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 7, 1996 - Winter Travel Training with Pete Kirchner at Shady Rest parking area. Dress warmly with layers, headgear, warm boots. Bring your snowshoes or skis (or use the snowshoes from the van), gaiters, food, hot liquids, etc. This is always fun and informative.
January 8, 1996 96-01R Doug Nidever was overdue returning from a climbing trip guiding clients on Carson Peak. They were OK, just delayed due to a client's sloth, and were spotted coming down by Karl Chang's optical equipment, so we didn't completely get a big search going. Responders were: Magee, Chang, Enright, D & L Frees, Zidell, Schoerner, Weatherly, O'Connor, Gilbreath, Rosnau, Kirchner, Case, Estridge, Burns, Ellsworth, Unis, Moats, Guenther, DeGeorge, and Mayfield.
January 11, 1996 - Snowmobile Training with Don Little 5:30 to 8PM at Smokey Bear Flat
January 23, 1996 - Avalanche Training with Gary Guenther at his home. Avalanche transceiver training (outdoors in the [hoped for] snow) 5:30 to 7 PM. This will be followed by avalanche hazard evaluation training from 7 to 9 PM (indoors). Bring gaiters, gloves, headlamp.
January 29, 1996 96-02R January 29 was a great tragedy for our team. Our dear friend Pete Schoerner was killed while climbing ice on Carson Peak. Weather was bad and his body was not removed until the next day. Responders were: Browne, Burns, Case, Ellsworth, Enright, Estridge, L. Frees, Frey, Gilbreath, Lalande, Moats, Nidever, Rosnau, Rousek, Veenker, Weatherly, and Wright.
This web site is dedicated to Pete Schoerner.
February
February 3, 1996 96-03R Scott LeFever started hiking up Sacramento Canyon in the White Mtns, intending to do a solo winter crossing and come out at Dyer, Nevada on Saturday. The team was called Saturday night for a first-light search on Sunday. Weather was bad, so flying was very limited on Sunday. Greg Enright and Karl Chang followed his tracks a long way on Sunday.
Monday turned into a very large operation, with 24 agencies and over 70 people involved. The Inyo team graciously allowed us to move our rescue base to their building at Bishop airport. Weather improved, and we had ten teams and five search dog handlers in the field.
Scott was found after midnight on Tuesday trapped on a ledge in Toler Canyon by Recon 71, a FLIR helicopter from RAID. They came back to base to pick up a care package to lower to him, then did an incredible night flying job and picked him off. He was hungry, but in excellent condition. Responders were: Browne, Burns, Byrne, Chang, Clayton, DeGeorge, Enright, Estridge, Ford, D. Frees, Frey, Gilbreath, Guenther, Hampton, Kirchner, Lalande, Little, Magee, Moats, Nelson, J & G Perry, Rousek, Unis, and Wright.
Resources included: Mono SO, Inyo SO and SAR team, China Lake SAR, USFS, DWP, Chalfant Fire, Lemoore NAS, Mammoth Fire, Mammoth snowmobile club, USMC MWTC, WOOF SAR dog teams, AFRCC, OES, BLM, MMSA Ski Patrol, Mammoth PD, Army RAID helo, Moffett Field NAS, and private horse units.
Ops Leader Shawn Moats sends the following to all who were involved: "I would like to say thank you to all those who responded and gave of themselves mentally and physically, accommodating all my wishes and/or needs, and thereby lending themselves to a good ending."
February 19, 1996 96-04R Jeffrey Malm, the pilot of Beech Bonanza aircraft N2PA reported his engine was out over Mt. Conness at 1312. Oakland air traffic control provided a vector to Lee Vining Airport, but the aircraft never arrived, and was presumed down. Storm and avalanche conditions were severe.
SARSAT locations on the downed aircraft's ELT were gathered and refined over two more days, as well as ground ELT searches near roads where access was safe. Gary Guenther and Karl Chang were taken part way up the Log Cabin mine road via snow cat at night for ELT search, but didn't hear a signal.
Doug Magee and others spent a lot of time planning and organizing a multi-agency search for the first flying weather opportunity, which occurred the morning of Thursday, February 22.
Cole Hampton drove the snowcat up to the Log Cabin Mine area with the search team of Gary Guenther, Karl Chang, Pete DeGeorge, and Dean Rosnau. They were able to detect the ELT signal and track it. Aviation ELT and visual searches were also conducted, with the aircraft wreckage found by RAID helicopter Recon 71 at 1448 East of Lee Vining Peak at UTM 307352 E, 4204822 N.
The ground team was only 500 yards away at this time. The aircraft was inverted, and the sole occupant deceased. The ground team moved the victim to a suitable LZ, and AF Rescue helicopter 119 flew him to Lee Vining airport.
16 agencies were involved, and 36 people. Responders were: Hampton, Magee, Padilla, Gilbreath, DeGeorge, Guenther, Chang, Rosnau, O'Connor, L. Frees, Lalande, Nidever, Burns, Frey, Clayton, Soler, Enyeart, and Estridge.
Mono RACES team members Roderick, Van De Mark, Lawrence, Pryor, and O'Hara responded with additional communications equipment and radio operating aid.
From Review-Herald newspaper report by Kelli Du Fresne
Plane and pilot found at 11,000-foot level of LV peak
Wreckage of a 1952 Beechcraft Bonanza airplane and the remains of its pilot were located on Lee Vining Peak on Thursday.
In a press release, Mono County Search and Rescue Team Coordinator Doug Magee confirmed the pilot's identity as 29-year-old Jeffrey Malm, of the San Francisco area.
Malm was en route from Coledale, Nevada, to Oakland on Monday, February 19, when he reported engine trouble and said he would attempt to land at the Lee Vining Airport. He was not heard from again and search efforts began.
Oakland Flight Service lost the plane on radar at about 1:30 p.m. and noted its location at seven to eight miles west of Lee Vining, near the eastern boundary of Yosemite National Park.
Even though the search team was mobilized, it was forced to stand by as heavy winter storms and extreme avalanche danger in the area limited accessibility.
High altitude and satellite reconnaissance efforts located the plane's emergency transmitter locator (ELT) near Saddlebag Lake on Tuesday. But because of weather and darkness the search remained on hold until Thursday, when a break in storm activity allowed search and rescue activity to continue.
The wreckage was spotted from the air at 2:48 p.m. on Thursday. Ground personnel were then directed to the 11,000-foot-level of Lee Vining Peak where they determined the pilot to be dead.
Next of kin has been notified. The pilot's body was airlifted from the backcountry by darkness on Thursday.
Several attempts to access the target area from the air and on the ground were made on Tuesday, but were unsuccessful. A C-130 from Moffett Air Force Base flying at a high altitude located the ELT signal in the Saddlebag Lake area. Five signals from this area were also received by the Air Force Rescue Communications Center. However, weather made search attempts too dangerous.
On Wednesday, weather made searching for the plane impossible and access by ground was restricted due to extreme avalanche danger.
Yosemite Search and Rescue, a U.S. Army helicopter from Stead, Nevada, Tioga Pass Resort, the Civil Air Patrol also aided in the search.
The Sheriff's department did not list a cause of death.
February 19, 1996 96-05R Two men got their car stuck in the snow near Sage Hen Summit on 120 East and became overdue. Tuesday Lt. Cole Hampton piloted the Sheriff's Department snowcat with Pete DeGeorge and Bruce Enyeart aboard, found the lost, and brought them out safely just about dark.
February 23, 1996 96-06R A snow boarder was lost on the back side of Mammoth about noon. He was with a friend on skis, who realized the boarder was headed down Turkey Gulch instead of Santiago (skiers have larger brains?), but could not catch up or stop him in time. So the friend did the exact right thing and reported it to ski patrol via the lift operator.
After the victim realized he didn't have any idea where he was, he tried to climb back up, but without skis he didn't have a chance in the deep powder. So he kept on going down, across a very dangerous avalanche zone that slides frequently, and down to some cliffs above Sotcher Lake.
The ski patrollers found his tracks and followed them to a point where they could see him, then had the problem of crossing the avalanche area themselves. Meantime, two snow cats had been started down the Minaret road, blading and grooming as they went.
Somehow the victim got into Sotcher Lake, so was wet as well as exhausted. It took a long time, but they hauled him out of the lake and up the hill, and he was pretty grateful, and realized he might have died if his friend had not been there to report his mistake, and if the ski patrol hadn't gotten started early in clear weather. Our team responded with: Magee, Estridge, Burns, Soler, Glenn, Stelman, Gilbreath, and DeGeorge, but ski patrol did all the hard work this time.
See Fred Weatherly's January 25 excellent Mammoth Times Pastor's Corner article for another nearly identical scenario.
March
March 4, 1996 - Avalanche Awareness and Winter Travel Training 9:30 AM to 3:30 PM, at June Mountain upper Ski Patrol room. Organized by Jim Endo for the EMS department, our team is welcome so long as room is available. Speakers will be Eric Diem, Ed Cornell, Sallee Burns, and Trapper (who will speak in a German dialect). 9:30 to 11:30 classroom. 11:30 to 12:30 ski/lunch break. 12:30 to 15:30 classroom/outdoors/skiing.
March 9-10, 1996 - Winter Overnight Training with Gary Guenther & Dave and Jan Page. Meet at 8 AM at the locked gate on Hwy 120 4 miles west of 395. We might be transported via Mono County's snow cat to Tioga Pass. We may have helo training from Lemoore NAS. We will ski/snowshoe and conduct training in these areas: Over snow travel, route selection, hasty snow pit evaluation, transceivers, winter equipment, navigation/GPS, snow shelters, hypothermia/body warmer. Participants should be prepared for winter environment. Equipment should include cooking gear, warm sleeping bag, pad, head lamp, gaiters, and outer shell. Bring what you would normally take to a winter operation. We will ski/walk out 11 miles or less on Sunday.
March 11, 1996 96-07R A winter backpacker, Wayne Merchant, was reported overdue in Yosemite. Doug Magee handled our County's efforts. He was located by helicopter in Yosemite, and was transported to the valley to be picked up by family.
March 18, 20, 25, and 27, 1996 - Amateur Radio licensing course given by the County RACES team that is open to the public. Rescue team members are especially encouraged to get their ham licenses, as it makes our field communications more flexible and can provide coverage into areas where other repeaters do not reach. We currently have seven hams on the team. The course will be given in June Lake on four evenings in March: Monday March 18, Wednesday March 20, Monday March 25, and Wednesday March 27. Testing for the license may be done on the last Wednesday, or may be on the weekend. Check the local radio and newspaper ads for the time.
March 29, 1996 - Famailiarization Ski/Snowshoe Tour with Gary Guenther at the Sherwin Range. With the large numbers of people skiing this area south of Mammoth Lakes, team members should become familiar with it.
We will access the ridge from the Twin Lakes area. This involves a gain of 1250 ft. on C 1-2-3 terrain on wind packed snow slopes of 40 degrees. From the ridge we will discuss the different routes down the north faces. We will descend one or more of these routes after doing a hasty-pit evaluation and reviewing avalanche transceivers.
It's 2000 feet vertical down to our cars at the meadow (we will do a car shuttle). The slopes we will be skiing or snowshoeing will be about 30 degrees. We will also have a rescue base in operation, so if you don't want to do the climb & descent, come anyway and help with radio, GPS, plotting, and other basecamp operations, or just watch and learn. Pre-approval is required. Meet at 9 AM at the Rescue 2 van parking area across from McDonalds.
April
Doug Magee's annual report to OES indicates our volunteer Team saved the County approximately $142,000 in SAR expenses that would otherwise have been necessary.
During the dates reported, the Team handled 34 missions involving 39 subjects with 28 survivors.
| Backpackers/Hikers: Missions 17 Subjects 18 Survivors 14 Fatalities 4 |
Climbers: Missions 6 Subjects 6 Survivors 4 Fatalities 2 |
Cyclists: Missions 1 Subjects 3 Survivors 3 Fatalities 0 |
| Aircraft: Missions 1 Subjects 3 Survivors 0 Fatalities 3 |
Snow Sports: Missions 6 Subjects 7 Survivors 5 Fatalities 2 |
Horse Travel: Missions 3 Subjects 3 Survivors 3 Fatalities 0 |
April 12, 1996 - Diving Team Training with Shawn Moats 0900 at Crowley Lake Dock. Non-divers may also attend, if interested
April 22, 1996 - Tracking Training with Larry Ford and Greg Enright at 6:30 PM at Horseshoe curve Conway grade. Group will be split into beginners and more experienced. Bring your tracking stick (old ski pole) and a strong light.
April 25, 1996 - Avalanche Lecture with Gary Guenther, 7:30 PM at the Inyo Team's Hut at the Bishop Airport. While primarily for the Inyo team, we are welcome to attend.
April 29, 1996 96-08R The team was called out to Dyer, Nevada to search for Stuart Pringle, who had gone hiking with 3 of his children (ages 11, 8, and 9) in Furnace Creek (Mono County). Responders were Magee (IC), Moats (OPS), Gilbreath, Burns & Trapper, Enyeart, Rousek, McBride, S. LeFever, T. LeFever, McCown, Glenn, and Harvey.
Mono County RACES responded with Victor Aguirre and Dave Whitaker. Other resources included helos from CHP and RAID, local fixed-wing aircraft, Mono and Esmeralda County deputies, local residents, and two Marines from MWTC.
Saturday Pringle went off on a dayhike without a pack or warm clothing, telling his children what to do in case he did not return by Sunday noon. They walked home (about 10 miles), arriving at 1830.
Prior to our arrival mid-afternoon Monday, local searchers Gary Fedor and Ed Pratt found the subject's vehicle and initial campsite, and began following tracks toward Peak 9221T. Sallee Burns and Joe Rousek with Trapper (Team 2) were flown in by CHP H-40, and took over the tracking about dusk, following up toward Peak 9221T and finding the subject's campfire, still warm.
The RAID helo with FLIR arrived before midnight, and on the first sortie found a solitary man between two campfires. After picking up a drop package from base camp containing food, water, radio, etc., they dropped it to the subject. Then they landed up high and hiked down to the subject, and identified him as Stuart Pringle, who refused to be rescued.
The next day, after several encounters with Sallee and Joe, the subject was arrested by Deputies Gordon and Treadwell, and flown out via H-40.
?? ??? 1996 97-??R Some months ago, Joe Rousek heard cries for help coming from the hills above his Llama ranch. He recruited a friend, and did the classic L.A.S.T. (Located, Accessed, Stabilized, Transported, and in this case Alpo'd) the victim, who was snagged in the rocks with a rope around his neck.
Congratulations to Bob Feiner, who has completed all the required Candidate training, and was approved by the Team as a Rescue Member at the April Meeting.
WELCOME to the new Candidates accepted by the Team at the April meeting. They are: Nancy Bristow, Jim Endo, Dave Harvey, Scott LeFever, Tim LeFever, Kevin McBride, Karen McCown, Dean Rosnau, Sean Macedonio, and Brant White.
Mono County Search and Rescue Team members are trained in a wide variety of emergency skills that cover nearly every season. Here Gary Guenther traverses a snowcapped mountain
S&R: Risking their lives for others
A letter from Mono's Sheriff
I would like to take this opportunity to salute the Mono County Sheriff's Search and Rescue Team members. I refer to these special volunteers as "the unsung heroes of Mono County."
The team consists of 41 members who give hundreds of hours to train themselves and to provide search, rescue and recovery operations throughout our county, and, in some cases, assist in other areas. They sometimes spend several days in the backcountry without compensation.
The team consists of citizens from various professions in our communities, including resort industry workers, Forest Service employees, paramedics, contractors, retired individuals and ministers. All in all, they are a dedicated group of individuals that participate in about 60 to 70 missions per year, in both the summer and winter.
The team is highly trained in various technical disciplines, including: rock climbing, ice diving, white-water rescue and tracking, which is complemented by a certified tracking dog, "Trapper," that was purchased and trained for certification by its owner/handler.
The sheriff of each county is mandated to provide Search and Rescue services in their respective counties, and we would have a difficult time performing this function without these dedicated people.
On behalf of the citizens of Mono County, we sincerely appreciate your continued efforts to serve us and the visitors to our area.
Daniel A. Paranick, Mono County Sheriff
May
May 11, 1996 96-09R Sunk boat at Crowley Lake. Responders were: Ford,S.LeFever, T.LeFever, McBride, Moats, White.
May 13, 1996 - Tracking Training and Exercise with Greg Enright. Meet at Rescue 2's parking spot in the Forest Service lot across from McDonalds.
May 19, 1996 - Basic Candidate Training with Shawn Moats and Jim Gilbreath 1 PM to 7 PM at Mammoth Fire Station #1 on Main Street.
May 20, 1996 - Emergency Survival Skills Training with Jim Endo at June Lake Fire station. Primarily for the County Medics, but our team is welcome too.
May 20-24, 1996 - Swift Water Training with Sargent Ayres. A rare and valuable opportunity is a 5-day swift water course presented at Mountain Warfare Training Center.
May 24, 1996 96-??R We provided six people for OES mutual aid to the Inyo team for a search on Mt. Whitney. Responders were: Dean Rosnau, John Estridge, Melissa Swan, Scott LeFever, Gary Guenther and Chris Simmons.
May 31, 1996 - Search Training and Field Exercise with Greg Enright 7 PM to 9:30 PM at Smokey Bear Flat
At the May meeting, Greg Enright and Jim Gilbreath presented a one hour training exercise on Search Management. Four teams interviewed the Reporting Parties, segmented search areas on their maps, requested and deployed resources, and were given the first clue found. The exercise will be continued at the June meeting.
WELCOME to the new Candidates accepted by the Team at the May meeting. They are: Leigh-Ann Collins, Michael Cumpston, Gus Roderick, and Melissa Swan.
June
June 7, 1996 - Tracking Training and Practice with Greg Enright at Shady Rest. Meet across the street east from Rescue 2's parking spot in the Forest Service lot. Bring your tracking gear and tests from last time.
June 8, 1996 - Map & Compass, General Mountain Navigation & GPS Training with Jim Gilbreath 10:00 AM at Chalfant Community Center.
June 10, 1996 - Rappel & Knots Training with Greg Enright 6:30PM. Meet on the Lake Mary road below Twin Lakes. Bring your ready pack and read chapters 24-25 pp. 271-306 in the red book. This is the first of several sessions in the summer Basic Litter Training.
Jun 10-14, 1996 - OES Search Management Training by OES at Mountain Warfare Training Center
June 17, 1996 - Ice Axe and Steep Snow Lowering practice Training with Doug Nidever 8:30 AM. Meet at Ellery Lake off Tioga Pass road. Bring ready pack.
June 22, 1996 - Joint Training with YOSAR at Yosemite
June 22, 1996 96-10R. Reporting Party advised via ham radio that Joseph Laboy was suffering severe altitude problems near Emma Lake. Medic 1 and MWTC medics also responded. RACES helped to locate the victim through contact via ham repeater with the party. Victim was evacuated to Washoe Medical via Careflight. Responders were: Moats (OPS & IC), Clayton, O'Connor, Little, Enright, Rosnau, Rousek, Estridge, Endo, and Guenther.
June 24, 1996 - Low Angle Litter Training and practice with Greg Enright 6:30PM. Meet at Mammoth Rock. Bring ready pack, and read chapters 25-26 pp. 293-312. This is the second in the summer litter series.
June 26, 1996 96-11R. A canoe capsized in rough water on Bridgeport Reservoir. The team was called to search the south and west shores for evidence of a missing victim. No clues found.
Thursday a search dog showed interest in an area which team divers searched, without success. CHP helo H80 made aerial surveys for 3 days, and Sheriff's boating officers patrolled on a daily basis, finding Gary Cawley's body on July 1. Responders were: Moats (OPS), Rosnau, Feiner, Estridge, Clayton, Veenker, O'Connor, S. LeFever, Simmons, L. Frees, and Harvey.
June 27, 1996 96-12R. Susan and Leticia Fuller became separated from their dayhiking group near Gem Lake. They were found on the trail to Silver Lake. Responders were: Rosnau, Enright, T. LeFever, McCown, Estridge, and Moats.
At the June meeting, Greg Enright and Jim Gilbreath continued the training exercise on Search Management from the May meeting. Four teams completed the exercise, and all four found the victim!
WELCOME to the new Candidates accepted by the Team at the June meeting. They are Ross Biederman and Ron Gradle.
Congratulations to Brant White and Michael Cumpston, who attended a week of swift water training with the Marines at MWTC, and are now certified.
July
July 1, 1996 96-13R. Travis McDaniel took a wrong route when returning from Duck Pass, and finished at Reds Meadow. Responders were: Little, S. LeFever, Enyeart, Case, Moats, Clayton, Rousek, Frey, and Enright.
July 4, 1996 96-14R. Late at night Eric Strasilla ran into impassable snow on the Green Lakes trail while hiking with an 8 month old infant. He had to backtrack, and arrived at the trailhead at 0300. Responders were T. & S. LeFever, McCown, Rosnau, Gilbreath, White, Moats, O'Connor, Frey, and Enright.
July 5, 1996 96-xxR. A woman was injured while glissading near Matterhorn Peak. Ultimately rescued by members of her party. Responders were: Enright, Case, and Harvey.
July 11, 1996 96-15R Horse fell on man at Shadow Lake. Responders were: Case, Estridge, T.LeFever, Little, Nelson, Rousek, White
July 14, 1996 - Search Training and Barbewue with Shawn Moats, et al 0830 onward in River Springs area off hwy 120. A full scale search operation carefully designed by Shawn Moats to be as much like the real thing as possible, with something for everyone to do, practice, and learn. The Team's new trailer, tent, and spike camp will be set up for a test run. If you can't be there at 0830, come when you can, just like a real search.
July 20, 1996 - Helicopter Training and Barbecue with Shawn Moats 0930 at Bryant Field near Bridgeport. Aircraft and crews from NAS FALLON and Toiyabe National Forest will be there.
July 26, 1996 96-16R Missing meditator at Convict Lake. Responders were: Biederman, Burns, Enright, Estridge, Gilbreath, Harvey, LaLande, K.LeFever, T.LeFever, Little, McBride, Moats, Rosnau
July 28, 1996 96-17R Ankle injury at Stanford Lake. Responders were: Biederman, Enright, Gilbreath, K.LeFever, T.LeFever, Rosnau
July 29, 1996 - Knots, Anchors, Belays, Rappels, raising/Lowering Systems Training with Greg Enright 6:30 PM at Triple Cracks
Congratulations to Joe Rousek, Bob Feiner, and Lee Frees, who completed a week of OES Search Management Training at MWTC.
August
August 7, 1996 96-18R. Michael Moshier and Roy Davidson needed medical carryout from Tioga Lake area. John showed that Rescue-2 with trailer can go up Tioga Pass at 7 MPH. Responders were: Estridge, Enright, Rousek, Frey, Frees, Rosnau and Nelson.
August 9, 1996 96-19R. Greg Fields injured his ankle about a mile up the Rush Creek trail, and could not walk. Dean Rosnau and Ross Biederman reached the victim quickly, joined later by Simmons, Burns, Little, Enyeart, and McCabe for the carryout.
August 15, 1996 96-20R. Edward Cook broke his ankle about a mile up the Duck Lake trail, and was carried out by responders: Case, Clayton, Estridge, Aguirre, and Little. Medic -III transported to SME.
August 20, 1996 96-21R. Joseph Rogers and his daughter Valerie hiked 6 miles down Sand Canyon from Rock Creek, when Joseph became exhausted and could not return uphill. Valerie hiked to Toms Place for help. Gilbreath and Deputy Kevin Murphy found the victim via 4WD on lower Sand Canyon road, in good condition. Medic-III examined and released him. Responders were: Enyeart, Estridge, Rosnau, Harvey, Gilbreath, McBride, Frey, Aguirre, Browne, O'Connor, Moats, and Clayton.
Letter to the Editor from newspaper:
Mono County Rescue
Editor:
On August 20 my father and I went for a long hike down the Sand Canyon mountain bike trail. My father became ill and exhausted and had to send me out alone to get help.
I called 911 from Tom's Place and a very large group of Mono County Search and Rescue, Sheriff and paramedic personnel responded. One of the Sheriffs and Jim Gilbreath of Search and Rescue drove me to where I had left my father.
We located him on the trail and drove him down to the paramedics, who interviewed him carefully to make sure he did not need any medical attention.
I am so very, very grateful for the fast, efficient, compassionate and helpful effort all these people put out for us. The whole search-and-rescue effort was calm, knowledgeable and very well coordinated. The tremendous response in terms of people and equipment available to assist us was awesome and wonderful.
Thank you, Mono County, for providing such an incredible service. And to all of the individuals I spoke to on the phone and dealt with in person, I can't say enough about your kindness and helpfulness. Bless you all and thank you.
Valerie Hansen
Healdsburg, CA
August 20, 1996 96-??R Missing woman at Virginia Lakes - cancelled. Responders were: Burns, Enright, Gilbreath, Harvey, K.LeFever, T.LeFever, McBride, Nelson
August 23, 1996 96-??R. Robert Maxam and James Motter were overdue returning to Convict Lake from a hike to Lake Dorothy. Subjects returned to trailhead just after Greg and Rescue-II arrived. Responders were: Enright, Gilbreath, Harvey, Nelson, T. Lefever, McCown, Burns, and McBride.
August 26, 1996 - Raising Systems Training with Greg Enright at Horseshoe Lake
Sallee Burns and Trapper responded for two searches outside our county during the month. She had two nights in Yosemite searching for 2 lost boys (found in Illilouette area), and also 2 days in Big Pine Creek above Glacier Lodge.
There were several other callouts that were canceled enroute when subjects returned.
September
September 16, 1996 96-23R Search for Ruth McIntosh, Yosemite. Responders were: Aguirre, Biederman, Burns, Enyeart, Harvey, S.LeFever, Lewis, Little, Moats, Rosnau, Rousek
September 17, 1996 96-22R Search in Alger Lake area. Responders were: Biederman, Case, Endo, Estridge, Harvey, Rosnau, Veenker
September 22, 1996 - Mountaineering Training with Greg Enright in the Sherwin Range. Meet at Rescue-2's parking area at 0900. Probable ascent of Pyramid Peak. The map is Bloody Mtn 7.5 minutes. Bring your pack and be physically ready for a few miles of cross-country hiking and roughly 3200 feet of elevation gain. This is the sort of terrain we routinely travel on searches, so let's practice here where it's close to home. Be in shape.
September 28, 1996 - Mountain Navigation Training - Part 1 with Jim Gilbreath at his home. 6 PM to 10 PM. We'll also cover a little GPS if we have time. This training is one of the Candidate Requirements for membership, and it's not done very often, so do your best to attend. This is not just for Candidates, old salty dog Rescue Members are also encouraged to attend, scrape the rust off, and pass the take-home test. Bring a liquid-filled compass if you have one.
Welcome to new Candidate Win Lewis, who was approved at the September meeting.
Dean Rosnau and Doug Nidever are sponsoring a cast bronze memorial plaque to our teammate Pete Schoerner, to be placed below the wall where the ice climbing accident happened on Carson Peak last winter. It will be placed on January 29, 1997, avalanche conditions permitting. The total cost is between $400 and $500. Contact Dean about individual donations and participation.
Our team displayed Rescue 2 and the trailer at the Mammoth Health Fair. Sallee did a search dog demonstration with Trapper. We rigged up 5 to 1 Z-pulley system and had a tug of war with some kids - us big kids on the victim end, the little kids on the 5 to 1 end. The little kids won easily. Responders were: Browne, Aguirre, Estridge, Burns & Trapper, Biederman, T. Lefever, McCown, and Gilbreath.
More good news! Boe Turner reported the Sheriff's Office has ordered four snowmobiles and two enclosed trailers for winter operations.
October
October 7, 1996 - Rock Rescue Training with Greg Enright at Triple Cracks
October 10, 1996 96-24R. Ken Koford caught his right foot between rocks while hiking below Garnet Lake and broke 3 bones in his foot. His companion hiked out to Devil's Postpile for help. A fine flying job by CHP H-20 into a tight landing above the victim and excellent ground work by Dean Rosnau enabled a successful rescue in rapidly fading daylight. Responders were: Rosnau, Estridge, Endo, Burns, Gilbreath, Harvey, Little, and Enyeart.
October 13, 1996 - Orienteering Training with Jim Gilbreath at his home
October 19, 1996 - ELT Training with Greg Enright and Jim Gilbreath at Mammoth Airport. The ELT practice went well, though there were no air resources available. The ground teams did a great job, using two of the L-Tronics receivers and our new SuperDF unit. The emergency beacon signal was heard from Mammoth airport, and eventually tracked many miles via vehicle and on foot through the snow high above the Lakes Basin. Attendees were: Enright, Harvey, Gilbreath, DeGeorge, Aguirre, Endo, Nelson, Enyeart, and Lewis
November
Team officer elections for 1997 were held at the November meeting, with the following results:
President: Greg Enright
Vice President: Jim Gilbreath
Secretary: acting Ross Biederman
Equipment Officer: Bob Feiner
Treasurer: Bob Feiner
Training Officers: Sallee Burns and John Estridge
Many thanks are due to the outgoing officers for all their dedication and work for the team.
November 1, 1996 96-25R. At 1100, Garrett Lyles and Patrick Lawlor were reported overdue returning from a trip to Iva Belle Hot Springs in Fish Creek following an early heavy snowstorm. H-40 searched Duck Lake, Cascade Valley, Fish Creek, and Mammoth Crest with no success. Ground teams were not dispatched.
Operations were suspended at 1700 due to darkness. Shortly thereafter, the missing persons walked out to their car at Tamarack, and were "found" by Cole Hampton, who was still at search base. Responders were: Estridge, Rosnau, Enyeart, and Case.
November 8, 1996 - Helicopter Operations & Search PracticeTraining with Longhorn 7 from Fallon. 0915 to 1300 at Mammoth Airport. 15 people attended, and searched for Dave Harvey and a helo crewman, who were "lost" in Little Antelope Valley. They were found by both helo and ground parties, and the crewman was short-hauled off a cliff, much to the amazement of the nearby hot spring occupants. Attendees were: Enright, Rousek, Gilbreath, McCown, Tim Lefever, Lalande, Burns, Endo, McBride, Hickson, Harvey, Biederman, Estridge, Aguirre, and Matt Schott (prospective Candidate).
November 28, 1996 96-26R Details are missing except for the following: Correction: Sallee Burns and Trapper responded to the November 28 search at Crestview, but were not listed in the newsletter due to computer mischief.
Real good news! The Sheriff's effort to acquire a 1-ton Chevy crew cab 4WD service body truck for the team from Inyo Forest Service has been successful, and the truck is now at the County shop for tune-up.
More good news! Boe Turner reported the Sheriff's Office has received four new Arctic Cat snowmobiles, with two trailers to be received soon. They will be available to the team for winter rescues, in addition to other patrol and enforcement duties.
December
December 11, 1996 - Avalanche Transceiver Training with Gary Guenther at his home
December 14, 1996 - Candidate Basic Training with Shawn Moats & Jim Gilbreath at Fire Station #2
December 18, 1996 - Winter Travel Training with Greg Enright at Shady Rest
December 24, 1996 96-27R. Pilot Gary Taghilou lost engine power in both engines of a Cessna 310, and made a gear-up landing several miles southeast of Mammoth Airport. Pilot and passengers walked to Benton Crossing road with only minor injuries.
Team personnel made a search of the area for other possible victims. Responders were: Estridge (Ops), Enyeart, Nelson, Lewis, Feiner, Case, McCown, and Harvey
From Inyo Register newspaper report by Dave Reynolds:
Three walk away from Christmas Eve plane crash
Tragedy averted as three Southern California men receive only minor injuries after plane loses power south of the Mammoth Lakes Airport and crash-lands near the Owens River
Rescuers inspect a plane that crash-landed Christmas Eve morning near the Owens River
A Christmas present came early for three Southern California men who walked away from a plane crash on December 24 with only minor injuries.
Mono County Sheriff Dan Paranick said pilot Gary Taghilou, of Castaic, declined treatment by Long Valley Volunteer Fire Department paramedics. Passengers Simack Hamidy and Sasan Katal, both of Santa Monica, were treated for minor neck and back injuries.
According to Paranick, the 1973 Cessna 310 took off from Mammoth Lakes Airport at 11:10 a.m. on Wednesday, December 24, experienced engine trouble, "and couldn't make it back to the airport."
"Aircraft accidents are unfortunate. It was a good Christmas present to have everyone walk away from something like this," said Paranick.
The plane landed about 1,000 yards from Benton Crossing Road, about 1/2 mile south of the Owens River bridge.
Sheriff's Lt. Cole Hampton, who was one of the first people to reach the downed plane, said the craft traveled about 160 yards through snow and sagebrush before coming to rest in a slightly-skewed, upright position.
"The pilot did a pretty good job of landing. He slid 160 yards before stopping," Hampton said.
Mono County Sheriff's Department Search and Rescue volunteers Dean Rosnau and Bruce Enyart, who accompanied Hampton to the downed plane, said it looked like the left engine was not turning when the plane hit the ground. Hampton also said it appears the second engine and the fuel were turned off before the plane hit, wheels up, as there was no sign of fire or fuel leakage.
Bill Artukovich of Newport Beach, came across the pilot and passengers sitting alongside the Benson Crossing Road.
"I was on my way to do some duck hunting," said Artukovich, who added he had just gotten a cellular phone. The pilot used it call authorities.
Two of three men were wearing lightweight shoes, and all three "were freezing," when Artukovich found them, he said.
Officers said the wreckage would probably be removed by an insurance company and that the Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board would probably investigate.
Also contributing to this story was Benett Kessler, managing editor of The Inyo Register.
December ??, 1996 96-??R. Richard Ferguson was overdue from a woodcutting trip near the Nevada line and Highway 167. He was found okay with a dead battery in his truck. cancelled very quickly. Responders were: Rosnau and Sheriff Deputies