for two hours, then contact was lost. The snowmobiles had a difficult time finding enough snow to progress and were having to take circuitous routes. By mid-day the snow had softened to the point where the wheeled vehicles were getting stuck. After numerous digging and winching-outs, the wheeled vehicles could not continue, but stayed in the field to act as radio relay with the snowmobile teams.
When they reached Barcroft there was no sign of the subject. They continued on toward his point last known and found him still hiking near the observatory. He was then given a ride back to the Sierra Vista base. The snowmobiles logged 44 miles round trip.
One of the SAR Team members offered to give him a ride back to his motorcycle. The dirt road was very rough and rocky from flash floods last year; the Team member's vehicle blew out a tire and was not able to continue. The subject left at that time to hike back up to the mine to get his motorcycle and then ride out. Two Team members in the Polaris Ranger were able to navigate the washed out roads in the dark, and with the help of the White Mountain Ranch manager, reached the disabled vehicle and evacuated the Team member, but the rescued subject had not returned as planned.
The following morning SAR members returned to ensure that the lost subject was not lost again, and to extract the vehicle. The subject was encountered as he drove down from the mine. With a new tire the vehicle was successfully driven out. Responders were: Corning (Ops), Vetter, Beck, Hartstrom, Roski, Holt, Webb, Greene, Case, Holmquist, Schmidt, and Dodson
February 21, 2016, 16-106 #5 The subject experienced a dislocated hip after taking a fall down Ripper Chute off the Dana Plateau. A team of two was inserted by CHP helicopter H40 to package the subject who was then hoisted by the helicopter and brought down to the Hwy #120 winter closure. The subject was taken by ambulance to Mammoth Hospital. The team snowshoed down to the road with the subject's two ski companions. After treatment the subject was released from the hospital later that evening. Responders were: Minder (Ops & IC), Thompson, Endo, Viren Perumal, Beck, Greene, Cucura, Luke Hammack, and Tajia Hammack
Report from The Sheet newspaper:
Accident on Dana Plateau’s Ripper Chute results in dislocated hip
Viren Perumal guides litter as it is hoisted to CHP H40 Helicopter
A day of backcountry skiing turned into a frightening ordeal for Aaron Shober when the 24-year-old fell approximately 2,000 vertical feet on Sunday, Feb. 21 after his ski released in the Ripper Chute on Dana Plateau.
"It got kind of scary and he got really lucky," said Nate Greenberg, who was skiing with Shober. Shober, who was airlifted by Mono County Search and Rescue, suffered a dislocated hip.
Greenberg, President of the Eastern Sierra Avalanche Center (ESAC), said the biggest message he and his fellow skiers took from that day was the need to be able to handle an emergency situation.
"You need to be self-sufficient, and you need to be prepared when all else fails to be able to handle the situation on your own with limited support from rescuers at least for some extended period of time," Greenberg told The Sheet.
"At the most basic level that means wilderness first aid ... but then just understanding basic rescue protocol—how to not only administer first aid but to think about long-term strategies for patient comfort or extrication."
Greenberg said the accident was a "wake up call" for him—his own Wilderness First Responder certification is about fifteen years old. He also said that though first aid is not what ESAC does on a daily basis, "at a minimum we think there needs to be an awareness campaign around that kind of stuff ... [and] how to better work with Search and Rescue."
Greenberg prepared a statement in which he described the accident— another big lesson, he said, was knowing one’s gear. Shober did not lock out his Dynafit bindings before skiing the chute.
"As [Shober] landed his first hop turn his downhill ski released on him, followed almost immediately by his other ski," wrote Greenberg. "Though he made several attempts to self arrest using the Whippet he had, he was moving too fast and conditions were too firm."
"Though he managed to avoid hitting either wall of the couloir, he did tumble over a small pile of rocks before going out of sight to the bottom of the couloir. We shouted to him several times but got no response. We collected his gear ... and headed down to find him ..."
Greenberg was able to call 911 from his cell phone and obtain helicopter support, he said. "The two Search and Rescue members and the two backcountry skiers hiked and skied out under light of the full moon," wrote the Mono County Sheriff’s Office in a press release.
Shober was discharged from Mammoth Hospital later that evening.
Greenberg said he knows Dynafit users are divided on the subject of locking out bindings. "Certainly if you are skiing in avalanche terrain or in a scenario where you want your ski to come off in a fall, that is best," he wrote. "But in conditions and terrain like we were skiing that day, when avalanche hazard is minimal yet the risk of losing a ski could result in serious injury or death, locking them out is probably the lesser of two evils."
"Big lesson learnt here," Shober wrote on the social media site Facebook.
"Thank you again to everyone involved who got me home safe."
Getting organized at staging area on Highway 120
Viren Perumal discussing operation with helicopter pilot
H40 helicopter at landing zone where team members were inserted
from Backcounty Skiing - California's Eastern Sierra ©Wolverine Publishing
Steve Romeo skiing the Ripper Chute in 2010 ©tetonat.com
Natai Endo and Viren Perumal ready to go in H40 helicopter
Subject hoisted to CHP H40 helicopter
Climbing the Ripper Chute in 2010 ©tetonat.com
March
March 8, 2016, 16-128 #6 While descending Pete's Dream on Carson Peak, at around 1:30pm, at approximately 10,200’, a party of three skiers and one snowboarder came to a narrow choke section with a slope of about 40 degrees. 2 skiers skied thru safely one at a time and anchored up in safe location below.
The 3rd skier was part way down when he triggered a slope failure which propagated about 100ft above him releasing a slab avalanche with a crown of 14-18" across the width of the slope (~50ft wide). This swept him off his feet, carried him violently down the chute for approximately 300-400 vertical feet, smashed him into a diagonal rock wall breaking his ankle, before he was able to fight his way back on top of his skis and make it left out of the avalanche to a zone of safety as the avalanche continued down-slope and over large cliffs.
The snowboarder descended, the party regrouped, and they initiated a call to Search and Rescue and a helicopter evacuation.
The injured skier was able to ski down with assistance from the others to an area they believed a helicopter would be able to access. Of note during this part of the decent, the party kicked off numerous additional very sensitive small wind slab avalanches (crowns 4-6").
After 30-45minutes of huddling together trying unsuccessfully to keep the injured skier warm, the party decided that based on the windy conditions and the uncertainty of how long a helicopter would take to arrive (and if it did if it would actually be able to assist them in these windy conditions) they decided to self-evacuate.
Despite being in immense pain, the injured skier was able to make it down this challenging terrain on one ski with the assistance of his partners, until they met search and rescue personnel with a rescue litter a few hundred yards above double eagle resort. It took approximately 4 hours from the time of the accident to the time the injured skier was in an ambulance.
Thirteen SAR team members and CHP helicopter H40 staged at the June Mountain parking lot. The helicopter flew a recon of the area and determined the group with the injured skier had descended low enough on the mountain that a ground team could reach them and an air operation would not be necessary. The ground team hiked in and met them. After a medical assessment, the victim was packaged in a litter and transported down to the road to Mono County Paramedics for further medical treatment. Responders were: Corning (Ops), DeGeorge (IC), Greene, Dodson, Leyen, Luke Hammack, Tajia Hammack, Guffey, Endo, Cucura, Tonseth, Buccowich and Beck.
Report from The Sheet newspaper:
Local skier survives avalanche scare on Carson Peak
Local resident Brett Lotz survived a slab avalanche on the Carson Peak line Pete's Dream on Tuesday, March 8, managing to ski his way out of the slide and suffering only a broken ankle.
Lotz, 39, who was accompanied by two other expert skiers and one expert snowboarder, had skied the line numerous times, according to a report by the Eastern Sierra Avalanche Center's Josh Feinberg.
Feinberg, who is an ESAC forecaster, reported, "A very active natural cycle of avalanches took place throughout the region mostly early Sunday morning during the intense snow and wind load period," and that more snow had been deposited Saturday through Monday.
Feinberg reported that the party had viewed the line from the road and made note of a natural avalanche. "This gave them a sense of reassurance that avalanche danger would be now lessened as they could see it had already slid."
After beginning their descent from the peak around 12:30 p.m., the skiers produced several avalanches with ski cuts. One cut "produced a larger avalanche with [approximately] 8-10" crown which… appeared to 'clean out' the majority of the line below. This result again gave the party a sense of reassurance…," Feinberg wrote.
When the party approached a choke section of Pete's Dream, with an approximately 40 degree slope, two of the skiers navigated the section one at a time and anchored below. Lotz was the third person to approach the section. Feinberg wrote that Lotz "triggered a slope failure which propagated about 100 [feet] above him releasing a slab avalanche. This swept him off his feet, carried him violently down the chute for approximately 300-400 vertical feet, smashed him into a diagonal rock wall, breaking his ankle, before he was able to fight his way back on top of his skis and make it left out of the avalanche to a zone of safety as the avalanche continued down-slope and over large cliffs."
"This avalanche was triggered when the 3rd skier presumably hit a 'sweet spot' where the overlying wind slab was less thick and the weight and force of his skiing was enough to penetrate through and cause a failure in the weakness between this newer wind slab and the underlying snow."
Feinberg said the experienced party saw in hindsight the folly of the decision to ski Carson Peak at that time. "If you talked to them, they said, 'we shouldn't have gone out there, that was a dumb idea.'"
"Hopefully the fact that [Lotz] wasn't seriously hurt can be a reminder, a good heads up to give respect to the winds of the Sierra. The power of the winds and how quickly conditions can change even in the span of a couple of hours. From something that can be safe to something that can be dangerous."
The party viewed the line from the road, but when they began their descent, winds had picked up and conditions changed. "If you think conditions are certain ways and you get up somewhere, you get to a point where it's kind of hard to turn around."
Notably, Lotz was wearing Dynafit bindings, with the toe in "locked up" position, Feinberg reported. In an accident two weeks prior, Dynafit bindings had been a subject of contention-24-year-old Aaron Shober was wearing Dynafit bindings to ski a challenging line, the "Ripper Chute," on Dana Plateau. Shober left his toe lever in the down/ski position "as recommended by Dynafit," reported Nate Greenberg, President of ESAC. His skis subsequently released, resulting in the loss of both skis and a 2,000 foot slide. Shober suffered a dislocated hip and was airlifted from the location.
In the Carson Peak incident, Feinberg wrote, "injured skier using Dynafit bindings, with toe in 'locked up' position. Both heals (sic) of bindings released, but toes did not. Perhaps if ski had completely released he wouldn't have had ankle broken, but also he may not have been able to ski out of avalanche, and very likely could have been swept over cliffs resulting in much worse injury or death."
"There's no right answer," Feinberg said when asked about the locking issue.
"If you're skiing something in avalanche danger where there's not cliffs involved, probably have them releasable. So if you're in a significant slide you want to be able to kick off your skis and if you can't kick them off they could weigh you down and lead to you getting buried. There's no definite answer."
"In general, in higher avalanche situations it's better to have the option to get rid of your equipment."
As the party self-rescued, with the others assisting Lotz, they triggered additional small avalanches.
Lotz was able to make it through the steep and technical terrain on one ski with assistance until he was met by June Mountain ski patroller and SAR volunteer Fletcher Buccowich several hundred yards above the Double Eagle Resort. Feinberg reported that it was approximately four hours from the time Lotz was injured until he was loaded into an ambulance and taken to Mammoth Hospital.
March 16, 2016 - SAR Recruitment Night
Jon Robertson describing how the team operates
Undersheriff Michael Moriarty Sheriff operations
Team members ready to welcome potential recruits
March 21, 2016 - Ops Leader Training with Jim Gilbreath and Heidi Vetter.
March 28, 2016 - Ops Leader TOPO Mapping Training with Jim Gilbreath.
April
April 1, 2016, 16-173, #7 The Team responded to the town of Mammoth Lakes to assist in an evidence search. Line searches were conducted in high probability areas along each side of the roadway. Responders were: DeGeorge (Ops), Greene, Corning, Vetter, Cucura, Carole Schilz, Barnum, and Brad Schilz.
April 4, 2016 - Ops Leader Training #3 with Jon Robertson.
April 12, 2016 - Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream Fundraiser
April 12, 2016 - Mammoth Mountain Ski Patrol and Eastside K-9 Avalanche Rescue are hosting a Helicopter training on April 12th, 2016. We are having CHP helicopters take teams from one LZ near the Minaret Vista to another LZ on the South Boundary of the Ski area. We will be having teams respond to pre set-up avalanche rescue scenarios. The teams will be given a card with GPS coordinates and a brief description of the event they're responding to. The teams will recover what they find and return to the ski area. These teams will need to be equipped with touring gear as well as avalanche rescue gear. The training also will involve both teams with dogs and some without. This joint training will also involve members of the Placer Country Avalanche Rescue Dog Teams. They are made up of professional ski patrollers from the North Lake Tahoe ski resorts and SAR members.
The Mammoth teams will have priority due to the limited exposure to Helicopters however, as of now we will have two CHP helicopters at the training. We do not have a complete list of participants but I would like to invite you and your team members to participate if possible and or at least observe any part of the training. If you think of other ways for your people to participate, please let me know so we can discuss it. All people traveling on the mountain will need to be able to ski in advanced terrain. If we have room and time it is possible for hot loading and unloading fly arounds.
Seven Team members participated in this training.
April 16, 2016 - Candidate Basic Training with Jim Gilbreath, Rick Dodson and Jon Robertson.
Sgt. Minder swearing in new candidates as Disaster Service Workers
Rick Dodson explaining Ready Pack
Ben Traxler is the 'victim' for litter practice
2016 Candidate Class
April 18, 2016 - Operations Leader Training with Bill Greene and Jeff Holmquist
April 25, 2016, 16-215, #8 At 1130 SAR was called for a group of three overdue backcountry telemark skiers in the Mammoth Lakes Basin. They were due out on the 24th at noon, the RP was concerned because she had not heard from them since Thursday and they were now 24 hours overdue. As the ops team went to work determining their route, making plans, and working up resources for a search launch, the group walked out on their own at 1630. Responders were: Vetter (Ops), DeGeorge (IC), Corning, Leyen, Robertson and Barnum.
April 26, 2016 - Communications Training with Jon Robertson
Communications training with Jon Robertson and Rick Dodson
April 29, 2016 - Tracking Training Classroom with Steve Case
April 30, 2016 - Tracking Training Field with Steve Case
April 30, 2016 - Makeup Candidate Basic Training with Jim Gilbreath and Rick Dodson
May
May 7, 2016 - Navigation Training with Jim Gilbreath
Hold em flat, away from metal - Navigation Training
Navitation Training
May 11, 2016 - Team Meeting in Bridgeport - Pack Checks
May 11, 2016 - Swiftwater Training Classroom after meeting with Megan Guffey
May 12, 2016 - Swiftwater Training Classroom with Megan Guffey
May 13-15, 2016, 16-242, #9 On Friday May 13 at 1430, the Team was notified of a missing 27 year old man from Orange County. He disappeared from their family camp on the shore of Crowley Lake. He was last seen about midnight by the other 3 in the party but they didn't realize he was missing until morning. Ground teams, a dog team, Ranger ATV, and CHP Helicopter H40 searched Friday. On Saturday ground teams, Ranger ATV, Sheriff boat teams, and a dive team from Eldorado County searched from 0700 to 1700 when strong winds hindered divers. On Sunday ground, dive, Ranger ATV, CHP helicopter, dog, and boat searches continued until 1430 when the Sheriff suspended the search. 313 man hours were volunteered by the SAR Team. Responders were: Vetter (Ops), Corning (Ops), Estridge (IC), Barnum, Holt, Vianzon, Gilbreath, Ackerman, Greene, Tonseth, Traxler, Brad Schilz, Kaukola, Guffey, Denton, Felix, Brodbeck, Drake, Bold, Hartstrom, Beck, DeGeorge and Wenzlau.
UPDATE: The subject's body was recovered from Crowley Lake on May 22, 2016.
May 15, 2016 - Swiftwater Training Field Session with Megan Guffey - Swimming rapids, techniques for crossing rivers, river boards, ropes, and systems.
Click Here For More Swiftwater Rescue Training Pictures and Information
May 18, 2016 - Knots and Systems Training with Dan Corning
Ops 16-251 - Subject treated and packaged for transport
May 19, 2016, 16-251, #10 On Thursday May 19 at 1700, the Team was called for a day hiker who had fallen while scrambling on some rocks near Rush Creek Falls.
June Lake Fire had already dispatched four members to access the scene and attend to the subject's injuries.
It was determined that the patient would need full body stabilization and that the extraction would include some pitches requiring roped low angle lowerings.
Team members hiked in with the necessary gear via the Edison tram tracks.
After 4 pitches of roped lowerings the Team reached the trail and wheeled the subject out to the Silver Lake Resort where he was met by Paramedics and transported to Mammoth Hospital.
Responders were: Corning (Ops), Minder (IC), Greene, Luke Hammack, Barnum, Robertson, Hartstrom, Drake, Brodbeck, Wenslau, DeGeorge, and Endo.
Low angle technical rope techniques used to lower subject down slope
Low angle technical rope techniques used to lower subject down slope
June
June 4, 2016 - Low Angle Technical Rescue Training
June 8, 2016 - After meeting training in inflatable boat assembly
June 11, 2016 - Steep Angle Technical Rescue Training was cancelled. A brief review of passing a knot in mechanical advantage systems was conducted.
June 16, 2016 - First Aid and CPR/AED Skills Checkoff with Dori Leyen
June 18, 2016 - High Angle Technical Rescue Training
Click Here For More High Angle Technical Rescue Training Pictures
June 25, 2016, 16-318, #11 A request came from the Madera County Sheriff Department to assist a 61 year old woman and her dog near the Fern lake Trail. She had started on a day hike at approximately 11 am but had twice lost her way coming back from Fern lake. Madera County Sheriff Department sent her a map via her phone and she was able to find her way back to the trail. She had cell service throughout the call so kept in regular contact with Madera County and the Mono SAR ops leader. She had very little water and food, no flashlight, and no warm clothing. She had become very tired, dehydrated, hungry, cold, and panicky. She felt she needed assistance crossing Kings Creek because of her condition and dissipating light. She was found at 2257. She refused any medical assessment or medical care. She was given food, water, warm clothing, and was assisted across the creek and to the trailhead back to her car. Responders were: Barnum (Ops), Vetter, Guffey, Cucura, Hartstrom, Dodson, and Greene.
June 26, 2016, 16-319, #12 The Team was called at 0630 to aid a 27 year old man who complained of hip and knee pain and wanted assistance to get out of the back country. His group of hikers in the Granite Staircase area had gotten separated and off trail when headed down Stairway Creek. They bivied at 37.579497, -119.133167. The next morning the rest of the group arrived and was able to assist the subject, so the SAR Team was not needed. Responders were: Barnum (Ops), K Hansen (IC), Dodson, Case, and Guffey.
July
July 4, 2016 - Fourth Of July Parade organized by Barbara Barnum
Click Here For More Fourth Of July Parade Pictures
Ops 16-348 - If you look carefully you can see the team rigging lowering system above cliffs
July 10, 2016, 16-348, #13 At approximately 1307, Search and Rescue was requested by Mammoth Fire to assist with getting two men and a dog off of a small cliff near Mammoth Rock.
A man was walking his dog near Mammoth Rock when his dog chased a rabbit down a ravine. He and a friend climbed down into the ravine to retrieve the dog and became trapped on a ledge, unable to go up or down safely with the dog.
He called 911 for help. SAR personnel and Mammoth Fire personnel set up a rope system and lowered both men and the dog to safety, where they were able to hike out. Responders were: Barnum (Ops), Greene, Robertson, and Pelichowski (IC - unified command with MLFD chief).
July 13, 2016 - after meeting Helicopter Classroom Training with Bill Greene
July 15, 2016, 16-xxx, #14 A male subject reported he was unable to find his way in the dark back to his camp at Minaret Lake. The Ops leader had text messaging contact with the subject during the night from 0300 to 0800 when Unified Command was assumed by Madera County Sheriff and Mono County Sheriff. The subject made a phone call to Madera County Sheriff stating that he was no longer in need of assistance. Responders were: Greene (Ops), and Krystyl Hansen (IC).
July 16, 2016, 16-357, #15 MLFD-3397 and Medic 3 requested assistance on a 1.5 mile carry out from Rainbow Falls lookout point to Rainbow Falls trail head for a 51 year old female from Los Angeles who had broken her right ankle dismounting her horse. Upon dismounting her horse the saddle slipped and she fell to the ground breaking her right ankle. Two packers working for the Reds Meadow Pack Station were with the subject, witnessed the fall, and called 911 for assistance. Mono SAR reached the trail head just prior to MLFD and Paramedics exiting and were able to assist the last 300 yards. Responders were: Barnum (Ops), DeGeorge (IC), Greene, Endo, Shelby Pracht, Kaukola, Traxler, and Ron Hall.
July 16, 2016 - Helicopter Field Training with CHP H40 and Bill Greene
July 19, 2016, 16-363, #16 At 1030, the SAR team was called out for an injured female hiker from Louisiana on the PCT. The hiking partner stated they had been on the PCT for about a week. When the subject lifted her pack that morning to put it on, she rolled her ankle on a rock. The call was made by a passerby who climbed to the top of the hill for cell service. After calling 911 the RP continued on her way. A hasty team was launched, aided by the Polaris Ranger ATV, which got them close to the summit of the old road. They proceeded on foot for another mile, locating the subject and did a medical assessment. Three SAR members from Tuolumne County were also transported to the summit. During that time the hasty team had packaged and carried the subject back to the pickup point. Tuolumne SAR then proceeded back to base on foot, so the Ranger ATV would have space to carry the subject and her hiking partner back to base. Mono County Medic One transported the subject to Carson Valley for medical care. Responders were: Corning (Ops), Vetter (Ops), Casabian (IC), Luke Hammack, Beck, and Ron Hall.
July 20, 2016, 16-369, #17 On July 20, 2016 at about 3:30pm, the Mono County Sheriff's Office received a 911 call regarding a 21 year old female injured solo hiker from Canada. She who had possibly suffered a sprained ankle along with dehydration, altitude sickness and exhaustion. She was reported to be on the Pacific Crest Trail near Leavitt Lake within Mono County, and had been immobilized because of her injuries and declining health. The location was reported to be 38.28171000, -119.644504. Mono County Deputies along with members from the Mono County Search and Rescue and Tuolumne County Search and Rescue Teams were called out. CHP Helicopter H-20 was requested and responded from the CHP Valley Division located in Auburn, CA. A landing zone (LZ) was established at the Caltrans Yard located at Highway 395 and Highway 108. At about 5:20pm, the helicopter crew located the victim on the PCT, and was able to land and safely extract the subject. She was flown to the LZ where Mono County Paramedics were awaiting her arrival. The Mono County Paramedics later transported the victim to the Carson Valley Medical Center where she was treated for her injuries. Responders were: Corning (Ops), Casabian (IC), DeGeorge, Hartstrom, Greene, Cucura, and Ron Hall.
July 23, 2016, 16-376, #18 At 1630 Sheriff deputies were called to Convict Lake for a report of a party of 11 overdue hikers. The hikers were to have returned by mid-afternoon. The 3 reporting parties, who had separated from the group and hiked out earlier, were concerned because the overdue hikers were not prepared for a long hike. According to the RP's the overdue hikers had very little water, no emergency gear, were inexperienced and were not in the physical condition to do the hike from Mildred Lake. Deputies questioned runners that were on the trail and did a visual search of the immediate area. With no sign of the overdue hikers, Mono County Sheriff SAR was called to do a search up the Convict Lake trail. Before SAR teams could be launched, all 11 overdue hikers arrived at Convict Lake. No injuries or medical issues reported. Call ended 19:15. Responders were: Barnum (Ops), Pelichowski (IC), DeGeorge, Greene, Case, Hartstrom, Cowan, Robertson, Viren Perumal, and Buccowich.
July 26, 2016, 16-383, #19 The Team was called to aid a 55 year old injured woman from Santa Cruz. She was hiking in the Carnegie Institute area west of Saddlebag Lake with her husband and son. She fell striking her lower left leg/knee on a rock and sustained an injury there. Her husband splinted the injury but she was unable to walk out of the area or bear weight without high pain. Her husband then went to the Yosemite National Park entrance and called 911 for help. Ten team members responded and staged at the Junction Campground. Field teams hiked in and found the subject south west of the Carnegie Institute. Following a medical assessment, she was placed in a wheeled litter and transported back to the trail head. At the conclusion of the carry out, she signed a release of liability and would seek further medical treatment on her own. Responders were: DeGeorge (Ops and IC), Robertson, Luke Hammack, Greene, Endo, Barnum, Dodson, Traxler, Viren Perumal, and Ackerman.
July 31, 2016, 16-xxx, #20 The team responded to a mutual aid request from Alpine County, searching for a 71-year-old woman who was last seen walking away from her campsite near Lake Alpine about 2 p.m. July 28. Responder: Luke Hammack (21 hours).
August
August 1, 2016, 16-397, #21 At 1100 the Team was called out to aid a 23 year old man from Texas with an ankle injury near Donahue Pass at 10,600 feet. Helo resources were requested and a ground team assembled at the Rush Creek trailhead. CHP helicopter H-20 out of Auburn was able to land near the subject and fly him to Mammoth Lakes airport. Mono County paramedics took him to Mammoth Hospital for treatment. Thanks are due to SCE technicians who were enroute to activate the tram and boat facilities to assist in inserting ground teams. Responders were: Corning (Ops), Pelichowski (IC), Dodson, Endo, and Greene.
August 3, 2016, 16-407, #22 A 46 year old man from Berkeley, CA was attempting to climb a gully to the top of a ridge line above West Lake at 11,400 feet. He traversed into an area with a large amount of large, loose sliding rocks above a snow field. He was unable to move up or down without triggering a rock slide he feared might carry him onto the snowfield and severe injury. It was late in the day and he felt he could not maintain his position into the night without falling. He then called 911 for help. His call was received by CHP dispatch and was transferred to the Mono County Dispatch Center who verified the location at 38.08617700, 119.346199 to be within Mono County near the Tuolumne Mono County Border above the Green Creek area. The California Highway Patrol was contacted for assistance and the aircrew of H-40 was briefed on the situation. The area was over 11,400 in altitude so the crew stripped their aircraft of excess weight, and flew to the area and located the victim on the steep slope, but was unable to perform a hoist operation due to the high altitude. Eight Team members staged at Lee Vining airport. A ground team was inserted by H40 on the ridge above the victim while additional air resources were requested from California OES. The ground team descended to the subject's location and helped him down out of the hazard area with aid of a fixed rope. Helicopter Lasso 4 from Lemoore Naval Air Station landed and transported the subject and rescuers to Bridgeport Airport. The subject was not injured in the incident. Responders were: DeGeorge (Ops and IC), Greene, Luke Hammack, Viren Perumal, Cucura, Barnum, and Brodbeck.
Click Here For More Ops 16-407 Pictures
August 5, 2016, 16-413, #23 A hiker on the River Trail out of Agnew Meadows encountered a 60 year old female backpacker from Cobb, CA. in distress near the river crossing below Shadow Lake. Intending to backpack to Yosemite, her husband had dropped her off at the trailhead the day before. She was disoriented and seemed to be dehydrated. She had a very large 60 pound pack, had only hiked a mile and a half that day, and was not able to continue her trip. The RP called 911 to get help. Due to the location in remote Madera County, with no rapid response available from their rescue resources, the Team sent two members who hiked to the subject and joined the RP and others who were assisting her back to the Agnew Meadows trail head. Her husband came to pick her up. She was advised to hydrate and not to attempt a backpacking trip with heavy weight. Responders were: DeGeorge (Ops and IC), Greene, and Cucura.
August 10, 2016, 16-426, #24 A 20 year old man from Marita, CA and his father were hiking in the Saddlebag Lake area, above Cascade Lake. While in steep terrain, attempting to get to the top of the ridge line, he slipped on rocks and vegetation and fell approximately twenty feet. He injured both ankles in the fall, with a possible broken left ankle.
Guide staff from the Saddlebag Lake Resort came to his location and assessed carrying him out to the resort but were unable to do so due to distance and terrain. They then radioed the resort for assistance. A staff member had to leave the resort (no phone) to contact the Sheriff's Department Dispatch Center and report the incident.
Fifteen Team members responded to the call. A hasty team hiked to the subject's location at 10,660 feet to begin a patient assessment while other ground teams brought in a wheeled litter.
Following the medical assessment, the victim's leg was splinted. He was transported down in the litter about 600 feet of elevation to Saddlebag Lake, then taken to the resort by boat.
He signed a medical waiver and his father took him to Mammoth Hospital for treatment. Responders were: Leyen (Ops), DeGeorge (IC), Ron Hall, Luke Hammack, Greene, Viren Perumal, Denton, Endo, Hartstrom, Julie Perumal, Drake, Case, Robertson, Barnum, and Traxler.
August 12, 2016, 16-428, #25 A 17 year old female from Santa Margarita, CA sustained an ankle injury near the inlet of Shadow Lake, and was unable to walk. The call initiated with the Madera County Sheriff, who requested aid from CHP helicopter H40 and the Mono County SAR team. H40 picked up a SAR member at the Minaret Vista LZ, and landed him on the mud flats near Shadow Lake. He located and packaged the subject for a hoist operation. Another Team member hiked in to assist in carrying out the subject's backpack. Meanwhile H40 landed at nearby Ruby Lake and picked up a 28 year old woman from Fairbanks, Alaska who had an injured right foot. She had been married just four days prior, and was on her honeymoon. She was taken to Minaret Vista by H40. H40 then returned to Shadow Lake and hoisted up the first subject and took her to Minaret Vista where she was met by her father, who signed a medical release form and stated he was transporting her to Mammoth Hospital. H40 returned to Ruby Lake to pick up the subject's husband and took him to Minaret Vista to join his rescued wife. They used public transportation to seek medical care. Responders were: Corning (Ops), Minder (IC), Greene, and Denton.
August 13, 2016, 16-437, #26 A 23 year-old man from San Marino, California had been cliff diving into Arrowhead Lake when he sustained injuries. He jumped from approximately 40 feet above the water, but struck a tree on the way down before hitting the water. He was able to reach shore, but he was unable to return to his vehicle at the trailhead due to the injuries he incurred. The Rescue Team responded to the scene, along with Mono County Paramedics. He was transported to the Duck Pass trailhead using a wheeled litter, and was taken to Mammoth Hospital for treatment of his injuries. Responders were: Greene (Ops), Casabian (IC), Cowan, Viren Perumal, Denton, Thompson, Cucura, Case, Ron Hall, Drake, and Hartstrom.
August 21-22, 2016, 16-455, #27 On Sunday, August 21, at approximately 4:15 p.m., the Mono County Sheriff's Office received a call regarding an adult male who had jumped into a pool above the Lower Rainbow Falls (located in Madera County). It was reported that the male was floating face down in the water. Extremely cold water temperatures and underwater current prevented witnesses from reaching the victim. A second victim was sitting at the bottom of a steep incline near the pool. The second victim had attempted to rescue the first victim, but was suffering from hypothermia as a result of being in the water which was estimated to be 45 degrees. Mono County Sheriff Deputies, Mono County Sheriff Search and Rescue Team, Mono County Paramedics, and Mammoth Lakes Fire Department responded and were able to rescue the second victim. Efforts to rescue the first victim were unsuccessful as the victim was submerged in the pool and was no longer visible to emergency personnel. Recovery efforts were put on hold as darkness fell as a safety precaution. The SAR team staffed the scene overnight until recovery efforts resumed the following morning. On August 22, at approximately 11:00 a.m., the decedent was recovered by Madera County Sheriff's Department, Mono County Sheriff' Office, Mono County Sheriff Search and Rescue Team, Mammoth Lakes Fire Department. The Mammoth Mountain Ski Area provided personnel and logistical support for the recovery effort. Responders were: Barnum (Ops), Casabian (IC), Thompson, Drake, Vianzon, Greene, Kaukola, Case, Viren Perumal, Wenzlau, and Traxler.
September
September 8, 2016, 16-489, #28 A 51 year old woman from New Hampshire fell while backpacking approximately 1 mile south of Donohue pass, injuring her left ankle and right knee. She was unable to walk out due to her injuries. The RP, an unrelated backpacker who came upon injured party, continued hiking after calling for help using a cell phone. The SAR Team responded to Minaret Vista and requested CHP Helicopter H40 for extraction. The subject was picked up by H40 and flown to the Minaret Vista helispot. She was transported by County Paramedics to Mammoth Hospital for treatment. Responder: Greene.
September 8, 2016, 16-490, #29 At 11:30 the subjects told a camper at the trailhead for Walker Lake (Bloody Canyon) that they were going for a 4 to 5 hour hike. Around sunset the camper had not seen the subjects return to their car, and called 911. The SAR team arrived at 2200 and field teams conducted a hasty search then searched the trailhead down to the lake, a use trail to a cross country route, the ridge to the east, and up the Bloody Canyon trail toward Mono Pass. After receiving information that the subjects were experienced mountaineers, the search was suspended at 0200. Responders were: Luke Hammack (Ops), Pelichowski (IC), Ackerman - with K9 Takoda, Endo, Vianzon, Brodbeck, Robertson, Greene, and DeGeorge
September 9, 2016, 16-491, #30 A hiker called 911 about 3 PM because he had been separated from his party and was lost near Gem Lake. He and 4 other friends were in June Lake visiting from Bakersfield. At about 0800, he and his friends decided to hike to Gem Lake to fish. The subject stated he was not an experienced hiker, nor was he experienced with the terrain. He also stated he was stuck on a steep ledge and could not move. The SAR Team responded to the June Mountain parking lot in anticipation of CHP helicopter H20 landing there and providing transport of rescuers to Gem Lake Subsequent text messaging with the subject about 7:30 PM revealed that he had figured out how to get off the ledge, had found the trail, and was no longer in need of rescue. Responders were: Greene (Ops), Casabian (IC), Endo, Case, Gilbreath, Drake, Shelby Pracht, and Hartstrom.
September 10, 2016 - Sierra Grand Fondo SAG Station with Dori Leyen - One event we have helped at over the years is the Fall Century aka Grand Fondo. Search and Rescue staffed the SAG station on the corner of 120 E and Benton Crossing Rd.
September 20, 2016, 16-518, #31 A packer hired to take a party of hunters into the Eagle Creek drainage above Buckeye Canyon became suddenly very ill. The party called 911 and the SAR Team responded with the Polaris Ranger and Rescue 3. Care Flight 3 from Minden was able to land nearby, and was able to extract the subject for medical care. Responders were: Luke Hammack (Ops), Pelichowski (IC), Greene, DeGeorge, Cucura, and Robertson.
September 20-24, 2016 - International Disaster & Austere Medicine Conference (IDAMC) by Mammoth Medical Missions included a 4 day education class with Saturday mass casualty scenario. Three Team members attended the entire class and an additional six participated in the Saturday session along with Long Valley Fire Department and other agencies.
September 24, 2016, 16-528, #32 A party of two from Southern California were climbing Dana Couloir when rock fall occurred. A rock hit the female climber on her right forearm, causing a possible fracture. She then slid down the couloir injuring her right ankle. The male was hit by another rock on the head, knocking him out for approximately 5 minutes, and splitting his climbing helmet. The climbers were able to descend the couloir and hiked to Dana Lake where they activated their satellite communicator (DeLorme Inreach). CHP helicopter H20 extracted both climbers from Dana Lake to Lee Vining airport where Mono County paramedics transported them to Mammoth Hospital. Responders were: Barnum (Ops), Casabian (IC), Maxwell, Endo, Brodbeck, Shelby Pracht, Cucura, Drake, Guffey, Greene, Hartstrom, and DeGeorge.
September 30, 2016. Mutual Aid to Yosemite, #33 Since September 26, Yosemite SAR has been searching for a missing 74-year-old man whose vehicle was found at the White Wolf Campground. Mutual aid was requested. The search has been suspended. Responder: Vetter.
October
October 12, 2016 - MPD™ Device Training with Barbara Barnum after meeting.
The Team has a pair of MPD™ (MULTI-PURPOSE DEVICE) devices from CMC Rescue that can take the place of much of the equipment needed when doing rope rescue operations. The great thing about this device is that it greatly simplifies the main line by having this one device do all of the work for both raising and lowering without having to reconfigure the equipment. Additional information is available at the above link.
Above are two photos of Barbara demonstrating the MPD™ system.
Below are a three short videos that will get you familiar with the MPD™ and how it functions.
October 15-18, 2016, 16-572, #34 A party of five men from Tehachapi went out in high winds in a small boat on June Lake. The boat filled with water and sank. Two were able to swim to shore. The Team responded along with several other agencies, and searched the lake and shore. The boat and 3 deceased subjects were found mid-day on Tuesday October 18. Responders were: Vetter, Luke Hammack, Guffey, and Taj Hammack.
Sheriff Office Press Release
Inca, a specially trained dog, assisted with the search - Lyon County Search & Rescue
On the morning of Saturday, October 15, 2016, five men took their personal boat out on June Lake. Winds were blowing strong from the west, and the water was very choppy. Sometime near 10:00 a.m. the boat began taking on water, and the boat capsized and sank. None of the boaters were wearing life jackets. Two of the men made it to shore, but the other three could not be found. First responders searched both on the water and from the shore until daylight was lost. The two surviving men were medically treated and released. The recovery effort continued at daybreak on Sunday morning, with searchers again on the water and the shore. The search ensued as long as weather and daylight permitted through Sunday, Monday and into Tuesday morning. Family members gathered in June Lake and awaited news of their loved ones. At approximately 11:30 a.m. Tuesday morning, the boat and all three bodies were located near the middle of June Lake. Divers successfully recovered all of them, and the family was notified of their recovery.
San Bernardino County Sheriff Emergency Operations Dive Rescue
All of the men are from Tehachapi and are related to one another. The surviving men are Caleb Crouch, age 22; and John Langston, also age 22. The deceased are Doug Langston, age 46; Caleb Johnson, age 21; and Jacob Langston, age 14.
We especially want to acknowledge the agencies who assisted: San Bernardino County Sheriff Emergency Operations Dive Rescue, Mono County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue, Lyon County Search and Rescue, Mary Cablk and Inca, June Lake Fire Department, Lee Vining Fire Department, Mammoth Lakes Fire Department, Mono County Paramedics, US Forest Service and Sierra Lifeflight. Also many thanks to the local businesses who supported our efforts and cared for the families: Boulder Lodge, June Lake Marina, Double Eagle Resort, Hideaway Condominiums, Fern Creek Lodge, Stellar Brew, Trouttown Joe’s, Looney Bean Coffee in Bishop, O’Hana’s 395, Big Rock Resort, June Lake Ski Area. We apologize for anyone we may have overlooked. The community of June Lake and all of Mono County truly wrapped their arms around the families and the first responders and took great care of us during this tragedy. The families expressed repeatedly how loved and cared for they felt.
Mono County Sheriff Command Center
John Dill
October 23, 2016 - Search Training with John Dill from Yosemite National Park.
John Dill graduated from MIT in 1970 with a degree in Physics. He then went to Yosemite to do some climbing, and is still there.
Ranger John is pretty much a legend in the history of Yosemite Search and Rescue, and has received a number of honors and awards for his pioneering work in SAR. He is a very modest guy, though, and avoids accolades. Here's a link you might like to see U.S. honors Yosemite search and rescue ranger.
During summer months, he does an excellent 90 minute presentation on YOSAR and their work every Tuesday evening at the Yosemite Theater, benefiting Yosemite Conservancy.
He will be in Mammoth at the SAR building, at 10 AM, with presentations tailored to our Team. We will then have some lunch, and he will do more in the afternoon, before returning to the valley. He says: "I'm focusing mostly on search and on two specific topics: Subject Survival, and another, no title yet (if ever), about information screw-ups. Possibly a third, about tracing unknowing witnesses".
This event has literally been years in planning. Promises to be fascinating, and some of the best SAR savvy learning you will ever have. It's probably a once in a lifetime opportunity.
Thanks to Jim Gilbreath for setting this up. Thanks to Carole and Brad Schilz, Dan Corning and Bill Greene for the food arrangements.
Bishop United We Ride Motorcycle Club Donation
November
No operations in November.
November 17, 2016 - Bishop United We Ride Motorcycle Club Donation - The Team was honored to receive a $500 donation from the Bishop United We Ride Motorcycle Club, who raised funds from a Poker Run to contribute to both Inyo and Mono County SAR Teams. Here is a photo of the awards gathering.
December
December 14, 2016 - End of Year Awards Party
On December 14, the team held its Annual Awards Party with a potluck dinner at the SAR building. Grateful thanks to Carole Schilz for organizing the many details, and to Marie French, Shalle Genevieve, Bev Langston, and others who helped with it all. The food was marvelous, and there was a great plenty of it!
The team elected new Board members. The Board of Directors list is now (alphabetically by name and term length):
Lisa Cowan - 2 year term
Marie French - 2 year term
Jim Gilbreath - 2 year term
Luke Hammack - 2 year term
Carole Schilz - 2 year term
Barbara Barnum - 1 year term
Dori Leyen - 1 year term
Chris Thompson - 1 year term
Jon Robertson - 1 year term
The new Board will elect officers at their next meeting. Barry Beck will continue as Training Officer.
The Mono County Sheriff Search and Rescue Team is a non-profit organization of volunteers dedicated to saving lives. They do searches and rescues at any time, in any weather, for as long as it takes, for free.
Each year, the Team honors members for their individual excellence and public service.
Barbara Barnum - 2016 Pete Schoerner Rescue Member of the Year
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 died in an ice climbing accident in 1996.
The Pete Schoerner Rescue Member of the Year for 2016 is Barbara Barnum. Barb serves the Team as a member of the Board of Directors, Operations Leader, Team Secretary, and as an active responder to calls. Since joining the team in 2010, she has responded to 235 team events, including 15 missions this year.
New members in training are called Candidate Members, and must undergo training, practice, and testing in eighteen skill categories before being considered for advancement to Rescue Member. Examples of these skills include first aid and victim care, tracking, technical rescue, mountain navigation, helicopter operations, and skill with electronic aids such as computers, radios, avalanche transceivers, and GPS receivers. Completion of all requirements takes a lot of dedication and faithfulness over a period that is typically a year or more.
Viren Perumal - 2016 Rick Mosher Candidate Member of the Year
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 while searching in a small airplane that crashed during an operation on August 15, 1979.
This year the team selected Viren Perumal as the Rick Mosher Candidate Member of the Year. Viren is expert in many medical and technical wilderness skills. Since joining the team in April of 2016, he has participated in 31 Team events.
Don Corning - 10 Year Service Award - Team President
An award for ten years of service to the Team and victims was presented to Dan Corning. Since joining the Team in 2006, Dan has participated in 503 Team events, including 134 search and rescue calls. He served as the Team President for four years.
The 2016 honorees were presented with laser engraved wood plaques at an awards dinner December 14 in the Team's building.
Don Deck - Webmaster History Book
The Team's Webmaster, Don Deck, was presented with a personal copy of a 4 volume history book that was recently published in color. Don assembled this team history over many years and thousands of hours of service to the Team as Webmaster, record keeper, and historian.
December 17, 2016, 16-660, #35 A 27 year old snowboarder from Redlands, CA was reported overdue on Mammoth Mountain. His ticket was last scanned on chair 12. A location from a cell phone ping showed him near Reds Lake. He was found safe by his girlfriend in the Village. Responders were: Barnum (Ops), Denton, Cucura, and Hartstrom.