February 2 & 3, 2004. 04-02R. On the evening of February 2, a snowcat driver, Gary Milender of Bishop, 56, became disoriented during a winter storm while returning to Barcroft Lab after transporting two people (Ken Solis and Eduardo Rivas, both of Palmdale) to the communications station on Silver Peak.
The team responded in unified command with Inyo SAR early in the morning of February 3. Mono sent a snowmobile team to travel the cat driver's intended exit route and intercept his track. Inyo sent a snowcat as backup and to provide medical assistance if needed. Inyo also provided a fixed wing to fly the search area.
At dawn, the storm largely lifted, and the cat driver began to make his way back to Barcroft, and the Mono teams were sent to Silver Peak to transport Solis and Rivas from Silver Peak to the roadhead. Responders were: Holmquist (ops), Schmidt, Michalski, Enright; Inyo SAR (Nixon/Hardcastle, ops).
Mono SAR Snowmobiles assemble at Westgard Pass
Nextel Communications Building on Silver Peak
Mono SAR Snowmobiles - Greg Enright and Dave Michalski drivers
Group Photo