SILT HAPPENS #99-2
Content by Bego Gerhart (1T836) --- HTML by Matt Moore
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| Winter Rescue Team 3- 1- 99 |
| Oxymoron from P.F.: "We want to have the minimum thing and an effective team." In spite of this attitude, Faerthen Felix is a fabulous leader and in the event of a call-out, a half dozen very strong rescuers will be there. Nuff said. Faerthen’s La Sal Avalanche Forecast Center web page voted the "best avalanche information site." Far out. More and more snowmobile groups are asking for avalanche info |
| GCSAR meeting 3- 9- 99 |
| We met out at the base of Moab
Skyway’s chairlift. Much discussion about how to do "Support GCSAR" sticker
sales. Public Service- the Half Marathon needs help on 3- 20. Parking duty at the Arena on
4- 2 Training: At the chairlift. A group of folks hiked up the chairlift to the top to scout out the terrain we’ll be working in if an evacuation were to happen. The other group set up the light plant and talked to Emmett. |
| Subject: Peak Flow Forecast 9 Mar 1999 From: Steve Swanke |
| Howdy: The Colorado Basin River Forecast Center has issued their first (March) peak flow forecast for the upcoming runoff. This forecast is posted at: www.cbrfc.gov/public/for/peak/1999/ There is a 90% probability Cataract Canyon will exceed 23,000 cfs. There is a 75% probability Cataract Canyon will exceed 34,000 cfs. There is a 50% probability Cataract Canyon will exceed 45,000 cfs. There is a 25% probability Cataract Canyon will exceed 57,000 cfs. There is a 10% probability Cataract Canyon will exceed 69,000 cfs. |
| 3- 13- 99 The Short Haul Team |
| This training was performed at the top
of Moab Skyway to acquaint us with the terrain. Haulers: Pilot John, Bego, Kent, Frank, Steve, Curt, Corky |
| Canyonlands NP |
| Walt Dabney, current superintendent of
Canyonlands NP and the Southeast Utah Group and past chief ranger for the NPS, will be
retiring shortly after almost 30 years of federal service and will become director for
state parks in Texas. A send-off will take place in Moab on April 10th. [His farewell message is in the TI 4- 29- 99] |
| Lip Sync 3- 13- 99 |
| TeriAnn Tibbetts triumphant with the 1st
place Gold. Knave of Hearts duo, the most romantic, takes 2nd. August receives pies, strips to disco, has $ stuffed in G-string by eager young women. Chuck Hassen as Grand Marshall and curtain puller. |
| ARCHES ROCK RESCUE March 15 to 18 |
| Whoopee. Colin Smith (ISKY), Gary
Haynes (ARCH) and Dan Habig (NEED) assembled quite the mob. Frank and Bego were also
instructors. First day: Safety x 10, equipment particulars pro and con, one person and load sharing anchors, 2nd points of attachment, rappelling, ascending. Day 2: All about traveling on rope, up and down, passing knots and rumors. Day 3: The big rigs- job descriptions, 3 person anchors, the brake bar rack, tandem prussik belays, litter and attendant rigging, mechanical advantage (3 and 4 to 1), up and down. Day 4: Pickoffs. GCSAR: Frank Mendonca, Bego, Jeff Davis, Dave Mason, Matt Moore ARCHES: Gary Haynes, Julie Weir, Emily Scott. Murray Shoemaker ISKY: Colin Smith (nee park cynic), Tom Pierce NEEDLES: Dan Habig, Julian Smith, Ann Welshko NABR: Seth Plunkett |
| 99- 3 | 3- 17- 99 | Almost ambulance assist | Moonflower Canyon |
| While some of us were at the
Arches Rescue class, a page out came for a person down in Moonflower Canyon. Before we had
all rappelled down the cliff, it was 10-22’d. Comments: Turns out, the guy’s buddy carried him almost to the road before too much pain set in. Responders: Frank, Bego, Jeff, Matt, Dave M., Sam |
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| LEPC meeting 3- 18- 99 Doug Squire |
| Y2K: Don’t ignore it. "Every
person comes across probably 50 microchips that are time and date dependent by lunch time
every day." Don’t freak out. Grow some food this year. During a disaster, the usual channels of communication can get clogged up. A gentleman from upstate spoke about how amateur radio operators can, in a big way, help relieve the situation. |
| Jeep Week Preparedness 3- 18- 99 Sheriff Nyland, presiding |
| The leaders in law enforcement and emergency services met today to discuss how to handle the next 2 weeks of mega-tourist-population problems. GCSAR has been asked to help out in a number of spots from traffic control, parking, ride alongs (knowledgeable navigators for out of area personnel) and helicopter surveys. Steve White will not get any helicopter time. |
| 99- 4 | 3- 18- 99 | Overdue Biker | Porcupine Rim |
| Paged out as a biker, hiking
with a flat tire, up on Porcupine. Frank and Jeff went to the trail on Hwy 128. Dan, with
Mark as shotgun, and Josh on his bike went for the tanks on the south end. Sam and Bego
were to follow going in the upper way. Nobody had gotten very far into it when the subject
walked out the 128 trail with his flat bike. The subject had no warm clothes, light or
matches. Or spare tire kit. Comments: Couple of other hiker-bikers appeared out of the dark too. Responders: Frank, Jeff, Bego, Dan, Mark, Josh, Sam, Bego |
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| 99- 5 | 3- 19- 99 | Broken Biker Head | SRBT |
| Paged out as a possibly bad
head injury 2 miles in the main trail. Dan and Kris jeeped in, followed by 6 wheeler Sam
with the litter. Sam transported the patient out to the road for transfer to the
Ambulance. Comments: Broke his helmet. Couldn’t remember the event. Kris: "Remember those 3 words?" Responders: Dan, Kris, Bego, Sam, Rex, Kent, Kurt, Jeff, Dave M., Ressul |
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| Half a Marathon 3- 20- 99 Traffic Control on Hwy 128 |
| Thank you to all: Auggie, Jimmy N., Dave M., Sam, Kurt, Rusold, George |
| Lift Evacuation Team 3- 20 and 21- 99 |
| First training on the real thing. Bego and Jeff Brown were lowered from a chair using the T-seat method. Then everyone took turns doing it. The highline was rigged. Cable riders are fun. |
And then came 4 calls in less than 2 hours:
| 99- 6 | 3- 21- 99 | Biker Ankle | SRBT | IC = 1 T 8 Ops = 1 T 5 |
| This gal wanted SAR but no
ambulance. 1 T 5 advised dispatch to page an ambulance anyway. SAR will not transport an
injured person without an EMT assessment first. Sam 6 wheeler and Jennie EMT 4 wheeler
started in to locate the injured at Shrimp Rock. To be continued...... However, as SAR was responding to 99-6 we got 2 more call outs in a few minutes. We left Sam, Jennie and 502 to tend to the Bike Trail and headed for the shed to regroup. Comments: Responders: Frank, Kenny, Bego, Kent,Sam, Brad, Rex, John, Dave M., Kris, Dan, Jennie, Dean, Jeff, Greg, Russal |
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| 99- 7 & 8 | 3- 21- 99 | Search | Hunter Canyon & Kane Creek area | IC = 1 T 6 IC = 1 T 3 |
| GCSAR members were gathering
at the shed for this when another page came.... The recipe: 99- 7 was about an 11 year old boy who had been missing for 1.5 hours from his camp and parents. 99- 8 was about 2 teenage boys who left their camp in Kane Creek with the intention of jeeping around, no definite plans. GCSAR members at the shed developed a plan to cover both searches and were about to deploy when the 11 year old boy was found by members of his party. Now, we’re down to the missing teen jeepers. We did deploy everyone toward various places in Kane Creek, Hurrah Pass and Chicken Corners. The missing vehicle was spotted in town by SAR members who had stopped for fuel. They had been stuck in Kane Creek sand. A local fellow had come by offering to pull them out for $20. The teens said no. The local jeeper drove off. The teens spent the night and dug out the next day. Spotting them in town saved alot of hassle. Comments: Responders 99-7: Frank, Kenny, Bego, Kent, Brad, Rex, John, Dave M., George, Kris, Jimmy, Dan, Kurt, Greg, Nancy, Dean, August, Jeff, rrrrussell Responders 99-8: Frank, Kenny, Bego, Kent, Brad, Rex, John, Dave M., Kris, Jimmy, Dan, Greg, Nancy, Dean, Jeff, George and Rusel Long Time No See |
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1 T 7: "The best deputy in the world is the one who’s having the most fun."
| 99- 9 | 3- 21- 99 | Biker Back Injury | SRBT | IC = 1 T 8 |
| As we were returning to town
99 - 8........... First reported as a bad injury. Dan Jeep, Kenny Jeep, Rex Jeep and Brad
4 Wheeler loaded up with EMT’s, immobilization gear and headed into the slickrock.
Next report that came out was that the gal was up and walking out. Brad had found the
husband who said she would refuse treatment. She didn’t look so good when she finally
arrived at the trailhead. Back to 99- 6: Well, what ever happened to Sam and Jennie and 502?? Most of the responders out there on 99- 9 turned their attention to getting Sam and Jennie and 502 out of the maelstrom. Dan jeeped in to Sam and got the gal with the broken ankle off the 6 wheeler. Then, we went back to town. Then, it was dark. Comments: Responders: Frank, Kenny, Bego, Brad, Rex, John, Dave M., Kris, Dan, Greg, Dean, Jeff, Qussell |
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| 99- 10 | 3- 22- 99 | Kid Stuck in Crack | Ken’s Lake | IC = 1 T 5 |
| A passer-by had stopped near
the top of Flat Pass to take a picture and heard someone yelling for help. She cell phoned
911. Kent hiked over a bit from the Flat Pass Road, up into a steep ravine. He then talked a scared, somewhat dehydrated teenager down the ravine to safe ground. The teen had been up there 4 hours, unwilling to down climb. Comments: The kid thot he might be in trouble so he wouldn’t even give Kent his last name. Responders: Kent, Jeff, Frank, Bego, Russell, Sam, Dave M., Rex, Dean, Matt, Dan, Jennie, Aug Water Guru: Water Tender 9, Bob Byrnes, who came up to unlock the gate if need be. |
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| 99- 11 | 3- 23- 99 | Search for overdue teen bikers | Behind the Rocks | IC = 1 T 8 |
| Two teenage kids on bikes
with a bad map. Spent a long time on the wrong road somewhere up Behind the Rocks and
wasted time watching some jeepers. Eventually they found Pritchett Canyon and we found
them just a mile from the road. Grand and San Juan County units covered the upper roads
while GCSAR units covered the Hunter Canyon hike-a-bike route and the bottom of Pritchett
Canyon. Comments: The very classic "worried Mom." The parents had called SAR units in Colorado just a few days ago cuz the kids were late. They had run out of water, had no jackets but they did have a lighter. We chatted about map and compass, preparation for a bit. Responders: Frank, Bego, Kent, Rex, Matt, Dan, Dean, Jeff went to class |
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Sam Taylor, a most ardent GCSAR supporter, wrote a nice piece in his TI column (3- 18). Thank You.
| 99- 12 | 3- 25- 99 | Biker down on the Slickrock - Air Life |
| A 63 year old who man was
biking with family and friends became weak. They stopped, made some shade for him and 1/2
hour later cell phoned 911, reporting chest pains. GCSAR and EMTs responded and Air Life
was called immediately. The quick response by all saved this guy’s life cuz he was
experiencing a full blown heart attack Comments: Bego rolled a 4 wheeler. (Snicker, gefaw). Thanks to John Hagner’s stunt class years ago, I figured out how to push off, fall, roll and get away with just bruises. A helmet was the key. Next time I will put it in 4WD earlier in the day. Responders: Dan, Rex, Sam, Bego, Kent, John, Kris, Lee, Grag, Dave L., Jeff, Matt |
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| GCSAR meeting. 3- 25- 99 Happy Birthday, Brad |
| The entire meeting was taken up with debriefings and the preparations for Jeep Week insanity. Exactly at the end of the meeting --> |
| 99- 13 | 3- 25- 99 | Overdue Teen bikers | Pritchett Route | IC = 1 T 7 |
| Mom and Dad dropped their
teen bikers off at the top at 4:45 pm with the boys assuring them that there was enuff
time. Mom expressed her doubts. They were late and how. The Dad flagged down a City unit who was driving by their condo and found out where the SAR shed was located. We scattered out in jeeps up Behind the Rocks and ATVs down in Pritchett Canyon. Dan found the boys, off route, quite a long ways from completing their plan. We called San Juan but found the boys before they fielded a team. Comments: Dad had been in a SAR group around Denver years ago. So we chatted about preparedness (matches, etc) and time o day for starting a project. When Dan delivered them to the condo at 11:30 pm, one boy said, "You were right, Mom." The Mom liked that. Responders: Birthday Brad and his wife, Rex, Dan, Nancy, Josh, Sam, Jeff, Bego, Frank, Kent |
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While 99- 13 was going on, Archie told us we may have to go get some late climbers off
a technical rock climb in the Fisher Tower area. Later, the climbers showed up. Whew.
And, piling it on, as we returned to the shed at almost midnight..........
| 99- 14 | 3- 25- 99 | Overdue Biker | Poison Spider | IC = 1 T 7 |
| A note left on a car in a
camp of lots of friends said this guy was going to do Poison Spider. He had done it before
and was known to have had a hard time finding the top of the Portal Trail in the past. Off
we went. Matt and Nancy hiked up the Portal Trail while a jeep and 4 ATVs started from Hwy 128. Up by The Arch, Rex’s jeep front axle just broke, bleeding to death right in front of our eyes. We packed Rex’s expensive stuff on the ATVs and came home empty handed. Next day: Rex and Nation’s Towing Service went up to tow the jeep out and reported the missing biker had been found by his own group of friends. He spent the night out by Gold Bar Can. Comments: Thrashing about Poison Spider trails in the moonlight is cool. We should, on these types of call outs, also check out the Golden Spike Trail as far as Corona Arch Canyon. Responders: Nancy, Matt, Frank, Rex, Russew, Jeff, Sam, Bego, Brad |
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| 99- 15 | 3- 27- 99 | Broken Biker | Arches Helo Evac SRBT | IC = 1 T 8 |
| This 13 year old boy was
~5’10" tall, weighed 225 lbs and had size extra huge shoes. He fell down and
broke both lower arm bones on his right and whacked his chin. We sent out the "SAM" kit. SAM would be Slickrock Accident Mender. The kit contains one Sam on the 6 wheeler with the Stokes and Jump Kit, one someone else on the other ATV and one Dan Mick. Goes anywhere. The medics on scene suspected his condition was deteriorating a bit and the ride out might be too aggravating so we called John Ruhl of Arches Helicopters to fly the boy to AMH. Comments: Some kid on a bike came careening down the hill we were below and crashed right into our ATV and one of the EMT’s. Yuma is 1/2 a word. We very nearly beat him up. Responders: Michelle Mick w/ Dad, Lloyd, Rex, Frank, Sam, Lee, Bego, Nancy, Jimmy, Jennie, Rsl |
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| 99- 16 | 3- 28- 99 | 11 Lost Jeeps | Gold Bar Rim. |
| A cell phone call to 911.
Coordinates given were N38°36’50" X W109°38’28" 801 figures out
where that is. Dan goes up to get them..... Comments: Saw a bumper sticker: "It’s a Jeep thing. You wouldn’t understand." Responders: Frank to establish a plan and Dan in his jeep. |
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| 99- 17 | 3- 30- 99 | Helo Evac - Roll Over on Golden Spike, The Crotch |
| The injury was to a 3 year
old who was in a car seat but was assaulted by an errant tool box in the flip. San Juan
Regional Air Care was paged as St Mary’s was unavailable. Comments: In the future, we need to decided to hold some of our equipment back in case a second incident is paged out during the first one. Good move. Not everyone and every thing needs to respond to every incident, especially in high incident weeks. For example, see 99-6: Lots of people responded to this call but only a few continued cuz 99-7 and 99-8 were paged out in the next shortly. Keeping some stuff in reserve makes sense. Responders: Frank, Brad, Sam, Rushall, Aug, Josh, Dave M, Rex, Jeff, Lee, Kent Follow up: San Juan Regional Air Care wrote back: "The communication and teamwork were excellent. We look forward to working with you again." |
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"Some times you are the pigeon, sometimes the statue."
| Lift Evacuation Team- Portal Vista dba Moab’s Skyway 3- 29- 99 |
| After 25 years, Emmett has his
chairlift. The final requirement was a demonstration of rescue techniques used for getting
folks from chair to ground by his Evac Team. The Evac Team pulled this demo off, up in the
Ravine just below tower 6, on the downhill side, in 1 1/2 hours. The insurance guy and his fiance accompanied Emmett, who was in a wheelchair in the wheelchair chair. On the chair ahead (downhill) was the Tram Board guy and his two kids. Jobs were divvied out. Greg and Glen worked the "T seat" method and had the downhill chair cleared out in short order. At the same time, Jeff went cruising down on a "cable rider" to the wheelchair chair and started rigging the folks next to Emmett to be lowered. This done, Jeff then rigged Emmett in a seat/bag thingy, clipping the lowering system into the "rescue eye" on the chair hanger. At the same time, the "trolley" was rigged on the "rescue cable." Chris Kelley, on a cable rider belayed by Lee Kelly, took the Highline "elevator rope" down to tower 5 and anchored it to the top of the tower. While the "travel rope" was being let out Jim Davis attached small pulleys into the system to keep the travel rope from sagging too much. The trolley was hauled up to where Jeff had let Emmett down to the ground. In a flash, Glen and Blake transferred Emmett to the trolley. He was raised back up and sent down to tower 5. Slick. Evacuators: Jeff, Blake, Greg, Chris and Lee, Julie & Glen, Danny, Jim Evacuees: Emmett, Alan from the Insurance Company and Claudia his fiance, Curt Panter from Utah Passenger Tramway Board and his 2 kids. Special note: Alan and Claudia were married at the top of the lift the next day. |
| Parking Detail at The Arena for the Boy Scout BBQ and the prize drawings: |
| It was a blizzard winter as the jeeps
came... and left. Some deputies were there having fun. Orange shapes, red cone hands: Frank, Brad, Bego, Matt, Daves L & M, Aug, Dean Lloyd, Lee |
| 99- 18 | 4- 2- 99 | Search for broken Jeep | Old Arth’s Road, head of 7 Mile |
| Some folks from Park City
were cruising "Old Arth’s Road" when one of the jeeps broke a front axle.
The Dad and the Son stayed with the broken jeep and the others came into town to get
another axle. By now it was dark and blizzard mess. The axle bunch went back out but could
not find the broken jeep. Brenda, The Mom, called for help. For some obscure reason, 836 was called out of Arena parking duty to go resolve the deal. 836 took 3 folks and went out looking but his Ford F150, long wheelbase, couldn’t do it. 801 was radioed to look for Dan Mick. This happened right in the middle of the "Everybody-leaves-the-arena-at-once" scene. Dan emerged from the heap and came out to Hwy 313. In tow were 2 jeeps from the party involved with a new axle that they were going to change out in 5 minutes. We went in the Gemini Road to the drill stick, left toward Metalmasher and, shortly, left again. Now we’re going west on Old Arth’s Road. (See Jack Bickers book "40 Grand Trails Off the Dead Horse Point Road). Not so long later, there was the jeep and 2 folks by a large fire. Good, so far. Somebody went to get the new axle out of one of the jeeps only to discover that each jeep thot the other had gotten the axle. So much for getting the jeep out that night. How about the folks staying with the broken jeep? They elected to stay out there in the snow next to their fire for the rest of the night so that no one could come along and strip the jeep. So Dan and 836 went home empty handed but The Mom knew everyone was warm. Comments: GCSAR should have a 4 wheel drive outfit just like Dan’s. Next fund raiser. Responders: Dan, Bego |
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| Saturday Morning Trail Lineup: |
| Everyone lined up at 9 am like the snow
wouldn’t bother ‘em. Frank, Aug, Lloyd, Lee, Jimmy N., Rex, Dave M, Dave L |
| A call came in for GCSAR |
| to guide a late jeep party off Poison Spider. Everyone was OK medically and they were not lost. They wanted a guide so they wouldn’t get lost. This type of response should go to a member of Red Rock 4 Wheelers, for profit or not, guide’s choice. |
| 99- 19 | 4- 3- 99 | Helo Search; Rollover, alcohol, bizarreness | The Escalator |
| Paged out about 9 pm as a
jeep rollover with up to 5 people hurt. RP had hiked out. We responded... everybody
responded... where’d the subjects go?? It’s Monday. Talked to some people. Concluded this: Alot of people were put to alot of risk -- love that risky stuff, but not for alcohol, deception and lies -- that is an outrage The subjects should be made to pay the entire bill, chumps. Thanks to Curt Brewer for Incident Command. Kudos to John Ruhl, night helo searching just above the landscape. Woo........ Comments: Responders: Sam, Jeff, Bego, Mark, Frank, Kurt, Aug, Lloyd, Kent, Josh, Kris, bunch o Deputies, Larry Van Slyke and Jim Conference Room Webster, 2 ambulances, 6 EMT’s, many others. |
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| "We Support Grand County Search and Rescue" sticker blitz & fund raiser contest announces winners |
| Amidst rumors of up to 2 benefactors who
were just going to outright buy us a Polaris 2-seater Ranger (dare ya), the support
sticker fund raiser , showing a perfect "inverse power law," came to a close,
mostly overshadowed by Jeep Week even tho Mark went beyond the mark by a maniacal margin,
the likes of which have never been seen. Woo........... There were 151 sticker purchasers and some folks who donated smaller amounts. Eight of the donors gave more than $25 for just one sticker. 12 out of 29 GCSAR members sold any stickers at all. Grand Prize: Weighing in at 71 stickers sold, the County-reknown dispatcher and adrenaline junkie, one Mark Ward. Like, he had a booth on Main Street for a while. Mark is the winner of our coveted $200 dollar gift of whatever he wants as long as it can be applied to doing SAR missions. Wonder what he’ll pick?? Ask him. Second Prize: Niko urged George of 2T20 to find 26 SAR supporters. George gets to go pick up a $100 value something for use during SAR activities. A close 3rd Prize: By a single sticker, just ahead of a small pack of wolves, Rex , solid at 9 sold. Rex may go pick himself up a $50 blob of something. After expenses, the grand total, drumroll..... $ 3, 9 6 0 . 0 0 And then, Jean McDowell sent in $1000.00. Ever so THANK YOU. Extra credit. |
| Subject: HOWELL BABY ARRIVED |
| Author: Karen McKinlay-Jones at NP-ARCH
Date: 04/ 12/ 1999 Galen and Wendy had the little one!! ---> Q u i n n H o w e l l BORN: 4/ 9/ 99 at 6 pm (I think the time is right!) WEIGHT: 8 lbs 13 oz (Poor LITTLE one Wendy!!) |
Good, cheap, fast. Pick 2.
| 99- 20 | 4- 9- 99 | Search for Lost Teen BMX Bikers | Porcupine Rim |
| The Mom dropped off the Kids
and their BMX bikes at the Porcupine Rim trail at 5pm on a stormy day. One kid had done
the trail before on a mountain bike and thot they would have enuff time. Maybe so, but
then one tire went flat. They were an hour overdue so the Grandpa called "the professionals," meaning GCSAR. He said the boys had no jackets or matches. Not a good thing on such a cold night. Jennie, Aug, George and Niko went to the single track on Hwy 128 to hike up that way. Ahead of our people by an hour were some boys from the group who went looking also. Rex the Jeeep with Sam and Bego on ATV’s, started in from the upper end. It was snowy so tracks were hard to find. A few miles out, the tracks came out from under the snow and were now on top of it. Awhile later, we were down out of the snow. We also learned that they did have matches and they had built a fire on the rim which Steve Brownell could see from the road near Big Bend. The fire placed them east of the main route. Frank called in to say there are spur roads out into that region. About 1 am, the hikers and jeepers met at the intersection that leads out to "Big Bend Overlook," marked on the Moab East Bike Map. A few minutes later, all was well. Comments: The teen decided to build their fire on the rim so it could be seen. They would have been pretty cold had they not had matches. How about an earlier start for long trails gang. Responders: Steve Brownell, Rex, Frank, Sam, Bego, Aug, Jennie, George, Niko, Matt |
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| Subject: Peak Flow Forecast Date:12 Apr 1999 From: Steve Swanke |
| Howdy: The Colorado Basin River Forecast
Center has issued their second (April) peak flow forecast for the upcoming runoff. This
forecast is posted at: www.cbrfc.gov/public/for/peak/1999/ There is a 90% probability Cataract Canyon will exceed 16,500 cfs. There is a 75% probability Cataract Canyon will exceed 26,500 cfs. There is a 50% probability Cataract Canyon will exceed 37,000 cfs. There is a 25% probability Cataract Canyon will exceed 47,500 cfs. There is a 10% probability Cataract Canyon will exceed 58,000 cfs. These numbers are down considerably from the March forecast. |
| GCSAR Meeting 4- 13- 99 |
| This meeting was held at the Moab Skyway
chairlift. Brad tutored our new Polaris Ranger while the Rock Rescue went into Endless
Cave (much discussion on where "endless" might be). The dog people took their
dogs up the lift and we did the Litter drill on the wheelchair chair coming down. Thanks to Portal Vista for keeping the lift going for our training. |
| From the SARBC web site discussion forum at http:// www. sarbc.org |
| Subject:Figure 8's vs. Bowlines (and
cousin), Mar 4 1999 From: Reed Thorne (one of the industry leaders) I am compelled to take issue with a couple of comments on this site concerning bowlines vs. figure 8's. Over the years, we have used both the bowline and figure eight family knots and bends and have not found the recently-stated conclusions to be true. First of all, I am an avid user of both figure eights and bowlines and each of these has different advantages and disadvantages to offer the user. I have to take issue with the point about figure 8 knots or bends being easier to tie, and inspect, than bowlines, or sheet bends. This type of commentary is very disturbing to say the least. In several noted instances in the time I have been teaching this subject in Arizona State Fire Marshal rope courses since the early eighties, I have seen with my own eyes, those that do not complete the retrace on Figure 8 follow through knots. In one instance, several people standing around did not note the error either. This is referred to in my vocabulary as the "Hill syndrome" with rewoven bends or knots. This is where the person tying the connection, begins the retrace, and then, for whatever reason (distraction, nervousness, etc.), does not complete it. To many novice rescuers, the problem is apparently masked in that it appears to be tied perfectly---even though the final rewoven loop is left to the side and not "finished." Even so-called professionals or experts are making this mistake. I have been told that the famous rock climber, Lynn Hill, was "distracted" several years ago while tying into her climbing rope with a rewoven figure 8 knot. The knot "looked" finished, and had enough residual friction in the unfinished connection to hold it in place, even while Lynn climbed on lead for the length of her rope. Of course after the successful climb, the story goes, she leaned on the rope to be lowered to the ground by her belayer. The knot, now unable to hold her body weight, slipped through and she fell into the tree next to her belayer, narrowly escaping a fatal fall! My point? ANY knot can be tied incorrectly---and, unfortunately---this includes the figure 8 rewoven knot or bend. This is a very good argument for backing up these connections. In Lynn's case, this would have prevented the problem of an unfinished connection. Interesting thing about bowlines and the sheet bends, as "cousins", is that they "fall apart" if you tie them improperly. This is one reason we like them. The student ties it wrong and it falls apart. Simple. Also, I can tell at a glance if a bowline is tied correctly. Isn't this a training issue? We are so used to bowlines and sheet bends that it is the figure 8's we have problems with. If you say that the figure 8 is used more than the bowline (family), I will grant that this statement is probably true. But that is not an argument for the figure 8's use. We could say the same thing about ANY practice. There is allot more on the subject of knotcraft which remains to be said, but I will reserve my comments for a later time--hopefully on this venue. |
T h a n k Y o u -- To Brad Mallory for the fiddling, tweaking, fixing, welding, wiring, etc on the ATV’s and trailers.
| MOCK DUI Produced and Directed by Archie Walker. Grim Reeper: Steve White |
| Grand County High School Drama Dept;
Grand County Ambulance Association; Grand County Sheriff; Utah Highway Patrol; Moab City
Police; Audio by KCYN, Aug, Louis Manson, Elks; Makeup by Jennie and Anne; Spanish Valley
Mortuary; Set up by Don and Levi; Smoke by Corky; Dispatch by Cheryl Pratt; Towing by
Harrison; Lunch by Cindee Stevens; Video by Michelle Walker and Jim Page; Stills by Bego. Courtroom Scene: Court Recorder Joey Allred; Judge LeBarron, Prosecutor Bill Benge, Defense Steve Russell; Bailiff Clark Messick; Lighting and Sound by the High School Stage Crew. |
| GCSAR meeting 4- 22- 99 |
| We took all the ATVs up to the Slickrock
Bike Trail. Some went to learn more about the marked EMS routes and some took our new
Polaris Ranger out for a spin. And we did some more map stuff. Additional guru: Steve Brownell. |
| Humor in Uniform (a la Reader’s Digest): |
| RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AND PROTECTION National Capital Parks (DC) - Beaver Management The park is attempting to corral a beaver that has dropped four cherry trees and five white cedars and gnawed another four large cherry trees - probably killing them - around the Tidal Basin over the past week. The following was excerpted from a story in this morning's Washington Post by staff writer Linda Wheeler: "The beaver, believed to be a male and working alone, has been alternately hitting several trees a night or doing no noticeable damage at all. Although beavers frequent the Potomac River basin, no one can remember one living in the Tidal Basin until last year, when the first trees were damaged, (NPS spokesman Earle) Kittleman said. The beaver-vs.-tree issue has the Park Service in a difficult position. The internationally recognized cherry tree grove is now at its annual peak, and the Park Service spends a great deal of money to protect the more than 3,000 flowering trees. However, it also is required to protect the animals of the park as well...The Park Service plan, under discussion since Friday, is to obtain a humane trap, catch the beaver alive and then turn it loose in a new home, a long way from the cherry trees. As of last night, a suitable trap had not been found. Kittleman said the Park Service has been overwhelmed with media attention about the beaver. Biology technician Julia Long, who is responsible for securing a trap, had a full slate of interviews yesterday, delaying her efforts to determine which trap is the most humane...Experts on beavers said this one is probably a 2-year-old that recently left the home nest and is checking out the Tidal Basin as a place to start a new colony. Beavers usually live in burrows built below the waterline and construct dams as a way to maintain the water level above the opening of the den...So far, the Tidal Basin beaver has not been able to begin a dam because the Park Service crews swoop in as soon as a downed tree is found and take it away. They also chop the tree stump to the ground so visitors won't trip over it. Kittleman said there would be no special precautions taken last night to protect the trees, because the beaver has about 300 acres to roam looking for an appealing tree and there is no way to patrol such a large area." |
Don'tcha just love geology? I mean, in what other principal science can you get away
with armwaving and "(?)" in the titles of papers? Imagine the consequences of
"(?)" in a paper published in "Explosives Engineer"!
Earle Spamer, Academy of Natural Sciences, Botany & river historian
| 99- 21 | 4- 26- 99 | Search for overdue bikers | Gemini or Gold Bar |
| A party of 9 split up on the
Gemini Trail with 5 riders planning to finish over Gold Bar and down the Portal Trail. The
other 4 rode to town and called us, late, when no one showed up. We formed a plan and while deploying, Jeff found them riding into town on US 191 near the old Atlas Mill. Comments: Responders: Frank, Jeff, Kurt, Lee, Rex, Bego |
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| Subject: 1999 NPS Basic Technical Rescue Training 26 Apr 1999 From: Steve Swanke |
| A SAR brief as prepared by Ken Phillips.
Subject: 1999 NPS Basic Technical Rescue Training Ken Phillips at NP-GRCA The 1999 NPS SERVICE-WIDE BASIC TECHNICAL RESCUE TRAINING was a huge success at Canyonlands National Park. During the week of April 19-23 forty students and seventeen instructors concentrated on practicing the most current rigging techniques in technical rescue. Participants came from as far away as Hawaii. It is hoped that next year more eastern parks will also take advantage of the training. The class included a night rescue exercise as well as some dramatic mock rescue exercises. Attached are .jpeg photo images which highlight the class in action. Thanks for your continued support of this worthwhile project, Ken Phillips SAR Coordinator Grand Canyon National Park. Comments: Rex Tanner completed this course. So, to date this year, 6 GCSAR members have taken or taught at a major NPS technical rescue course. Cool. Jeff was a victim for the final test day mock exercises. Gary Haynes was an instructor. |
| 99-138 - Mount Rainier NP (WA) - Emergency Helicopter Landing |
| On the morning of Saturday, April 24th, a Washington Army National Guard Chinook helicopter made an emergency landing on the bank of the Nisqually River in the Longmire area. The helicopter was first observed in a spiralling descent from about 2,000 feet above ground level. It briefly hovered over the Longmire meadow before the pilot appropriately determined that the ground was too wet to land and instead came down on the Nisqually river bank. The helicopter was flying from Yakima Training Center to Fort Lewis, Washington, when a warning light indicated that there were foreign objects in the transmission fluid, a situation requiring an immediate landing. After clearing the transmission's foreign object screen and doing a 15 minute test run-up on the ground, the Chinook took off and flew to Fort Lewis. This National Guard unit also provides the park with high altitude SAR support. [Randy Brooks, District Ranger, MORA, 4/25] |
| "Silt Happens" Back Issues |
| #99-1 (Jan-Feb 99) --
Adventure; "Too Short"; Gary Haynes; Evac Team Paid Now #98-6 (Nov-Dec 98) -- Thanks Yous;
Tramway and rescue plans; Cellular Phonefinder; Practice Safe Response; Pipeline Go BOOM #97-6 (Nov-Dec 97) |