The following accounts of field operations are the best efforts of the newsletter editor, are NOT official reports, and may have errors and omissions, for which apologies and regrets are expressed in advance.
January
January 9, 2019 - SKED Litter Training with Bryan Hagan.
January 12, 2019, 19-017, #1 The Team was called out at 1945. A snowboarder was reported as overdue near closing time at MMSA. Ski Patrol was in the process of an active search, both inbounds and out. The subject was reported to be of low skill level and experience, and was riding with friends off of Chair 23 via Roadrunner. The subject's friends reported him missing when the group became separated.
After sundown, the Sheriff's Office was notified, and the Team was requested to assist. As the Team arrived on scene at MMSA Main Lodge, the respondents were put on temporary standby as Ski Patrol was concluding their search.
Shortly thereafter, Ski Patrol initiated voice contact with the subject, and then visually located the subject. The Team was released, and Ski Patrol returned the subject to Main Lodge, cold but uninjured.
Responders were: Hammack, L (Ops), Pelichowsky, (IC), Bush, Kaufman, Quiring, Rea, Beck, Wallace, Patterson, Cucura, Creager, Buchanan, Dunne, and Hagan. The Team volunteered 64 man hours for this call.
January 12-14, 2019 - AIARE 1 Avalanche Training
January 20, 2019 - Snowmobile Riding/Operation Training with Barry Beck.
February
February 17, 2019. 1735 call. Amador mutual aid call for missing skiers near Peddler Hill. Since Hwy 88 was closed, no response was actually made, though Team members responded to the SAR building to make preparations for next day departure. IC was Pelichowski.
February 17, 2019, 19-063, #2 At 1800 on Sunday, February 17, the Team received a call for a disoriented 60 year old female snowshoer near Earthquake Dome at 322684, 4171640 on the C loop of the OHV snowmobile area. Two team members drove to the Cinder Shed, and launched two snowmobiles on the trail system. The subject was located on the trail system, 2-3 miles from the Cinder Shed. She was returned to the trailhead via snowmobile.
Responders were: Pelichowski (IC), Quiring, and Bush. The Team volunteered 6 man hours for this call.
February 23, 2019, 19-070, #3 The Team was called at MMSA closing time for a 70 year old male overdue skier. After the Team arrived, Ski Patrol located the overdue skier using coordinates provided by the Sheriff's Office, acquired from the subject's mobile phone.
Responders were: Pelichowski, (IC), Luke Hammack (Ops), and Beck. The Team volunteered 11 man hours for this call.
February 24, 2019, 19-071, #4 The Team was called at 1701 for an overdue snowboarder after closing at MMSA. Patrol had a ping position, but requested SAR respond and stand by. After the Team's arrival, Ski Patrol located the subject.
Responders were: Beck (Ops), Pelichowski (IC), and Luke Hammack. The Team volunteered 7 man hours for this call.
March
Inyo County snowcat attempting to reach the trailhead. Image by Inyo SAR
March 8, 2019, 19-086, #5 Matthew Kraft Search. In mutual aid to Inyo County, seven Mono County Search and Rescue members deployed to the Bishop Airport. They were tasked with ground searching the area of Onion Valley Road and all other possible trailheads in an attempt to locate Kraft's Jeep. The Jeep was not located until the following day.
Responders were: Torrance, Beck, Wallace, Leyen, Buchanan, Luke Hammack, and Quiring. The Team volunteered 91 man hours for this call.
The LZ is a little soft… Image by Luke Hammack
March 13, 2019, 19-086, #6 Matthew Kraft Search. In mutual aid to Inyo County, two SAR members were deployed to assist Inyo County Sheriff's Office with an area search and RECCO search of the Onion Valley Trail head parking lot and campground. They were flown in and extracted via Seahawk Helicopter from China Lake. No clues were located.
Responders were: Quiring and Luke Hammack. The Team volunteered 28 man hours for this call.
Seahawk transportation to the search area. Image by Mitchell Quiring
Image by Inyo SAR
On the flight to Kearsarge Pass. Image by Mitchell Quiring
March 14, 2019, 19-086, #7 Matthew Kraft Search. In mutual aid to Inyo County, two SAR members were deployed to assist Inyo County Sheriff's Office with an area search and RECCO search of the Kearsarge Pass area. They were flown in along with 2 Inyo County SAR members and 4 Marine Corp searchers to the Big Pothole Lake area near the top of Kearsarge pass via Marine Corps Huey helicopter.
They completed a dual-Recco search of major avalanche paths and avalanche debris for 10 miles from Kearsarge pass to the current road closure. It was all executed on skis, and all 8 personnel skied from the top of the pass to the bottom of the canyon to their vehicles. No clues were located.
Responders were: Quiring and Cucura. The Team volunteered 30 man hours for this call.
ops19-086 Matthew Kraft search
Preparing for helo transport to Kearsarge Pass. Image by Mitchell Quiring
Preparing for helo transport to Kearsarge Pass. Image by Joey Cucura
March 23, 2019, 19-113, #8 A 911 call was received from the son of 62-year-old snowmobiler who was thrown from his sled and sustained multiple injuries including a compound leg fracture, dislocated ankle, and rib injuries. Injury occurred early afternoon, however due to no cell coverage, RP had to hike to a location to make the call.
Callout was made at 18:15. Eight team members assembled at the Mammoth Lakes SAR building and departed with three rescue vehicles each towing snowmobiles. Two team members departed Bridgeport with a rescue vehicle. All team members assembled at the trailhead off 395 and Deadman summit.
Field teams departed the trailhead at 19:30 on seven snowmobiles along with a sled in tow for the subject. Contact was made with the RP at 2010. RP directed the team to the subject near Bald Mountain at 332445, 4183492 with contact made at 2035.
A medical assessment was performed and treatment initiated for slight hyperthermia with a thermal wrap. The compound tib/fib fracture was also addressed. Subject was packaged and transported, arriving at base by 23:00 where he was met by Mono County medics and transported to Mammoth Lakes Hospital.
Responders were: Beck (Ops), Pelichowski (IC), Wallace, Quiring, Bush, Rea, Kaufman, Hammack, Fernandez, Patterson, and Carlson. The Team volunteered 132 man hours for this call.
March 29, 2019 - Ops Leader Training with Jim Gilbreath, Kirk Hartstrom and Eric Kaufman.
April
April 5-6, 2019 - Ops Leader Training with Barry Beck, Jim Gilbreath, Steve Case, Marie French and Heidi Vetter
April 10, 2019 - Blood-borne Pathogen Training with Cheryl Buchanan
April 13, 2019 - Candidate Basic Training with Jim Gilbreath, Jeff Holmquist, Lisa Cowan, Eric Kaufman and Mitchell Quiring
April 17, 2019 - Communications Training with Jim Gilbreath and Kirk Hartstrom
2019 Candidate Class
After an open house night, applications, background checks, and interviews, the Team accepted 16 new Candidate Members. Here they are in alphabetical order with their photos taken at the interviews.
April 20, 2019 - Mechanical Advantage-Rope Training with Zac Creager, Natai Endo and Eric Kaufman
April 27, 2019 - Search Scenario Training with Christina Ackerman, Steve Case, Heidi Vetter and Jim Wallace
April 28, 2019, 19-167, #9 The Team was called for a carry out of an injured climber in the Owens River Gorge, estimated IPP 360935, 4254075. The staging area was to be the 3rd (upper) parking area. Based on initial reports of the severity of the injury, Care Flight was called, as well as Mono County Medic 3 unit. Numerous bystanders, including a physician, RN, and others with medical training rendered aid, and transported the subject to the trailhead, most likely via one of the in situ litters stationed in the Gorge, where they were met by Medic 3.
Medic 3 stated that no further assistance was needed, and most of the responders turned around prior to arrival at the trailhead.
Responders were: Beck (Ops), Pelichowsky (IC), Patterson, Kaufman, Quiring, Buchanan, Wallace, Case, and Cowan. The Team volunteered 12 man hours for this call.
May
May 4, 2019 Wilderness First Aid and CPR Training
May 10, 2019 -Tracking Classroom Training with Steve Case
May 11, 2019 - Tracking Field Training with Steve Case
May 15, 2019 - Technical Rescue Traning - Knots with Zac Creager, Luke Hammack, Kirk Hartstrom, Eric Kaufman and Mitchell Quiring.
TOPO 3D view of Little Slide Canyon, looking south toward The Incredible Hulk, but not showing the darkness and wind and snowstorm the Team encountered!
May 18-19, 2019. 19-200, #10 Report by Barry Beck. Saturday evening at 7:37 pm we had a call for a skier with a possible broken leg near the entrance to the North Couloir on the Incredible Hulk. A party of 3 had hiked in from Mono Village, waded across Robinson Creek (which as expected for spring time was running fast and cold), and continued up Little Slide Canyon. About 30 minutes after crossing the creek, they hit the snowline, and put on their skis and skins and continued up the canyon.
As the terrain became steeper below the entrance to the couloir, they removed their skis and boot packed up the couloir. On the descent, one of the skiers fell from about 3/4 height, and tumbled and slid down the couloir to 288074, 4222651. When the fall ended, had multiple left leg fractures, but most notably an open tib-fib with considerable bone exposed. The accident occurred at approximately 2 pm.
One of the group activated a SPOT PLB, and they waited for a helo to collect them (it was later learned that no PLB activation was recorded). The helo did not arrive, and one of their party hiked out to Mono Village and reported the accident to the SO. The Team was activated, and 3 large field teams were sent out. The weather was cold, and as the field teams were gathering gear, it began to snow. All teams departed well after dark; it is about 3 miles in on the trail. Just past the wilderness boundary, they left the trail and found a downed tree crossing.
There is a use trail on the south side of the creek that leads into Little Slide Canyon, and all field teams used this and the downed tree bridge instead of wading the creek. At base the decision had been made to send the field teams with snowshoes as few folks had skis, skins, and ski crampons. It turned out to be a good choice.
Little Slide Canyon was covered in deep snow, and is quite steep in places, and the Team's technical snowshoes were well suited to the terrain. The field teams arrived at the subject's location at approximately 2 am and found him to be in tremendous pain, and his injury grievous, with considerable blood loss.
One of the many litter lowerings on the way out. Image by Mitchell Quiring
He was packaged in a SKED litter, and a long series of lowerings commenced. Most of the time there were 9 team members belaying the SKED with a moving belay, and on the steeper sections a standard belay from an anchor was added. Numerous knot passes were effected as many 50' lengths were tied together to expedite the lowering.
Daybreak, still a ways to go. Image by B. Beck
Considering our options. Image by Mitchell Quiring
On the steepest section, a lower of approximately 400' was interrupted as the rope ran out. The 9 who were body belaying the litter held the litter with the assistance of an ice axe belay as the belay system was moved down the hill to set up for another 400' belay.
The wheel and titanium litter had been left at snowline; there was moderate snowfall all night, over 6" in all, and the uptrack was obliterated, making it difficult to retrace the route, and to find the litter and wheel. Eventually they were located, and the entire package of SKED litter and subject were loaded into the wheeled litter, and the real difficulties commenced.
Preventing the litter and attendants from going over the side. Image by Mitchell Quiring
Belay number 1,043 or so… Image by B. Beck
The descent had many snow-covered side hills, and these were very difficult to cross with the wheeled litter. In addition, there were sections of thick brush, willows, boulder fields, and dense trees that were very difficult to manage.
The use trail was regained, and it was entirely different than it was on the ascent, due to the continuous overnight snowfall. There were very narrow, precipitous sections, and many smooth granite slabs now covered in fresh snowfall.
At one point the field teams were completely stymied by the hazards of the descent; the first of the morning light had arrived, and the situation looked grim and untenable. To complicate matters, the subject had continued to lose blood during the entire descent, and there were splotches of blood all along the descent.
Air resources were requested, but the weather was still a limiting factor. CHP H40 stated that they could not cross the Sierra, and Fallon was not sure what they could do. The field teams came up with a plan to continue the descent unaided.
The last series of belayed lowerings. Image by B. Beck
Refreshing creek crossing. Image by Mitchell Quiring
Nearing the trailhead. Image by Mark Zila
Nearing the trailhead. Image by Mark Zila
Here is subject Luke, his mom, and a few of his rescuers in Renown Hospital
Multiple belays were built to safeguard the Team and the subject as they continued the sketchy descent. The belay teams were leapfrogging to keep the litter moving, while preventing falls into the abyss. After many, many belayed sections down the sketch use trail, the field teams arrived on the valley floor.
It was not feasible to cross the downed trees with the litter, so the litter team hopped in the freezing cold 2-foot deep creek (after spending the entire night out in the cold and snow), and waded the litter to the other bank. From there it was 3 miles on the snow-covered trail back to the trailhead, and urgency was indicated as the steady blood loss continued unabated.
The subject was handed off to Mono County Medics, and was then flown out on Care Flight to Renown in Reno. After his surgery, several Team members visited him in his hospital room.
The Team displayed extraordinary team work, competence, and professionalism in successfully effecting this extraction and rescue. At one point there were 18 personnel out in the field, and 16 of those were out for the entire duration from 7:37 pm on Saturday night until 9:14 am Sunday morning, a tremendous effort.
Responders were: Beck (Ops), Wallace (Ops), Pelichowsky (IC), Patterson, Torrence, Tony Hansen, Zila, Buchanan, Bush, Creager, Luke Hammack, Hartstrom, Pavlovsky, Quiring, Anderson, Montgomery, Mosher, Mulligan, Evans, and Senior. The Team volunteered 272 man hours for this call.
We Get Letters
People we help in the backcountry are very grateful for what we do for them, and sometimes write to say so, and say thanks on our Facebook page.
Thank you for all you do to serve the public and save lives. Sincerely, Linda Mayer You are doing a great job. Bea Lambert. Lee Vining, CA
You do wonderful work and deserve much support! You rescued my son, Eric Otte several years ago when he got lost on wrong side of the mountain. We shall be eternally grateful to all of you!! Mary Otte
Thanks for all the great work that you do. It's much appreciated!! I hope we never need your assistance. Thanks again. Friends of Jim Wallace - Brent, Addie, and Cathy.
Thank you for the kind reminder. Seems the last year has passed by so quickly. We are proud of the accomplishments you achieve. Bill
Your team is truly heroic. Thank you for your amazing work. Your team rescued me several years ago (Lundy Pass near Lake Helen) and may have saved my life, as well. Wendy Stock.
Wow, what an amazing rescue. Thank you for sharing. He's lucky to be alive, and so lucky they could save his leg. Thank you for your dedication.
Thank you for your dedicated unrelenting service. So good to know we have such a great rescue team with so much knowledge, safety, and care to do what you heroes do. Thank you all.
Wow what a amazing group effort and a major success ! Thank you for all of that you and your rescue teams do!
You all are wonderful. I'm sure that skier is thankful for your devotion.
Amazing work, thank you for your dedication to rescuing in our mountains. You all are an awesome group of people
What an amazing group of people, great job, God was on your side.
Congratulations on a job well done. True heroes do not always wear a cape, but always respond to the task at hand.
What dedication and courage!!! I hope all involved in the rescue are well. Aren't we all fortunate to have such dedicated and well trained people!!
Wow thank you all for your dedication, professionalism and desire to go above and beyond for your fellow human.
Always grateful to the amazing people that put themselves in harms way to rescue/support backcountry sport and recreation. You can't always plan for all outcomes.
Incredible determination, skill, experience and decision-making!!! Thank you for your sacrifice and service!
You guys are so awesome. What you do is volunteerism to the Max. You saved a life for sure!!
Absolutely incredible! This is why folks should donate to the Mono County Sheriff Search and Rescue Team. They conduct these rescues for free and everyone they rescue is damn lucky to have them here! Hope the victim recovers well.
Outstanding dedicated volunteers. Another great job, saving another life. Way to go. Rick Scholl.
Thank God there are dedicated people out there with awesome skills! This very easily could have turned out much worse...even for those rescuers. Lives on the line. Fantastic teamwork and perseverance!
Every day heroes doing what they do best. Thank you for your dedication.
The SAR TEAMS are selfless, dedicated, well trained, amazing people who will go to any lengths to serve and save people's lives if possible. They are true heroes.
This team has the most outstanding individuals...they are spectacular...not enough words to describe their dedication. Vilija Kirsonis
That's a hell of a rescue, great team effort in super tough conditions. The skier was lucky you all were on his case.
Amazing work MONOSAR!
I was the one who set off the PLB about 30 seconds after we realized the severity of the compound fracture and our position in the couloir. It was a Spot Gen 3 and I had been paying for the insurance on a monthly auto-pay plan. Still trying to determine what went wrong. After immediately pressing it, we didn't take our chances so I sent the third member of our party down immediately to call for help for redundancy in the system. Of the many lessons learned, one is that having a 2-way system, such as the Inreach Mini, which would have been much more helpful, as I knew immediately based on the storm and incoming night that a chopper would not fly in these conditions. MONOSAR are complete pro's. I could not be more impressed by the group of heroes that showed up in record time. Sam Goldman
Well done, Team! Incredible perseverance and dedication. This should be a movie! Adrienne Abbot.
Sam Goldman. I was one of the other skiers who waited with my dear friend until SAR could arrive. Truly blown away and in awe of MONOSAR: An unbelievable group of individuals and all volunteer driven. Your systems and compartmentalized roles and skill sets were perfectly synced, complex, and perfectly staged throughout the mountain ecosystem by separate teams, all prepared ahead of times and in lieu of the litter coming through as effectively and quickly as possible. It was like a hive mind of sorts. Such gracious and effective people and teamwork, in the most f*d conditions. The combination of the previous 8 hours of trying to help my friend survive before SAR arrived made me useless toward the end, and I had that feeling of hypothermic IQ reduction that is truly a liability to rescue efforts, and it was quickly suggested that I ski out as your rescue party set out into the storm filled night of the high alpine. I am truly humbled and eternally grateful to this team of consummate, calm and highly skilled professionals who saved my friend's life with the most well-rehearsed precision, speed and grace. Such legends. LFG Mono County Sheriff Search and Rescue Team!
Hope you are well. This is Luke Dewire, the individual you and your team pulled out of the back country on Saturday/Sunday night near Bridgeport, and ultimately saved. This situation and your efforts are far beyond a simple "thanks", and I will be forever indebted to you and your team. I am in Renown hospital in Reno now and have been since Sunday. My Father mentioned some of the team wanted to visit, and I very much welcome that. I would love to thank you and your team face to face. I owe you all an incredible debt. Do you or any members of your team have interest in coming by the hospital? As far as a condition update: I went through my third surgery last night where they closed things up. Fantastic surgery team placed a metal bar/plate through knee cap into shin area and was able to screw 15 disparate bone fragments to the plate. They were very happy with result and closed injury. I will be in the hospital today and tomorrow at a minimum and I would love to see you. I plan to travel to the East coast (Baltimore) on Monday give or take for 6 weeks of recovery with my family. Let me know thoughts on a visit or how to connect. Best, Luke.
Dear Deputy Sheriff Pelichowski and each and every one of the Monosar team family. Thank you for saving our son Luke's life. He's alive and on the road to recovery thanks to you. Your mission report is at once beautiful, but also terrifying. Words cannot express our gratitude. Luke's words capture our sentiments - and you may have seen them on his social media.
I have another group to thank, a group of individuals that put themselves into life threatening conditions on a voluntary basis to save my life, Mono County Search and Rescue. These folks didn't know me, they didn't know what had happened, and they didn't know what they were about to be up against with the winter conditions. In the dark, this group hiked deep into the back country, to the base of the couloir to find me buried in snow and freezing. When Sam Goldman found them in the canyon, he grabbed a sleeping bag and raced ahead of them to get back to me as fast as possible, and to bundle me up and keep me from freezing. 30 minutes later, the team arrived and they pulled me up, splinted my leg, lay me on a back board and hiked me out. I remember the middle of the night - freezing, tons of obstacles, snow coming down, and the team working together to get me out. I remember one team member commenting on the sun rising and it being morning, and the challenges of the journey continued. This group of 12+ navigated down incredibly sketchy terrain of rocks/cliffs and snow covered trees and brush for hours. They crossed a river of snow melt 2+ feet deep that was 15+ feet wide with me over their heads, and it didn't phase them. And with wet feet, they continued to hike me out another 2.5 miles to an ambulance, with snow covering the whole trail. Each bump the carriage I lay on hit was excruciating, and this team picked me up every time a bump was seen to ensure minimal pain. These folks are heroes. If ever anyone has inspired belief in humanity, it is these individuals. They left their warm houses and beds, their families, their security, to come into the wilderness to save a stranger. I am humbled by their generosity, moved by their selflessness, and forever grateful for their efforts. I am alive because this group said, "Hey, we are going to save you." Luke Dewire.
May 19, 2019 - Mountain Navigation Training with Jim Gilbreath.
May 22, 2019 - Technical Rescue Anchor-Rock Training with Barry Beck, John Bush, Zac Creager, Natai Endo, Luke Hammack, Eric Kaufman, Charles Padilla and Chris Thompson.
May 31, 2019, 19-217, #11 On Friday, May 31 at 3:57 pm, the Team responded to a call for a 55-year-old female with a possible ankle fracture approximately one mile in on the Parker Lake Trail in the June Lake Loop. The Team had 18 responders for the call. Several field teams went in with medical gear and the wheeled litter at approximately 4:30 pm.
Field teams leaving the trailhead. Image by M. Quiring
The Jeffrey Pine splint applied by the subject’s hiking companions. Image by M. Quiring
The subject was treated by members of her own party prior to arrival of the field teams, and her party had been attempting to help her our on their own, but were concerned about the length of time passing.
Preparing the subject for transport via wheeled litter. Image by M. Quiring
Easy roll out to the trailhead. Image by M. Quiring
Ready to be transported. Image by M. Quiring
Arriving at the trailhead. Image by B. Torrence
The Team packaged the subject for transport in the wheeled litter and quickly rolled her out to the trailhead; she arrived at 5:56 pm and she was transported by her party to Mammoth Hospital for treatment. The hospital verified that the injury was in fact a fracture, and surgery was pending a reduction in swelling at the time this narrative was produced.
Responders were: Pelichowsky (IC), Beck/Wallace (ops), Evans, Kaufman, Anderson, Patterson, Quiring, Carlson, Cucura, Torrence, Endo, Creager, Hennes, Zila, Cowan, Hartstrom, Lambert, Padilla.
June
June 1, 2019 - Technical Rescue Low Angle Rigging Training with Barry Beck, Lisa Cowan, Zac Creager, Natai Endo, Luke Hammack, Jeremy Lambert and Charles Padilla.
June 5, 2019 - Helicopter Classroom Training with John Pelichowski and Barry Beck
June 8, 2019 - Helicopter Field Training with John Pelichowski
June 10, 2019, 19-236, #12 Report by Barry Beck. On Monday, June 10, the Team was called to respond to a report of a 68 year old male from Chalfant, CA, injured in a fall on the south side of Mt. Morrison, at an approximate elevation of 11,200'. The RP had activated a PLB, and a good location was acquired. In addition, the RP had a satellite phone, so the IC had communication with the group.
The Team staged on the east side of Convict Lake. Air resources were requested.
H40 at Mammoth Airport
Two field teams left Rescue Base and began the climb up to the subject's location. In addition, the CHP called in a crew for helicopter H40, which was just finishing up routine maintenance. H40 responded to the coordinates provided by the PLB, and quickly located the subject on steep talus terrain.
H40 landed at the Mammoth-Yosemite airport, stripped extraneous gear, and on boarded a Team member, who was down-hoisted to the subject's location. H40 returned for another SAR member and the titanium litter and Bowman Bag, which were also down-hoisted to the subject's location.
H40 returned to the airport for fuel and to wait for the subject to be packaged, then returned to the scene and hoisted out the subject and delivered him to Medic 3 back at the airport. H40 then extracted the two SAR members on scene.
Field team holding for helicopter extraction of the subject. Image by J. Bush
Field teams 1 and 2 had been put on standby and requested to hold their position upon the arrival of H40. Once H40 successfully retrieved the subject, the field teams were advised to return to base.
The subject indicated that he had been walking on snow, with crampons, when he tripped and began sliding down the steep snowfield. He slid out of sight of his companions on a steep rollover, and then his momentum was subsequently arrested by exposed rocks, though he tumbled approximately 30' over the rocks before coming to rest.
The SAR medical team indicated that the subject had a 2" laceration to the back of his head by a sharp rock that penetrated his helmet, and a possible skull fracture, though not displaced. The subject likely had a fractured shoulder and scapula, as well as other lacerations and contusions. Medic 3 delivered him to Mammoth Hospital, and he was subsequently flown to Renown, current condition unknown.
Responders were: Pelichowsky (IC), Beck/Cowan (ops), Blackman, Buchanan, Bush, Creager, Dunne, Kaufman, Knight, Patterson, Pavlovsky, Senior, Torrence, Evans, and Wallace.
June 12, 2019 - Mono County Medic Debrief Training with Fletcher Buccowich.
June 15. 2019 - Technical Rescue Steep Angle Training - Jim Wallace Photos.
OpsOESxxx Inyo mutual aid Mt. Whitney - J. Wallace photo
June 18, 2019, OES-???, #13 The Mono County Sheriff’s Office was contacted for a mutual aid request in support of the search for a 47-year-old Virginia hiker in the Mt. Whitney area missing since June 12.
Four Team members responded, and were assigned a search area to the north of Mirror Lake.
The field team accessed their search area via the Mt. Whitney trail, and then by cross-country travel.
The field team concluded the search of their area without any evidence of the missing hiker.
They returned to base via the Mt. Whitney trail.
The subject was located that same day on the north side of Mt. Whitney. Unfortunately he was deceased.
Responders were: Pelichowsky (IC), Quiring, Creager, Wallace, and Kaufman
OpsOESxxx Inyo mutual aid Mt. Whitney - J. Wallace photo
OpsOESxxx Inyo mutual aid Mt. Whitney - J. Wallace photo
Ops 19-253 night time hike out - J. Bush photo
June 19, 2019, 19-253, #14 At approximately 7 pm, Wednesday June 19, two female hikers from Mission Viejo called 911 to report that they were lost in the vicinity of Valentine Lake.
The Mono County Sheriff’s Office was able to obtain a ping from their mobile phone, and provided the ping coordinates to the Mono County Sheriff Search and Rescue Team.
The Team responded with 16 searchers to the Sherwin Lakes trailhead. 3 field teams trekked up the trail, and soon had aural contact with the subjects via whistle, and shortly thereafter had visual contact.
The subjects were provided with headlamps and escorted down the trail and back to the trailhead. They suffered no injuries or duress.
Responders were: Beck (Ops), Wallace (Ops), Torrence, Bush, Mulligan, Quiring, Carlson, Kaufman, Patterson, Evans, Senior, Pavlovsky, Buchanan, Luke Hammack, Anderson and Hennes.
June 22-23, 2019 - Ops Weekend-Simulated Operation Training with Jim Wallace, Crittenden, Lisa Cowan, Eric Kaufman, Natai Endo, John Bush, Steve Case, Barry Beck, Patterson.
June 24, 2019, 19-264, #15 On Monday, June 24 at 9:39 pm, the Team was called for a 17 year-old male fisherman reporting himself lost in the vicinity of Starkweather Lake. The Sheriff’s Office was able to get a good location from the subject’s mobile phone.
The Reds Meadow road was cleared, but not yet open, so the field team assigned to locate the subject was able to access the area via the paved road. The location coordinates indicated that the subject was approximately 600 yards from the road.
There were several creek crossings along the way, and the crossings were hazardous due to cold, swift water from the peak of the spring runoff season. The subject was located and escorted back to the rescue vehicle, and Mono County deputy provided transport to the subject.
Responders were: Pelichowsky (IC), Beck (Ops), Wallace, Bush.
June 26, 2019 - Technical Rescue Litter Attendant Training with ???
Arriving at trailhead - ops 19_269 - J. Bush Photo
June 28, 2019, 19-269, #16 On Friday, June 28th 2019 at 1950, the Team was called to assist a 55 year-old female hiker with leg cramps on the Sherwin Lakes Trail. A single large field team left the Sherwin Creek trailhead to locate and assist the subject.
End of the ride ops19_269 - J. Bush Photo
The subject was located a short distance from the trailhead, and was treated and packaged into the wheeled litter, and transported to base. The subject and her companion departed SAR base via personal vehicle.
Responders were: Pelichowsky (IC) Bush/Beck (Ops), Torrence, Evans, Mulligan, Zila, Anderson, Knight, Dunne, Cucura, Patterson, Buchanan, Creager, Cowan, Case, Guffey.
June 29, 2019 - Technical Rescue High Angle Training with ???