The following accounts of field operations are derived from a team scrapbook put together by Nickie Leyen, are NOT official reports, and may have errors and omissions. For missing months, we have no information. There are most likely many operations that are not listed for lack of information.
1987 Team
As of December 1987, the 1987 team consisted of Rescue Members: Doug Magee, Russ Veenker, Igor Vorobyoff, Larry Ford (Dive Chief), John Ellsworth, Steve Boes, Jim Endo, Pete Schoerner, Dave Carle, Joel Axelrad, Doug Nidever, Sharon Nidever, Jan Work, Harvey Lewis, Greg Enright, Randy Robinson, Dave Campos, Leigh Molson, Craig Schrager, Gary Guenther, Nancy Guenther, Brooke Roberts, Gray Alexander, Kathy Steiner; Candidates: Bob Crittenden, Michael Benier, Jan Carle, Peter Fisher, John Clark, Dave Herbst, Judy Bergenbauch, Kathy Patton, Bill McKinley, Chris Gohlich; Support Members: Stu Aldrich, Bev Lindquist, Gary Williams, Rich Scholl, Lee Vorobyoff; Lifetime Members: Jim Collins, Harley Wilmot, Rick Moser
February
February ??, 1987 - Training - Avalanche Transceivers - Participants: Michael Menier, Dave Campos, Bob Crittenden, Greg Enright, Gary Guenther, Nancy Guenther, Brooke Roberts, Larry Lund, Jim Endo, Doug Nidever, Russ Veenker, Tim Graves
February ??, 1987 - Training - Overnight Winter - Participants: Greg Enright, Gary Guenther, Nancy Guenther, Larry Lund, Jim Endo, Doug Nidever, Tim Graves
April
April 18, 1987 - Training - Search Function/Tracking - Participants: Dave Campos, Bob Crittenden, Greg Enright, Gary Guenther, Randy Robinson, Jim Endo, Doug Magee, Russ Veenker, Tim Graves, J. Signs
April ??, 1987 - Training - Rock Climbing (Casa D.) - Participants: Dave Campos, Bob Crittenden, Greg Enright, Gary Guenther, Nancy Guenther, Kathy Steiner, Tim Graves, J. Signs
May
May ??, 1987 - Training - ?? - Participants: Greg Enright, Leigh Molson, Randy Robinson, Larry Lund, Steve Boes
June
June ??, 1987 - Training - Ice Axe, etc. - Participants: Bob Crittenden, Greg Enright, Peter Fisher, Nancy Guenther
July
July ??, 1987 - Training - Technical Rock - June Lake Fire Station - Participants: Greg Enright, Dave Herbst, Jan Carle, Jim Endo, Larry Ford, Doug Magee, Doug Nidever, Pete Schoerner
September
September ??, 1987 - Training - High angle litter raising/tracking - Participants: Judy Bergenbauck, Greg Enright, Gary Guenther, Nancy Guenther, Joel Axelrad, Russ Veenker
September 19, 1987 Benton area, hang glider crash
From Review Herald newspaper report:
Hang glider pilot dies in crash near Benton - A Palo Alto man died Saturday after crashing the hang glider he was piloting into a mountainside near Benton.
The Mono County Sheriff's Department reported that Kvetoslaz Prazbny, 38, was killed in the Mt. Dubois area southeast of Benton about 2:15 p.m.
According to witnesses, the hang glider was circling upward when for unknown reasons it suddenly flew into the side of the mountain.
A California Highway Patrol helicopter crew spotted the victim and reported that he was dead. However, due to the location of the victim and the time of day, plans to recover the body were delayed until Sunday.
The Mono County Sheriff's Department and its search and rescue team, as well as the CHP, responded to the incident.
October
October ??, 1987 - Training - ELT - Participants: Judy Bergenbauck, Martin Bergenbauck, John Clark, Greg Enright, Gary Guenther, Nancy Guenther, Leigh Molson, Randy Robinson, Craig Schrager, Chris Gohlich, Doug Magee, Russ Veenker
November
November 14, 16 and 23, 1987 - Training - ELT - Training transmitter was borrowed from Bishop Civil Air Patrol. On November 14, Enright hid transmitter somewhere between June Lake and Mammoth Lake within a few miles east or west of Hwy 395. It took approximately 4 hours to locate it. It was found near Big Springs Campground in a valley. The group was divided into two, each with a receiver, and worked towards each other on 395 until the first signal was received.
On the evening of November 16, Robinson hid the training transmitter somewhere in or near Mammoth. Enright and Guenther located it at the bottom of chair 15. It took approximately 1 hour.
On the evening of November 23, Nancy Guenther hide training transmitter somewhere in or near Mammoth. Crittenden, Benier, Enright, and myself (Gary Guenther) located the transmitter at the entrance of Snow Creek. It took approximately 40 minutes.
In all three training sessions all participants had hands on experience. Participants: Michael Benier, Judy Bergenbauck, Martin Bergenbauck, John Clark, Bob Crittenden, Greg Enright, Gary Guenther, Nancy Guenther, Bill McKinley, Kathy Patton, Randy Robinson
December
December 2, 1987 - Training - Snow/Avalanche Lecture by Michael Benier at Mammoth Mountain Ski Area. Topics covered: Mountain weather, avalanche search organization, probe line, wind deposition, loading zones, past slide paths in county, snow formation, and rime.
Benier suggested that each cache have two hasty search packs to include: backcountry shovel, 10 collapsible probe poles, wands with red flags, heat packs, space blankets. Participants were: Brooke Roberts, Kathy Steiner, Bob Crittenden, Igor Vorobyoff, Martin Bergenbauch, Judy Bergenbough, John Ellsworth, Kathy Patton, Bill McKinley, Pete Schoerner, Peter Fisher, Gary Guenther, Nancy Guenther, Lise Turner