From Mono Herald newspaper report:

The Lee Vining Chapter of Delta Epsilon Gamma Sorority had two meetings in January. On January 9, members met at the home of Dorothy DesBaillets for a program on Early American furniture and its influence on American society. On January 16 Freda Bolin was the hostess and presented a program on Friendship and its meaning.

Delta Epsilon Gamma has generously donated $300 to the June Lake Search and Rescue Team. This is the second year that the sorority has donated to this worthwhile group. They feel the rescue team needs more community support.

From Sierra Daily News newspaper report by Martin Strelneck:

Mammoth Rescuers Need Little More Practice

The scene is a frozen waterfall high above the Rush Creek Power Plant in the June Lake Loop where a climber has fallen several hundred feet and is now hung upside down, seriously injured. The frozen terrain will require rescue personnel with technical skills in ice climbing to remove him safely.

This was the simulated problem facing the Mammoth Lakes Search and Rescue Team on Saturday as it sought to gain certification from the Mountain Rescue Association in winter rescue techniques. The judges were members from 10 statewide search and rescue teams and the exercise was hosted by June Lake's Search and Rescue squad. Mammoth's team had high marks in most areas, but will have to try again, the judges decided.

"What we are seeing here is a dry run of what happens many times every year," said Tim Fives, vice president and training coordinator for the California Region of the Mountain Rescue Association. He explained that the members of the Mammoth group would be judged on their skills, techniques and methods used in removing the "injured" climber from the ice field, and, upon completion the entire group would meet and critique the operation pointing out both strong and weak points.

Fives, who is a member of the Sylmar Mountain Rescue Team, said that for a team to become a member of the Mountain Rescue Association it is necessary that it be certified in three areas of rescue work - snow, ice, rock and search. The Mountain Rescue Association is a nationwide group that, in the words of June Lake Search and Rescue Team leader John Ellsworth, provides the "back up and skill of an organization that has been in the business a long time."

The June Lake team successfully gained certification and membership in the MRA several years ago and has been working with Mammoth on various training exercises.

Despite Mammoth not "passing" the test, Fives had high praise for the group.

"You can't think of it in terms of pass or fail. It (the first test) is considered a necessary hurdle in the learning experience. You take what you did wrong and do better when you take the test again," Fives said, adding that it is "unusual" to pass the test on the first try.

Fives said Mammoth was "well equipped and had strong technical skills with a lot of potential. The Mammoth team is really top flight and technically very well skilled in ice climbing, which is unusual for a team testing for the first time. There's no way to fault them for that."

Where Mammoth went wrong was in "organization time," Fives said. "With such serious injuries they would have to move faster to reach a victim.

Also taking part in the operation as observers were members of the San Diego Mountain Rescue Team, Altadena Mountain Rescue Team, Bay Area Mountain Rescue Team, China Lake Mountain Rescue Team, June Lake Search and Rescue Team, Inyo County Search and Rescue Team, Sierra Madre Search and Rescue Team, Sylmar Mountain Rescue Team, Riverside Mountain Rescue Team and Montrose Mountain Rescue Team.

From Sierra Daily News newspaper report:

Skier Found Members of the Mammoth Mountain Ski Patrol located a 30-year-old San Diego man Sunday morning after he became lost on Mammoth Mountain on Saturday. Robert Lavigne was found in good condition by patrolmen on the back side of the mountain. The search effort involved the Ski Patrol and members of the Mammoth Lakes Search and Rescue Team.

According to Gary Reitman, head of the Mammoth Mountain Ski Patrol, Lavigne skied past two signs designating the closed area.

From The Review newspaper report:

Power Found Safe and Sound A four-hour operation by the Mammoth Search and Rescue Team in the Red's Meadow area was called off Saturday, June 2, when deputies found the object of their hunt in the middle of Mammoth Lakes. Gary Power, 21, had been reported missing by friends. Power walked back into town and was in good condition, the Mono County Sheriff's Department reported.

From Sierra Daily News newspaper report:

Copter Crash Kills Rescued Hiker An injured hiker was killed Thursday when the California Highway Patrol helicopter which had flown into the Sierra to rescue him lost power and plunged into the freezing water of Peeler Lake on the border of Mono and Tuolumne Counties, officials said.

The dead man was from the San Francisco bay area, authorities said, but his identity was being withheld Thursday night. Neither his body nor the helicopter had been recovered, however, because the craft sank immediately upon hitting the lake, authorities said.

Two Highway Patrolmen on the helicopter escaped with their lives, however. They were identified as pilot Will Benda and observer Randy Byerly, both of Sacramento. Both were suffering from extreme hypothermia, and Benda had leg and back injuries as well.

The hiker had apparently fallen and suffered leg and head injuries, according to the Mono County Sheriff's Department, and the CHP helicopter from Sacramento responded to the lake, at the 9,600-foot level on the Mono-Tuolumne county line, five miles from the trailhead above Twin Lakes.

The CHP rescuers found the injured hiker and placed him in the helicopter, but as they were leaving the scene, according to CHP Public Affairs officer Kent Milton in Sacramento, "they lost power for some reason. We don't know why."

Milton said the plane "rotated into the lake, crashed, and sank immediately. The two rescuers were able to free themselves and get to shore, but the injured man could not. We presume he drowned." Milton said.

"It was extremely cold," he added. "Getting out of the helicopter under those conditions was a real chore," he added.

When Mono County and CHP officials lost contact with the Sacramento helicopter, a second was sent in, this time from Fresno. By late afternoon, the second group of rescuers had caught up with the ill-fated first crew, and flew them to Mono General Hospital in Bridgeport.

We just don't know why this happened," Milton said. "We can't tell anything from the helicopter at the bottom of the lake, so we probably won't know anything for several more days," he added.

Mono County and CHP officials will begin an operation this morning to recover the helicopter and the dead man's body.

Before the terrible ending, the rescue had been "just a typical mission," Milton said. "There are so many questions we just can't answer now," he said.

The conditions at the time of the accident included high winds, extremely poor visibility, and thundershowers, he said.

The wreckage of a California Highway Patrol Bell Jet Helicopter that crashed in Peeler Lake in Mono County on Thursday during a rescue mission for an injured hiker is trailered through Bishop sunday night. The helicopter was removed from the 60 foot level of the lake on Sunday and is being taken to Van Nuys for further examination. The hiker was killed in the crash and the two CHP officers on board were injured - Martin Strelneck Photo

From Sierra Daily News newspaper report by Martin Strelneck:

A California Highway Patrol Helicopter was recovered Sunday from Peeler Lake, after crashing Thursday while on a rescue mission. The body of a man killed in the crash was also recovered, after it floated to the surface saturday.

According to CHP Mono County Commander, Lt. Ted Engstrom, the craft which was located Saturday by Mono County Sheriff Dive Team personnel, was removed from the lake and flown to Bryant Field in Bridgeport. Sunday's recovery was made successful due to the coordinated efforts of the Mono Sheriff Dive Team, a team of commercial divers from the bay area and a large Chinook Helicopter flown by the Air National Guard.

The craft had crashed on Thursday, after picking up Thomas W. Fenlon, 27, of Oakland who had suffered injuries in a fall in the rugged backcountry. The craft apparently lost power while over the lake and fell into the water, according to the CHP.

Fenelon died when the craft sank, but the pilot, Will Benda and observer Randy Byerly were able to make shore with Benda suffering from serious back and leg injuries.

Both men were flown from the location to Mono General Hospital by another Highway Patrol Helicopter, where Benda was treaded and then flown to Saint Mary's Hospital in Reno. On Sunday afternoon a hospital spokesman reported that he was in good condition. Byerly was not injured in the accident.

Engstrom said the aircraft, a specially equipped Bell Jet Ranger recently purchased by the Highway Patrol, appeared to be severly damaged and was being trucked to the Van Nuys area for examination and further investigation. Engstrom said that fully equipped, the craft cost in excess of $900,000.

Engstrom didn't think the crash would hinder future rescue efforts.

"I am sure it will be discussed, but considering how many lives have been saved in the past and the number of injuries that were not aggrivated, I can't see cancelling any future plans," said Engstrom.

From Mono Herald newspaper report by Rosanne Hixley:

Extensive Search Underway Rangers, the search and rescue team, dogs and a helicopter were searching Wednesday for 5-year-old Annie Colville, of Fountain valley, after she disappeared from her parents' campsite at Porcupine Flat in Yosemite National Park Tuesday evening.

The young girl was last seen by her parents about 5:30 p.m. as they were setting up camp. The park service initiated the search at 6:30 p.m. after being notified that she was missing. The search continued until midnight, then resumed at 3 a.m. At 9 a.m. Wednesday, 85 people, seven search dog teams, four blood hounds, and the park service helicopter were combing 200 to 400 acres in search of the young girl.

Overnight temperatures at the campground, located at 8,100 feet, were in the mid-30s.

From Mono Herald newspaper report by Rosanne Hixley:

Fountain Valley Girl Found By Motorist After 26 Hours A 26-hour search in Yosemite National Park ended happily for the family of Annie Colville, 5, of Fountain valley, Calif. The young girl was found by a motorist about 8:30 p.m. Wednesday walking along the road. She was located three miles east of Porcupine Flat campgound, where she was last seen by her parents the evening before.

Despite spending the night at 8,100 feet in near freezing temperatures, she was in perfect health, according to park service spokesperson, Lisa Dapprich. Dapprich added that the five-year-old spent her ordeal walking and napping, and she had picked wildflowers for her family.

The search for the girl had begun Tuesday evening about 6:30 p.m. when her parents reported her missing. A total of 130 ground personnel, seven search dogs, four blood hounds and a helicopter were used in the search.

From Mono Herald newspaper report by Rosanne Higley:

Motorist Finds Hiker Near Lundy Canyon A search that began about 10 p.m. Saturday at Saddlebag Lake was called off Sunday afternoon when the lost hiker, Jeffrey Styles, walked out of Lundy Canyon.

Styles, 19, of Danville, Calif., was last seen by his group of 24 hiking toward North Peak, a rugged granitic peak near Saddlebag Lake, about 3 p.m. Saturday. When he did not return to camp, the group reported him missing, instigating a search involving the June Lake and Mammoth Lakes Search and Rescue teams, a Forest Service Wilderness Ranger, a National Park service helicopter and the California Highway Patrol helicopter.

The search was made more difficult by the presence of many hikers in the area. Search coordinator, Ken McClintock, said that it is harder to search where there are many people and tracks in a concentrated area.

Mavis Grover, owner of Saddlebag Lake Resort, estimated there were over 125 people in the 20 Lakes Basin, the area below North Peak.

Styles was found walking along the road near Lundy Lake by a motorist. The motorist notified authorities when Styles identified himself as being lost. Word was received by the searchers at Saddlebag and the search was cancelled at 4:30 p.m.

After meeting with Styles, McClintock said the young man "knew he was lost as soon as he left the group." Styles had misidentified numerous lakes in the area, both east and west of North Peak, resulting in his crossing the crest twice before hiking down to Lundy Lake, McClintock added. Lundy Lake is about 10 miles from Style's camp.

From Mono Herald newspaper report by Rosanne Higley:

Motorcycle Accident, Missing Juvenile Keep Search Team On the Move It was a busy night for local search and rescue teams Tuesday. They were called out three times and all three ended successfully.

The June Lake and Mammoth Lakes Search and Rescue teams and the June Lake Paramedics responded to a dirt bike accident in the Mono Craters area at approximately 5 p.m.

James Sommer was riding a dirt bike south of Crater Mountain, the highest of the Mono Craters, when the bike fell over on him, according to the Mono County Sheriff's report.

Igov Vorobyoff of the June Lake Search and Rescue Team said that members of the rescue team hiked up the back of the Mono Craters with a litter. At the same time, paramedic Pete Levy rode a dirt bike up the mountain to the scene of the accident. Levy administered first aid until a CHP helicopter arrived.

The helicopter landed about 100 feet from the victim. Summer was transported to Southern Mono Hospital in Mammoth, with a fractured wrist and pain in his hips and chest, Vorobyoff said.

The second call-out occurred at 8:30 p.m. when John Hagar was reported overdue from a hike in the Castle Rock area, south of Mammoth. Thirty minuts later, that search was cancelled when Hagar was found by persons driving a four-wheel-drive vehicle and reunited with his party. Hagar had been "detained by the weather," according to the sheriff's report.

Just after midnight, the rescue teams were called again in response to a report of a missing juvenile in the June Lake area. The unnamed juvenile had been last seen at 7 p.m. with friends near Gull Lake. A search that included the June Lake Search and Rescue Team, with help from the June Lake Volunteer Fire Department, ended successfully when the juvenile was found about 1 a.m. near Gull Lake park, the sheriff's report concluded.

From Mono Herald newspaper report by Rosanne Higley:

"Skier Without Skis" Helps Keep Rescue Team Busy August continues to be a busy month, for the June Lake and Mammoth Lakes Search and Rescue teams who were called for two rescues on Monday, Aug. 20.

A teen-age girl with an injured right ankle was rescued from the backcountry near Waugh Lake above the June Lake Loop. At the same time, a young man with a broken leg was carried from an ice field near Ellery Lake on the Tioga Pass Road.

Melissa Robertson, 17, of the Athenian School, was hiking with a group of 16 teenagers and four adults when she was injured Sunday afternoon about 5 p.m.

Ken McClintock, search and rescue coordinator, said he received word of the injury at 9 a.m. Monday. The rescue team began the eight-mile hike to the girl's location about 10:30 a.m.

Southern California Edison, which maintains reservoirs at Gem, Agnew and Waugh lakes provided three additional rescuers and a wheeled litter. SCE also provided the rescue team with barge and boat rides across the reservoirs and with a ride down the mountain on their tramway, thus saving hours of hiking for rescuers.

The rescue at Ellery Lake began at 1:30 p.m. Monday, when a California highway patrolman was informed that Richard Horn, 23, of Atlanta, Ga., had broken his leg while glissading down a snow field.

Horn was just climbing and "fooling around," he said. He had been "skiing without skis" when his foot hit a rock and he "heard his leg break."

Rescuers climbed a steep mountainside of loose rock south of Ellery Lake to reach Horn. They said, however, that it was not a difficult climb; the rock was safe and the snow fields were soft enough to easily kick footholds.

The rescuers lowered Horn with ropes and rappelling techniques to an area where they could use a wheeled litter to transport him over the rocks to the road. The seven-hour rescue ended about dark.

Randy Robinson, president of the Mammoth Lakes Search and Rescue, praised the June Lake and Mammoth teams for "another smooth cooperative operation."

The June Lake Search and Rescue team historian commented that the number of rescues is beginning to catch up with last year. He said, "Last year we averaged a rescue every six days during the summer. This year we started out slowly, but we're catching up, fast. August has been a busy month."

A Mammoth Lakes paramedic spokesman also noted that "calls for his unit had been frequent this summer. "Often one call a day is about normal. Now we're getting numerous calls."

From Mono Herald newspaper report by Rosanne Higley:

Four Skiers Rescued From Back of June Mountain - Three Spend Chilly Night Stranded Near Glass Creek Three men and one woman, who mistakenly skied off the back side of June Mountain in three separate misadventures Thanksgiving Day, were found in excellent condition despite foggy and cold weather.

Bill Wilson, 45, of San Diego, was rescued about 11 p.m. Thursday night. Jim Livingston, 22, of San Dimas, Jane Jaquette, 36, and Larry Welch, both of Fullerton, spent a cold night in Glass Creek Meadow before being found by the June Lake Search and Rescue Team Friday morning.

Wilson and Livingston were reported missing by their companions at the end of the day Thursday, according to June Mountain ski patrolman Steve Gold. "The ski patrol skied both edges of the mountain and checked the perimeters with snowmobiles and on skis," Gold said. "We had flashing lights going and we yelled a lot; but visibility was zero, improving to 50 yards about midnight."

Igor Vorobyoff of the June Mountain Search and Rescue Team said that both his team and the Mammoth Lakes Search and Rescue Team were asked to ski toward Glass Creek Meadow from U.S. 395 Thursday evening. "We skied up Glass Creek from the campground and the Mammoth team skied in Glass Flow Road," Vorobyoff said. "We went as far as possible, making a lot of noise." Their sounds were muffled by the light snow that fell during the search.

The missing skiers, meanwhile, behaved in "classic textbook fashion," according to Vorobyoff, doing all the right things to insure their own survival.

Wilson, skiing alone, explained that it took him a while to realize that he was not on a regular run. "I had probably gone about 350 yards down the mountain when I found little pine trees sticking out of the snow," he said. "Dusk was falling, increasing the visibility problem."

Wilson said he stopped and dug a pocket in the snow, where he was protected by the trees. "I was really scared. I rested for about an hour and a half. I felt better but was getting cold, so I started heading back up."

Wilson side stepped about 100 yards up the mountain, making slow progress in the two and a half to three-foot deep powder snow, he said. "I shouted a lot, but they couldn't hear me. Finally I began to hear the cats [grooming the slopes] above me. That was about 9:30 or 10 p.m." Wilson continued climbing the hill and shouting until the ski patrol finally heard him. "They made a trail, each one stepping in the others' tracks, and we climbed the hill."

"I was in good condition," Wilson said. "I could have lasted the night."

"They've got a great crew on June Mountain," he added. "I received great hospitality from them." Wilson rested Friday, but was back on the slopes Saturday.

Livingston, Jaquette and Welch's adventures lasted a bit longer, but followed a similar pattern, Vorobyoff said.

Livingston, sking alone, went over the back side of June Mountain about 10 a.m. Thursday thinking he was on "Sunrise," an intermediate run, Vorobyoff said. "Jaquette and Welch, sking together, did the same thing about 11 a.m."

"The two groups realized independently that they were in trouble," Vorobyoff said. "Jaquette and Welch saw Jim [Livingston], thought he was ski patrol, and hoped he would help them out. But Livingston was also lost. They banded together about 1 p.m. and tried side stepping up the mountain, but only went 20 yards in half an hour," Vorobyoff said.

"The three of them sat down to think out their situation, and agreed to try skiing through the meadow, following Glass Creek. When they reached the edge of the canyon, near Obsidian Dome, they turned back, because they didn't know where they were or what they would find down the cliff."

Vorobyoff said they returned up canyon and stopped to set up a camp about 4 p.m. They made a shelter with brush, created a little cubby-hole in the snow, and spent the night trading off the middle position.

"They were terrified by the whole thing," Vorobyoff said. "None of them had intentionally spent a night out before and they had no survival training. They didn't panic. They didn't walk blindly and get into more trouble." In the morning, they began making plans for their day, including skiing the word "HELP" in the middle of the meadow.

June Lake Search and Rescue, resuming their search from the top of Chair 3 Friday morning, made voice contact with the three victims about 8:15. "When we saw three people, we thought Livingston had met up with backpackers and had probabbly spent the night in a tent, warm and with food," Vorbyoff said. "We had no idea the other people were lost, too."

The searchers realized the situation when they made contact with the skiers about 15 minutes later. "We gave them our granola bars and apples, and began the three-hour ski-walk to Obsidian Dome. A snowmobile was waiting to take them to the rescue van," Vorobyoff said.

Livingston had to return home Saturday, Vorobyoff said. Jaquette and Welch apparently decided to cut their weekend short after their ordeal. "They had had enough," said Vorobyoff. "Jaquette and Welch will be getting married in two weeks. They told me this experience will probably strengthen their relationship."