SILT HAPPENS #99-5
Incidents: 99-54 to 99-86 (September - December 1999)
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Content by Bego Gerhart (1T836) --- HTML by Matt Moore

GCSAR Home "Silt Happens" Member Profiles Schedule of Events Operations Statistics
99- 54 8- 27- 99 Search over to the Ruby Ranch, Blue Hills Rd
The subject had a vehicle accident out there somewhere. Brent found him walking toward town.

Comments:  Out there in the dark eerie...
Responders:  Frank, Lloyd, Sam, Rex, Dave M., Jim G., Matt Moo
99- 55 9- 3- 99 Lost Jeepers Creepers, Golden Spike Trail
Talked to RP via cell phone...got his coordinates (N38-36.391 X W109- 38.248)...told him how to get back on trail... gave him 2 additional waypoints to guide him out. Never heard from again.

Comments:  If everyone carried a satellite phone and GPS, we'd be much less busy.
Responders:  Frank, Dan
99- 56 9- 9- 99 Head Bonk on the Practice Oops
It's your classic outing: Transport EMT's to subject, transport subject to a better deal by the 6 wheeler Ranger.

Comments:  
Responders:  Frank, Sam, Rex, Dave M.,, Dan, Jennie, Dean, Jeff, Matt Mc
99- 57 9- 9- 99 Broken Angle at the Coffee Pot
High atop the mesa top, ol Ben broke his ankle. Our ATVs went in with the ambulance. Subject was transported out over the rough road on the 6 wheeler which is less bumpy than the Ambulance. At the main road, the Ambulance took him into town.

Comments:  
Responders:  Sam, Rex, Dave M., Lee
99- 58 9- 18- 99 Stuck in a Crack near the top of the Moab Skyway
A teen slipped 30 ft into a crack. His little brother went back to the top of the Skyway to get help. GCSAR responded up the Skyway and simply provided a belay to safeguard the subject's climb out of the "Sunken Room" near Endless Cave.

Comments:  
Responders:  Kenny, Lloyd, Sam, Brad, Rex, Dave M., Kris (Hi), Lee, Dean, Aug, Jeff, Mark, Whistle and Matt Mc
99- 59 9- 23- 99 Search assistance to San Juan County near Dark Canyon, La Sal Mtns
San Juan had an overdue hiker. Some GCSAR members went out at midnight altho it wasn't pager for more members until 0800 next morning. Our 2 Search Dogs searched. Classic Helicopters from Page searched. A fixed wing plane was coming from St. George.

The helicopter located the subject at the bottom of a cliff on Mt Mellinthin and subsequently made the body recovery.

Comments:  
Responders:  Frank, Sam, Brad, Lee, Nancy and Shalla, George and Niko
99- 60 9- 24- 99 Ding to Ankle, Slog Weak Dork Rail
Clare busted her angle. Sam took EMT Conrad into subject on the 6 wheeler Ranger. Then Sam drove everyone out on that same 6 wheeler.

Comments:  The report said, "No problems en route."
Responders:  Sam, Lee, Jennie, Matt Moo
99- 61 9- 24- 99 Ding to Head, Slag Heap Duck Braille
Twelve year old John from WI bonked. We sent motorcycle Matt in from Cogs and Things while Josh was prepping the 6 wheeler. Ol John, he walked out.

Comments:  
Responders:  Sam, Josh, Matt Moo
99- 62 9- 24- 99 Ding to Water Supply, Ick Rick Bik Nail
Out at Shrimp Rock, this guy was 65 years old and he ran out of water to make steam to continue his bike ride. Team SamMatt boogied in on the 6 wheeler with an EMT and motored the subject out.

Comments:  
Responders:  SamMatt
99- 63 9- 30- 99 Broken Leg; Slickrock Bike Trail
Subject located near the Main / Practice Loop jct. Jeff and Jennie put a fix on, QED.

Comments:  
Responders:  Sam, Lee, Jennie, Jeff, Mark
99- 64 10- 2- 99 Tragedy at the Rock of Shock, below Skull Rapid in Westwater
At about 1520 hrs on 10/2 a river rafting boat flipped in Skull Rapid. The raft was then pinned on the "Rock of Shock," a buttress of rock immediately downstream against which the river crashes, dividing the current either right into the "Room of Doom," a rapidly swirling eddy that is very difficult to get out of, or the water goes left, downriver. The victim was trapped and could not get free of the boat. Witnesses saw the victim slip out of his life jacket and go under.

GCSAR responded 10/3 at first light to Cisco Boat Ramp. Park Service retrieved the stranded members of the party. Both NPS and GCSAR boats motored upstream to the Room of Doom just below Skull Rapid. That Dad Dave Dawson drove the GCSAR boat upstream thru the rapids.

Frank, Alyssa and Jeff rigged a rappel rope with belay for access down the cliff leading to where the river smashes into the rock buttress known as the Rock of Shock. This was where the party's boat was pinned and the victim was last seen. Frank probed with the pike pole at that spot while hanging from the rope. Meanwhile, others were throwing The Hook into the swirling waters of the Room of Doom.

Daily patrols were run for 14 days. Each day the Park Service ran from Cisco up to Skull and GCSAR ran from Cisco down to Hittle Bottom or the BLM takeout. From Oct 8 to 12, a 24 hour watch was set up at Hittle Bottom. After 2 weeks, the patrols were reduced to Tues and Friday.

The victim surfaced in the swirling Room of Doom 5 weeks later, on Nov 6. He had gone nowhere. The NPS boat with Steve Swanke, Larry Van Slyke, Black George, Steve Brownell and Frank Mendonca recovered the fellow.

Miles driven: 7,060 (14 round trips to SLC airport)
Boating hours: 260 (32.5 eight hour days)
Man Hours: 1450 (181 eight hour days)
Water Flow on accident day: 6280 cfs.
Water temperature: 58° F

Comments:  There are certain water stages in Westwater when flipping in Skull and getting pinned on the Rock of Shock is a clear and present danger and is well feared by those who run regularly down there. A bit lower water and you can row right into the Room of Doom for a floating lunch.
Responders:  Frank, Lloyd, Kent, Sam, Rex, Lee, Jim G., Nancy, Jennie, Dean, Jeff, Officer Russel, Matt Moo, Officer Greg. And a whack o Park people.


NPS account; By Steve Swanke - Agency Assist; Fatal Boating Accident

SAR Max Turner, 29, of Salt Lake City, Utah, died while rafting in Westwater Canyon of the Colorado River on the afternoon of Saturday, October 2. Turner was a member of a rafting group consisting of 8 people in two inflatable paddle rafts. Both rafts flipped in a massive hydraulic in Skull Rapid. The bowline from a raft wrapped around Turner's leg. Turner floated on one side of a rock and the boat was on the opposite side of the rock with the rope being taut. Expert kayakers attempted to access Turner for approximately one hour but were unable to do so because of the violent water. The forces of the water eventually removed Turner's lifejacket and he drowned. This tragedy was observed from a close distance by his mother and brother. Westwater Canyon is Class IV whitewater and was flowing at approximately 6,800 cubic feet per second with a water temperature of approximately 58 degrees. Canyonlands rangers, at the request of the Grand County Sheriff, evacuated 8 stranded boaters from the canyon early on Saturday morning. County SAR personnel and rangers from BLM, Utah State Parks and NPS then used vertical rock rescue techniques to access the point last seen to probe with a pike pole with negative results. County rescue personnel and rangers will continue recovery efforts on a daily basis for a reasonable period of time.

99- 65 10- 3- 99 Overdue Climber; Castle Rock
At midnight, Frank checked the usual climber's parking lot and while there was notified that the subject had notified his people that he was elsewhere.

Comments:  
Responders:  Frank
99- 66 10- 4- 99 Broken Knee (OW) on the Slickknee Bike Trail
On the report: "Found, Package, Transport, Clear."

Comments:  Adapted from the more common "LAST: Locate, Access, Stabilize, Transport."
Responders:  Sam, Rex, Lee, Jennie, Jeff, Mark, Matt Mc
99- 67 10- 5- 99 2 Dogs Stuck on a Ledge. One said to the other: Ruff
Abbey and Sassy, Moab residents, were woofing it up in Mill Creek and you know how dogs get... daring each other to do chancy stuff and all.

Sent 3 members from Kayenta Heights. Hiked over to Mill Creek and located dogs at UTM 12S 0630184 X 4268892. Brought dogs up 40 feet and walked them out to road. 2T20 took em home.

Comments:  1 T 4 has an old dog rescue story using a piston helo.
Responders:  Frank, Sam, Mark, Matt Mc.
99- 68 10- 7- 99 Missing hiker; Willow Basin
A local Dad called in to report his 17 year old teen son was aloof. GCSAR mobilized. About then the Dad called back to report all OK.

Comments:  
Responders:  Frank, Sam, Rex, Jimmy N., Lee, Nancy, Jeff
99- 69 10- 9- 99 Jeep driven off Gemini Bridge
In to the top of Gemini Bridges with high angle rescue gear to recover victim. Jeep had dropped 150 ft to the first level on east side of bridge.

Arches helo was able to land on the ledge to let rescuers off. Long lined victim out of there.

Comments:  
Responders:  Kent, Sam, Rex, Josh, Kris, Lee, Jim G., Nancy, Jeff, Matt Hop


NPS account; Author: Colin Smith

Rangers from Canyonlands and Arches National Parks were asked to respond to a possible fatality on the Gemini Bridges Trail, a popular four wheel and bike trail near both parks. The preliminary report was that a jeep had driven off the Bridges themselves and fallen approximately 150 feet. Rangers and Grand County SAR units arrived on scene and confirmed a jeep had gone off the Bridge, killing the driver, 19 year old Beau Daley from Park City, Utah. Daley's body was removed by helicopter long line after the accident scene was investigated by Grand County Sheriff's Deputies. Rangers assisted in the helicopter operation, traffic control, and transported the body to the mortuary van, which could not negotiate the rough road into the accident site. It appears Daley lost control of the jeep while attempting to drive over the narrow sandstone Bridge and drove over the side. He was ejected in mid air and suffered massive injuries after falling 155 feet.

99- 70 10- 13- 99 Stranded boys on the Moab Rim
A Roberts Road resident heard the guys yelling for help. They were in an inaccessible bowl below the rim and WAY above the valley floor. GCSAR sent a rescuer up the talus to a point below the subjects to make voice contact. Said they were not injured, just thirsty. They had run out of water the previous day.

Rescuers were also sent in to Pritchett Canyon to try to find a route up to the rim from there. Meanwhile, water and food were air dropped by motorized Ultralight pilot Rudy Musclow. Rough terrain and darkness called for a suspension of activity that night.

In the morning, a helicopter was available. Two rescuers were airlifted to within 150 yards of the subjects. Ropes were required to get the boys to the helo. Everyone then heloed out.

Comments:  
Responders:  Frank, Kent, Sam, Rex, Lee, Dean, Jeff, Mark, Matt Moo, George, Matt Mc, Matt Hop, Shawn and 4 from the park.
99- 71 10- 15- 99 Overdue biker; Gemini Bridges
Stacy was at the Motel, not out at Gemini as Scott thot.

Comments:  
Responders:  Frank, Sam, Lee, Nancy, Shawn
99- 72 10- 18- 99 Motorcycle gets big air; Mineral Canyon Road
Information received by dispatch from Max indicated that his wife had gone off a switch back near the top of Mineral Canyon. He had attempted mouth to mouth resuscitation but had no response. Passers by helped with CPR. George Paiva from ISKY arrived, then Steve Brownell and others. GCSAR removed the victim from the steep terrain.

Comments:  
Responders:  Frank, Sam, Rex, Lee, Dean
99- 73 10- 23- 99 SRBT: Short Ribs
Ranger, 4 wheelers, motorcycle and ambulance went in to locate subject. Package. Transport.

Comments:  
Responders:  Sam, Rex, Josh, Matt Mc, Kris, Nancy, Jennie
99- 74 10- 27- 99 Severe Leg Laceration; Book Cliffs, Little Canyon
Subject called via cell phone (satellite phone??) to say he had cut his femoral artery. He was in a remote location in the Book Cliffs.

His position was located on the Map Computer and the coordinates were relayed to Air Life.

Comments:  
Responders:  Frank, Kent
99- 75 10- 28- 99 SRBT: Open clavicle fracture
Sent 6 wheeler Ranger with EMT in to locate subject, reportedly 3 miles out. 10-22'd when the subject walked out to the parking lot.

Comments:  
Responders:  Frank, Sam, Brad, Shawn
99- 76 10- 30- 99 Slickrock Bike Trail; Hip Injury
A cell phone call from the Tip Over Challenge area reported a broken hip about 1 mile NW. (Go figure?) Ambulance and GCSAR were called out. Arches Helo put on standby.

Deputy Winkler was first on the scene via motorcycle, near mile 6, near lower Shrimp Rock. He discovered a Dr. Dunn tending the subject and he had requested a helo.

The helo picked up an EMT, flew to the subject and took the subject to the Hospital where it was confirmed he had a fractured pelvis.

Comments:  
Responders:  Frank, Sam, Rex, Josh, Matt Mc, Jeff
99- 77 11- 5- 99 SRBT: Broken Pipe at the Half Ankle
The regular thing- 6 wheeler and EMT in followed by 6 wheeler,EMT and subject out.

Comments:  
Responders:  Sam, Brad, Rex, Lee, Jeff, One Tees ten and 'leven
99- 78 11- 5- 99 Overdue bikers on the Gold Bar / Poison Spider
We sent wheeler teams in from both ends and after hours of searching we went home to resume in the morning. The subjects found their own way out and called the SO to say so.

Comments:  
Responders:  Sam, Rex, Jim, Mark, Shawn
99- 79 11- 9- 99 Overdue biker on the Gold Bar / Poison Spider
Ibid. Sam and Dean up Poison Spider Trail. Rex and Jeff in from Gemini Bridges. Aug and Jim up the Portal Trail. Subject found by Sam and Dean less than 2 hours after page.

Comments:  
Responders:  Sam, Rex, Lee, Jim, Dean, Aug, Jeff
99- 80 11- 12- 99 Overdue (motor) bikers on the Gold Bar / Poison Spider
Op. Cit. Mobilizing when the subjects came out by their ownselves.

Comments:  
Responders:  Frank, Kenny, Sam, Matt Mc, Shawn
99- 81 11- 13- 99 Overdue bikers, guess where
Op. Cit. Mobilizing when the subjects came out by their ownselves.

Comments:  
Responders:  Frank, Sam, Nancy, August
99- 82 11- 20- 99 Injured climber near the top of Fine Jade on the Rectory
Near the top of one of the finest 5.11 routes around, Zack got whacked on the helmeted head by a falling big rock and fell to about 8 feet below a small ledge. His 2 partners secured him to the narrow ledge. Monika rappelled to the bottom of the cliff and hiked back to their car. Tom, medical PhD (?) remained with the subject.He was initially reported to be unconscious, possible broken neck and bleeding from the head and leg.

Major mobilization of GCSAR and Arches rescue teams and the Short Haul Team. Arches Helo flew rescue teams and equipment to the top of the Rectory. St. Mary's Air Life responded as well.

GCSAR addict Jeff Davis and Arches rescue maven Julie Weir were lowered to the subject, followed by a litter. The subject was raised about 100 feet to the top of the rock using textbook techniques we have trained with for years. Then Air Life took the subject away.

Zack remained in ICU at St. Mary's for 3 weeks and was then in rehab in Seattle for another 2 weeks. Maybe more.

Comments:  It was decided not to short haul the subject directly off the wall as this was deemed too dangerous. It was decided to do what we KNEW how to do and had trained for. Gold stars to the rescuers and the support groups.
Responders:  Frank Ops Chief, Kent, Sam, Rex, Lee, August, Jeff, Matt Moo. Steve Brownell, Steve White, Curt Brewer Larry Van Slyke, Jim Webster, Gary Haynes, Julie Weir, Carrie Darcey Grand County Ambulance, Loren Good 13B61


NPS Account: Subject: Rescue above Castle Valley, From: Jim Webster

9 rescuers were flown to the top of the butte and effected the rescue. These included NPS employees Gary Haynes, Larry Van Slyke, Julie Weir and Jim Webster. Grand County Search and Rescue members involved were Frank Mendonca (Operations Chief), Jeff Davis (litter bearer - he went over the edge, as did Julie), Matt Moore, Kent Green and Rex Tanner. Arches Helicopters (John Ruhl) and St. Mary's Airlife were the essential helicopter support. Deputy Steve Brownell was incident commander on the ground. There were also many other folks involved at the command post/helibase, Grand County dispatch, and a Grand County Ambulance crew. This was a very safe, effective interagency operation in a hazardous location. Communications were excellent, as was the teamwork.

99- 83 11- 29- 99 Rimrocked Hiker; Left Handed Mill Creek
Todd scampered up into a cave high on the wall in Left Hand Mill Creek. GCSAR located subject from top and hiked in via the bottom. By now it was dark.

Matt Moo climbed almost to the subject but a headlamp wasn't enuff light to proceed up some steep sandstone with big exposure. Matt threw the subject a rope and the subject then became a human anchor. Matt scampered up the rope. He belayed the subject down to safety, then drilled in some anchors for his own escape.

Comments:  
Responders:  Frank, Sam, Brad, Rex, Matt Mc, Matt Hop, Lee, Jim, Aug, Jeff, Mark, Matt Moo, Officer Roseoil
99- 84 12- 12- 99 Overdue hiker in the Flat Pass area
Mobilizing when hiker was located.

Comments:  
Responders:  Frank, Kenny, Kent, Sam, Rex, Kurt, Jeff, George
99- 85 12- 30- 99 Base Jumper Hung Up in Middle of Cliff
This rescue happened after dark north of the Mineral Canyon Road just before it dives down the cliff. The jumpers were out at the point that overlooks the BLM boat launch. This girl jumped at sunset, her 4th jump, and got 180'd (facing the wall instead of facing out) when her chute opened and the last riser on her chute caught on a block of rock. There she was, dangling from nylon and parachute cord in the middle of an overhanging cliff. Eek.

A very sketchy review:
Jeff went down, wrong place.
George went down, wrong place.
George went down, threw Mari a rope.
She attached the rope to her harness and then pulled George in.
George and Mari attach themselves to each other and George cuts her loose of the shrouds.
They go zinging into the air.
George and Mari Z-rigged to top.
Jeff hauled to top. Prepare to train with ascenders.
The discovery of Jeff's rope being cut near thru.
Mari's letter to George is priceless.

Comments:  
Responders:  Frank, Kent, Sam, Brad, Rex, Dave M., Kurt, Jennie, Jeff, Shawn Steve Swanke, Colin Smith, 522, Larry Van Slyke, George


Debrief for 99- 85 happened on 1- 11- 00 at the GCSAR meeting:

Everybody agreed it was a good time.
- The initial set up was in the wrong place. It was dark and very difficult to determine where "straight up from Mari" was. And, the base jumpers themselves thot it was the right place.
- Should have lowered Jeff cuz 600' of rope is too heavy and lowering frees the hands. Lowering may also have prevented his rope from being abraded clean into the core (yikes) on a sharp edge.
- Everyone going over an edge should carry a hammer to bash off edges.
- Should have sent someone over the edge, "first and fast," just far enuff to tell if that was the correct line and THEN drilled in the big stations. This requires an expertise in ascending back up a few tens of feet of rope rapidly. Ascending rope is obviously and always the weak point in most rescuer's single rope technique bag o tricks. Prepare to train !!
- The whole battery thing. Not fully charged. My batt won't fit your drill. Batteries must be "exercised" once a month, not twice a year. I would like to see everyone get inverters for their vehicles so we can throw the chargers in when we respond.
- Radio Channel Incompatibility (RCI) is not good (ING). Should we all agree on National SAR?
- To Z-Rig or to Winch? If you have the room, the Z-Rig is faster.
- No definite team leader. Too many chiefs? Probably cuz we all just work so well together. Turns out, the Safety Officer went to help Ops and never came back. More distinction in jobs.
- The need to be more flexible in terms of looking around for alternatives. There were places for large Friends to be set for anchors, especially for the first- fast look, but the focus is so much on bolting.
- Should we consider a small compressor and pneumatic drill?
- Some rescuers were slow and inaccurate in their knot tying. My take: If you aren't really proficient in this area, stay away. Have a piece of cord by you toilet. Practice.
- Maybe use some edge rollers instead of pads.
- The lights shining up from down below were a big help.
- Put all the equipment back in the shed right when you get back to town. Just do it.

All in all: Mari came up and everyone went home unscratched. Perfect.
99- 86 12- 31- 99 10-50 PI; Truck down into wash
A truck driver fell asleep, left the road, traveled 1500 feet thru the desert and plunged 40 feet into a wash. 207 mobilized everyone and even thot the short haul team might be useful.

GCSAR assisted the Fire Department lads in getting the subject up out of the wash and to the awaiting ambulance, then Air Life chopper.

Comments:  
Responders:  Frank's last 801, Sam, Brad, Rex, Kurt, Jeff

"Silt Happens" Back Issues
#99-4 (July - August 99) -- NPS Whitewater Rescues; Prepare Fair; Tracking by Sgt.Green; Credit for responding, finishing the job; Air Life's preferred radio freq; The Puke Frog returns; Lightning
#99-3 (May-June 99) -- Cataract High; Web rescue; Disaster Brothers; Search Training; Short Haul at altitude; Leadership; Rescue: Who pays
#99-2 (Mar-Apr 99) -- River Peak Flow Forecast; Arches Rock Rescue; Lift Evacuation Team; Huge Fund Raiser; Thanks Brad; Knotcraft
#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
#98-5 (Sept-Oct 98) -- Credit for Responding; Colin Smith @ NPS SAR; Response Statistics; Old Men Do Cliff ResQ; Documentation; SLTrib: $ for SAR
#98-4 (July-Aug 98)
#98-3 (May-June 98)
#98-2 (Mar-Apr 98)
#98-1 (Jan-Feb 98)

#97-6 (Nov-Dec 97)
#97-5 (Sept-Oct 97)
#97-4 (July-Aug 97)
#97-3 (May-June 97)
#97-2 (Mar-Apr 97)
#97-1 (Jan-Feb 97)