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2002-  J-0  F-3  M-  9   A- 8
2001-  J-0  F-2  M-  5   A-11   M-   8  J- 6 [32]   J-  6   A-3   S-2   O-  2  [45]  N-5   D-1  [51]
2000-  J-2  F-4  M-  9   A-13   M- 14  J- 7 [49]   J-  3   A-2   S-9   O-  7  [70]  N-0   D-0  [70]
1999-  J-1  F-1  M-15   A-  4   M- 11  J- 8 [40]   J-  6   A-9   S-9   O-13  [77]  N-7   D-2  [86]
1998-  J-0  F-1  M-  5   A-18   M- 15  J- 3 [42]   J-10   A-2   S-4   O-  9  [67]  N-3   D-1  [71]  
1997-  J-4  F-6  M-10   A-  8   M- 16  J- 9 [53]   J-  4   A-6   S-5   O-  9  [77]  N-8   D-0  [85]            
1996-  J-4  F-5  M-  2   A-12   M- 14  J- 7 [44]   J-  5   A-5   S-5   O-  6  [65]  N-9   D-4  [78] 

Wind Chill extravaganza-
"Men wanted: For hazardous journey.  Small wages.  Bitter cold.  Long months of complete darkness.  Constant danger.  Safe return doubtful.  Honour and recognition in case of success."   Sir Ernest Schakleton-  1914,  recruiting for an Antarctic trip

02- 4     3- 2- 02     Standby for possible incident at Old Sand Hill Climb
     1 T 11 put us on standby in case this reported injury was not near the road.
Comments:  Standby is a tough thing for us especially if the incident is a possible medical.  If we are then called out later, we are way behind everyone else.  We had a lively discussion about it at our next meeting.
Responders:  Sam, Nancy, Bego, Matt, Lee, Jim G, Jim D

02-5     3- 16- 02     Pritchett Canyon injury
     First reported such that we responded to the bottom end of Pritchett Canyon.  Subsequent info told us we should come in from the top at Blue Hill.  This guy had a hip injury.
     We sent in the Ranger, the Bronco and 4 wheelers.
Comments:  That is back in an area where communication via the repeater channels doesn't happen well.  Perhaps a radio relay team should be put in place on the way in.
Responders:  Rex, Frank, Sam, Nancy, Dave, Lee, Dick, Jim G, Jim D, Jennie, Dean, Mandy, Frankie

02- 6     3- 21- 02     ATV rollover     Poison Spider
     Fellow rolls his ATV, bonks head and shoulder.  RP zots out to Hwy 279 on a motorcycle. We go.  At some point, Care Flight is called. 
Comments:  Sam got LZ coordinates from Well's book, Frank from the computer and 13B61 from a GPS.  "Several ways to scam a location."
Responders:  Matt, Sam, Dave, Lee, Bego, Jim, Frank, 13 B 61

02- 7     3- 24- 02     Biker down     SRBT
     Head over handlebars and plop- a back injury.  Frankie and Mandy took the EMT to the scene in their jeep.
     The old same thing with the Ranger and 4 wheelers.
Comments:
Responders:  Rex, Sam, Nancy, Bego, Jeff, Shaun, Dave, Lee, Jennie, Dean, Mandy, Frankie, Levi

02- 8     3- 24- 02     Out in the middle of nowhere motorcycle accident
     It's a good thing this group telephoned us their GPS coordinates cuz they were out in the middle of nowhere, south of Red Wash and north of 10 Mile.
     We responded to base camp near the White Wash Sand Dunes.  Shortly later Care Flight came by and were sent directly to those coordinates to scout the situation.  They landed nearby the scene and the flight nurses eeked their way down into the steep, narrow canyon.
     Shortly later Arches Helicopters's John Ruhl arrived and took 2 loads of rescuers to the scene.  We set up a belay rope on a short, low angle piece of cliff to make it easier to get the litter up to Care Flight.
Comments:  Had they not given coordinates, it would have taken a looooong time to find them.
Responders:  Rex, Sam, Bego, Sam, Brad, Dave, Lee, Jennie, Dean, Mandy, Frankie and a bunch of EMS folks from Green River.  Deputy Brent Phlanges Pace attended and was helpful.

The Colorado Basin River Forecast Center has recently issued their second
(April) forecast for the 2002 snowmelt:
There is a 90% probability Cataract Canyon will exceed 16,000 cfs.  (Anyone taking bets?)
There is a 75% probability Cataract Canyon will exceed 22,000 cfs.
There is a 50% probability Cataract Canyon will exceed 27,000 cfs.
There is a 25% probability Cataract Canyon will exceed 35,000 cfs.
There is a 10% probability Cataract Canyon will exceed 43,000 cfs    (Webmaster's note:  Can we assume, by extrapolation, that there's a 1% probability Cataract Canyon will exceed 430,000 cfs?) 

02- 9     3- 25- 02     Search on Fins and Things
     The Mom went shopping in Cortez thinking the Dad and kids were going up to Moab to do Fins and Things.  He didn't return and she called.
     We responded, dividing into 2 groups to 4 wheeler along all the roads north of Sand Flats and south of Negro Bill. 
     At 4 am, he showed up at North Maverick.  He had been on Poison Spider and was later for being lost several times after dark.
Comments:  It has been said that one should not vary a flight plan once filed.
Responders:  Frank, Sam, Nancy, Bego, Dave, Lee

02- 10     3- 27- 02     Biker down     SRBT
     Very close to the parking lot.  We were 10- 22'd.
Comments:
Responders:  Rex, Matt, Sam, Bego, Brad, Dave, Lee, Dick, Jennie, Dean

02- 11     3- 29- 02     Unicycler down     SRBT
     Somehow, as the unicycler was dismounting, he came down wrong on his food putting a bad break in his ankle.
     First on the scene was the DPS helo (pilot Steve Rugg) with Deputies Louis and Kim plus Sam.
     We got there with the ranger and  4 wheelers.
Comments:
Responders:  Rex, Frank, Bego, Lee, Dick, Jim G, Sam

02- 12     3- 30- 02     The stoopids get lucky at Lion's Back
     This was one amazing event.
     Two teen boys and 2 teen girls start up Lion's Back.  Part way up they came face to face with a descending vehicle.  They roll backwards a bit and start to tip.  One guy gets out.  The vehicle rolls back a bit more and..........rolls side over, then woosh.... off the fin, thru the air and big wham into the crack below.  Witnessed by hundreds of onlookers.
     The call came in as "Jeep off Lion's Back."  Gasp.  Archie was there shortly, Louis too.  The DPS helo circled above with Steve White talking to dispatch.  Responders from town roared up the hill.  EMTs climbed up the crack expecting to find total carnage.  Arches Helicopters was paged.
     Curt Brewer stepped in as IC and a helo LZ was established on the road cuz there were jeeps and people packed in all over the landscape.
     Fire Chief Corky was first to helo in to assess extrication needs.  By then, the EMTs had one girl on a backboard so out she came. Another rescuer and litter were flown in and the second gal was lifted out.  Another litter went in and it took some more time to extricate and stabilize the male driver.  Out he went.  Time for all this was about 1 hour.
     And that's the short version of an event that had 10,000 more convolutions, parts and pieces.
     Turns out, the major injuries were a broken arm and a bruised pelvis.  At first glance, we figured rather a heap.
Comments:  Silt hereby bestows some kind of award on the EMTs and Deputies and helpers for outstanding energy and aplomb in a very awKward place..  Two Extra Rations of Grog go to Arches Helicopters pilot John Ruhl.  Awesome.
Responders:  Maybe 50?  To those who participated, THANK YOU.

1 T 7 in cameo:  " There is always free cheese in a mousetrap. "

Overheard:  "But Grandmas are SUPPOSED to want company." Melody, 11

02- 13     4- 5- 02     Biker Down     Porcupine Rim
     Sheila from LA picked her bike up to carry it around a difficult place and reinjured her back.  Much pain and muscle spasms.
     We responded with Ranger, EMT and  4 wheelers.
Comments:  The husband elected to finish the ride.
Responders:  Dick, Jim D, Lee, Kevin, Bego, Dave

02- 14     4- 8- 02     Lost Mtn Bikers      Poison Spider
     Dad and son bikers cell phoned the Mom that they were lost up on Poison Spider and couldn't find the Portal Trail down.  The Mom called us.  Shortly later, they did find their way but couldn't contact anyone cuz the cell bat went dead.
     We responded with ATVs up the road and Frank up the Portal Trail.  Shortly, the lost ones were found coming down the trail.
Comments:
Responders:  Rex, Frank, Sam, Bego, Jeff, Jim, Lee, Dick, Kevin

02- 15     4- 11- 02     Appalling 4 WD roll over on Hell's Revenge
     Two 4 WD parties, leap frogging each other for the day on Hell's Revenge.  At a place called The Fin, the party with 5  4WDs made it down safely.  The first of 2  4 WDs in the second party also made it down.  Most in the first party were walking around, watching the last vehicle descend.
     The 4WD veered off course to the right, dropped off a little overhang and started rolling.  The driver was thrown out and rolled down the steep sandstone slope just ahead of the 4WD.  His passenger was not ejected.  Part way down the slope, the 4WD came to a stop.  When the passenger stepped out, the 4WD started rolling again.
     It immediately rolled OVER a guy who was coming up to help.  The rest of the crowd parted except a 7 year old who got knocked 30 feet thru the air to land on some brush and sand.  The 4WD continued down to a stout juniper.
     An immediate cell phone to 911 indicating severe injuries to 3 people.  An immediate page for ambulance, GCSAR, Arches Helicopters and Care Flight.
     Like the speed of light, everyone responded.  Arches Helos flew in an EMT.  At the same time, GCSAR made a Landing Zone for the helo near the ambulances.  The helo flew in 2 loads of EMTs and equipment.  Shortly later, Care Flight lands too.  Pretty dang fast, huh?
     All 3 subjects were flown to St, Mary's.  Deputy Neal came out to investigate the crash site.

Comments:  In Charles Well's jeeping book, waypoint 18 says this:  "You'll pass a vehicle sized depression before starting down a steep ridgeline off the slickrock.  Use a spotter.  A miscue here could send you tumbling down the slope." (see photo # 9).  Miscue indeed.
     There is compelling evidence that the driver had been drinking at least "some" beer.    At first he wanted to know how his 4WD fared and didn't know yet that it had hurt 2 bystanders.  His passenger walked away with scrapes. 
     The driver was barely hurt after all.  The 7 year old bystander suffered a broken leg and a big scare.  The bystander gentleman who got rolled over suffered major internal stuff but will recover over a half year.  That, somehow, doesn't seem right and is one of the hard things about this job.
     The 7 year old had her parents, grandpa and little sister on the trip.  The dad who got rolled over had his 16 year old son along.  This kid helped where he could the whole time.  Awesomely brave.  After Care Flight left, he LOST it big.  Watching that is one of the hard things about this job.
Responders:  Rex, Brad and a bunch more.

Mock DUI for the Junior Class just before the Jr. Prom.  An Archie Walker Production.
     Each year, Grand County Emergency Services and all varieties of Law Enforcement stage a disastrous prom night drinking car wreck.  Point: friends don't let drinking friends drive. 
Mock DUI:  This is great fun (training) for us and a real eye-opener for most of them.  Thanks to the many community and individual supporters of this educational experience.

02- 16     4- 18- 02     Search on the road from Hurrah Pass to the Needles-  San Juan County
     Paged out at midnight:30.  Dad and 2 sons (12 and 14) riding dirt bikes, without headlights, from the Needles to Lockhart Basin, to Hurrah Pass, to Moab.  It was reported that they left (where?) at 6pm thinking an hour and a half would do it.  Nope.
     They were overdue and we were called out as well as 1 Z 6 from San Juan County.  We were 10-22d by 1 Z  6 as he turned on to the dirt road heading north.
Comments:  Even tho this was San Juan County, it was reasonable for us to search the northern end of this route.
Responders:  Bego, Sam, Lee, Aug

Colorado Plateau River Guides River Rescue Training.     19, 20, 21  April
    Friday evening at Big Bend Campground for registration and one of John Weisheit's amazing slide shows.  Man oh man, did he ever cover alot of interesting stuff.
     Saturday morning was one hour classes:  Leave No Trace Camping by Rick Ryan, Safety Equipment by Michele Hill, Knots by Dave Dawson, Rigging Mechanical Advantage by Kirk Livingstone and The Big Picture by Bego. Saturday afternoon was building Z-Lines all over the place, Medical Helicopters 101 by St. Mary's Care Flight of Grand Junction and Steve Hazlett's Ambulance Tour.  Saturday evening pasta and a Roy Webb show at the MIC.
    Sunday on the shoreline doing throwbags to swimmers in the river.  Floating down river paddle boats doing flip drills.  A mock flip in White's.  A great show by Michele and Kirk.
     Many river companies and businesses in town donated alot of time and energy.  Hi Kyler.

02- 17     4- 26- 02     Biker Down     SRBT
     This one happened way out there at Mile 6 (Clockwise) mostly to Shrimp Rock.  One mandatory detour for the ATVs to avoid sidehilling.
Comments:  Some medium technical ATV terrain out that far.  Woo.
Responders:  Rex, Bego, Jeff, TBerry, 13 Ward62

02- 18     4- 27- 02     Biker down     Porcupine Rim
     A fellow crashed and broke his arm.  We responded with the Ranger and 2 ATVs.
Comments:  That trail is nothing but bumpy.
Responders:  T Berry, Nancy, Jim G, Sam, Jim D, Bego

02- 19     4- 27- 02     ATV crash     Gold Bar Rim Trail
     50ish fellow crashed on his ATV at the first rough ledge on Gold Bar...Rex/T-Berry drove Bronco...Aug, Jim G. and Frank on ATV's.  Ambulance crew motored up in their Bronco (505).
     Rangered victim up to LZ on a ridge overlooking site, put him in CareFlight, and said g'bye..
Comments:  UTM 0617306 x 4273849 is very near Well's waypoint 4.   7.1 miles in from 191.
Responders:  T Berry, Rex, Frank, Jim G, Aug, Shaun, Matt

02- 20     4- 28- 02     Welfare check at 10-46  vehicle     Poison Spider
     Where did the driver go??? 
Comments:
Responders:  Shaun, Sam, Frank

Colorado Plateau River Guides-           -RIVER  RESCUE-      April 2002

The Seasons of Apprenticeship, the Acquisition of Technique, the Passing down of Knowledge

The Big Picture
taken largely from "River Rescue" by Bechdel and Ray and from Barry Miller.

"When something goes wrong on the river there seem to be 2 types of people:  those who have foreseen the trouble and are already taking corrective steps and the rest who are standing there with mouths agape wondering what's going on.  The first type of person always seems to be just where he's needed with the right equipment at the right time.  Such people have river sense.  They are not born with river sense but develop it over time, perfecting boating, rescue and communication skills, understanding equipment and appreciating the forces and hazards of whitewater.  Being alert."
-->  But in the beginning, everyone has a "first trip."

River sense is accident prevention.
Rig yourself-  awareness of river characteristics, hazards, learn from books and videos, get in shape.
Rig your boat-  good equipment, proper rigging, rescue gear available, fliplines, etc.
Rig your people- orientation talks, communication:  "Your safety is largely in your own hands."
Most accidents are the result of poor planning, improper equipment, ignorance or big egos.

PRE-TRIP Considerations-  Before the trip, gather all the info you can about where you are going.
--Beware of preconceived notions cuz they could get in the way of good judgment later.
--As you gain experience, this is not all that necessary.  You have learned how to boat    cautiously and knowing too much beforehand can take away from the adventure.
--Who is going, what can they do and not do?
--In the event of catastrophe, what are your escape routes and nearest helping agencies.
--Just say NO to people who shouldn't go on a particular trip, for whatever reason.
--Just say NO if the river has become dangerous, eg: too high or too low water levels, etc.

RISK MANAGEMENT TRIO- identify, evaluate, deal with risks at the company, trip, personal level.
Preparation- training, skills, experience and collective knowledge of each and the group, good equip.
Prevention- orientation talks, demos, thinking ahead, learn from experience, clean mind.
Crisis Management- preplans, plans for what ifs, leadership, decision making, problem solving.
Preplan:  At some very specific times in the development of an adventure you, your crew, your company and your clients must go over the major "what ifs," the risks and responsibilities of each person and boat, emergency procedures, skill levels or lack of and expectations.
Preplans include search, rescue, first aid, evacuation and follow-up.
Plans on site:  What If...........Have a Plan !!            A good clean recovery takes alot of skill.
--At the dangerous places STOP and SCOUT. Develop a rescue plan A and plan B.
The Process:  Assessment, communication, methods, organization.
Variables:  Knowledge of area, environmental factors, equipment available, number of boats, water temperature, number and physical and mental condition of rescuers and victims.
Priorities:  Self Rescue, safety and rescue of other rescuers, people first, equipment second.
Positioning, timing, the moment and extent of interaction.
--Downstream boat waits in second eddy and lets no swimmers get past.
--Upstream boat sweeps.
What if...  you set up a mechanical advantage system to pull something off something.  What happens if something breaks or what happens next when the boat comes loose?

CHOOSE A LEADER
--Trips are NOT too independent or informal to have a leader esp in an emergency.
--The trip leader need not be the one with the most miles or rescue experience but the one    with the best communication skills.
--The rescue leader need not be the trip leader.  When an incident occurs,  reaction TIME is    the crucial factor.  A good rescue leader and personal initiative by the experienced are    imperative to keep the rescue time short.  Rescues are very sensitive to initial conditions:
   Too many minutes getting started can make a huge difference. 

LEADERSHIP-  "As a rescue leader you must concern yourself with clear, unemotional thinking.  This isn't always easy, particularly if the safety of a friend is involved.  If at all possible, you should not become directly involved with any of the individual tasks of the rescue.  It is important to have someone who can oversee the whole operation and not get distracted by any single problem.  Obviously, there will be times when you can't do this; you may be the only one qualified in a certain skill.  Your duties as a rescue leader are to observe, organize and direct the efforts of the rescue team.
(from Bechdel and Ray, p 237)

ORIENTATION   and  SAFETY  TALKS

     The content and presentation of OTs is important in this litigious society.  It's a Catch 22:  The guide is supposed to explain risk to people who do not have enuff experience to evaluate risk. 
     OTs must meld 3 disparate mind sets.  The tour agency, before the trip begins, wants to paint a rosy picture so as not to lose the sale.  The client does not know what is ahead, which is part of the attraction, and expects something safe (?) and thrilling.  The guides, with varying degrees of experience, have to explain that there may be a situation which is neither rosy nor safe.  Silt happens!
     Tour companies are PRODUCT oriented and so are the clients.  When this is put into a PROCESS setting (the untamed outdoors) the product may not be delivered as advertised every time.  OTs are given to prevent accidents before they happen, prepare all for the occasional accident that does happen and for the general physical and mental health of all . 
     OTs must be carefully planned and delivered-  use a checklist.  Foreign passengers will have language problems so the use of pictures is helpful.  Physically challenged folks need extra pointers.
     How do people learn?  The adult attention span is short, very short, even nanoseconds, especially in the excitement of the put-in environment.  Keep each OT short and be concise.  The client must learn alot of new vocabulary and strange concepts so the guide must not overload him with too much, too fast. 
     Several OTs should be given and at the appropriate times.  Do them in a logical order for what will happen next.  Be sure everyone is paying attention.  Do them away from distractions if practical.  ,           
     Demo as much as possible: Highsiding, floating in shallow or big water, lifelines, fliplines, throwbags and receiving a throwbag if swimming, hauling a swimmer into a boat. 

     Invite questions.
     Involve the whole crew.

Chance and luck are not under guide control.  How do you explain that?  But that's the gist of
most campfire war stories.  These tales of woe are also instructive to guide and client..

Once again, ever person's safety is largely in their own hands.  Duh.

NAVIGATOR
"Minimum Standards" for position of Navigator on the DPS Helicopter, Pilot Steve Rugg, Jeep Week Observation Flights

Materials:  Jeep Safari newspaper map, Well's Backroads and 4WD Trails book, the East and West maps, GPS, ready pack and barf bag.
-- Your GPS should be tuned to which coordinate system?  Why?
-- Should you tune your GPS "Heading" to Auto Mag E013?  Why or why not?
1)  Zane and Jennie are the observers in the helo.  Zane wants to go elk hunting in the mountains when a call comes in from Metal Masher.  Neither one knows where Metal Masher is.  What info should Jennie supply to the pilot?
2)  Steve White and Sam are cruising around the White Wash sand dunes when a call comes in from Widow Maker.  Steve is too blissed out about being in a helicopter to be of much help.  What does Sam do to guide the pilot?  How long will it take to fly to Widow Maker assuming the helo cruises at 100 mph?
3)  Someone contacts the S.O. about a problem at UTM 516250 X 4219100.  What do you tell the pilot and how long will it take to get there from Sand Flats.  Wait a minute...Why aren't you going to go there?  Who is going?
4)  Powerlines are a problem for helicopters.  Where are the powerlines around here?
5)  Serious thing (10-50 PI) over at Rose Garden Hill.  How do you get there in the helo from the hanger and what do you tell the EMS folks?
6)  Drunk stupid (not part of the Jeep Safari) wrecks ATV  on top of Golden Spike trail.  What do?
Upon investigating you decide to land and find out the injury is very critical.  What do you do?
7)  You get a call from the top of Sego Canyon.  The maps you have don't cover that area.  What do?
8)  If the pilot says, "Show me a place I haven't been," definitely have a correct answer ready.

ACCURACY  OF  COORDINATES

DMS            N  38*  34'  27.4"             W  109*  32'  50.7"
1 second of latitude is about 101 feet   1 second of longitude is about 80 feet
N 38* 34' 27"  and  W 109* 32' 50" is sufficient.

DM.M            N  38* 34.457'               W  109*  32.844'
One tenth minute latitude is about 607 feet, one tenth minute longitude about 484 feet.
1/10 min = 607 ft             1/10 min= 484 ft
1/100 min= 60 ft              1/100 min= 48 ft
1/1000 min= 6 ft              1/1000 min= 5 ft
N 38* 34.45'  and  W  109* 32.84' is sufficient.

UTM         All numbers represent real meters on the ground.
06 26 539                                     42 70 329
06 26 540 is 1 meter off               42 70 330 is 1 meter off
06 26 500 is 39 meters off           42 70 300 is 29 meters off
When reading from a map, one zero at the end is not significant, 2 zeros is usually OK.

From:  China Lake Mountain Rescue Group, Ridgecrest, CA

A Reason to Wear Helmets.  From rec.climbing
"On Saturday, April 13th, rangers received reports of cries for help coming from the general vicinity of the Five Open Books climbing area in Yosemite Valley. Rangers and SAR team members climbed to the party and found that one of them had an open fracture of his left forearm from being hit by a falling rock. After stabilizing his broken arm, the rescuers assisted him in rappelling to the bottom to a waiting litter team. The injured climber was then evacuated down a 600-foot scree slope to the road. While he was being prepared for evacuation, two other climbers hailed the rescuers. They also reported an injury, but were able to self-evacuate to the base of the route. Other rangers met these climbers at the bottom and assisted them to a waiting ambulance. Interviews with the climbers revealed that both parties were hit by the same rockfall. The lead climber of the upper team dislodged a rock the size of his head. This block then struck a glancing blow to the helmet and shoulder of his belayer. The rock then hit the leader of the second party on the pitch below. He received a glancing blow to his helmet, and a solid strike on his forearm, breaking it. The rock went on to strike his belayer in the arm and hip, but luckily just glancing blows. Two lives were saved by climbing helmets. [Steve Yu, IC, YOSE, 4/16] "

From the NPS Morning Report.........................

02-124 - Canyonlands NP (AZ) - Search and Rescue
At 6 a.m. on April 18th, Glen Sherrill, district ranger for the park's Maze District, received a request from the Wayne County Sheriff's Office for assistance in a search for three overdue hikers. Sherrill called the wife of one of the hikers and found that the trio had gotten canyoneering route information from a web site (http://www.climb-utah.com) and that they'd mentioned a location called Leprechaun Canyon. Sherrill relayed this information to the sheriff's office, then called Shane Burrows, the web site owner, and obtained the password to gain access to the route descriptions and maps from the site's "Select Circle of Few" section. Sheriff's deputies found the missing party's vehicle parked at the Leprechaun Canyon trailhead along Utah Highway 95 south of Hanksville and asked Sherrill's assistance in conducting the search. At 1 p.m., Sherrill and two Wayne County SAR volunteers headed into the search area. Within an hour, they'd made voice contact with the three hikers. A Utah DPS helicopter arrived shortly thereafter and began ferrying other rescuers to the scene. The hikers had reached a point in the slot canyon where they could go no further downstream. They couldn't return up the canyon, either, because they'd pulled their rope down after them. While trying to climb out of the slot, one of the hikers slipped and fell about 40 feet, suffering a fractured skull and other injuries. Since there were no natural anchors on the slickrock. Sherrill set bolts for rappelling and a possible litter raising. County EMT's then descended and provided treatment to the injured hiker. At 5 p.m., a Life Flight EMS helicopter from Salt Lake City arrived on scene. The helicopter's scoop litter was lowered to the rescuers in the canyon, and they began the difficult task of moving the patient 40 feet up the slot to the best point for retrieval. The two uninjured hikers ascended the rappel ropes. The Life Flight crew dropped their short-haul rescuer into the slot at 6 p.m. and he rigged up the stretcher. It turned out that the slot was too narrow to accommodate both the rescuer and the litter, so the litter had to be raised without a rescuer alongside. Rescuers on the ground stabilized the stretcher with a belay line. Given the nature of the terrain, this was a high-risk operation for both the helicopter crew and the ground crew, as the pilot had to hover for a long time with his rotors just a few feet from the wall of the canyon. The patient was lowered to the bench after being extracted from the canyon, then transferred to the helicopter and flown to Salt Lake City. He was admitted in critical condition, but his condition was upgraded to 'serious' on April 21st. The operation involved about 20 people from the Wayne and Garfield county SAR teams, the counties sheriffs' offices, and Arizona DPS and Life Flight helicopters. The "Select Circle of Few" canyoneering routes are mostly in or near Zion NP, the Hite area of Glen Canyon NRA, and the Moab area. [Peter C. Fitzmaurice, CR, CANY, 4/23] 

#01-5 (Sept-Dec, 2001) -- Three cheers for Nancy, more fun on the rocks, broken bones
#01-4 (July-August, 2001) -- Mock muck, river claims victims, aMAZEing survival
#01-3 (May-June, 2001) -- Group heat exhaustion, Zane flies, boys get stuck
#01-2 (March-April) -- Rocks fall, bones break, bikers get lost
#01-1 (Jan-Feb., 2001) -- Doggie Bagged; Pilot dies in Book Cliffs crash

#00-5 (Sept.-Oct. 2000) Brad finds a son; a relatively quiet couple of months.
#00-4 (July-August2000) -- Airplane crash, a note from Colin, the search for Jeff Firak
#00-3  (Apr-June2000) -- Stuck on the Tombstone, the usual lost and dried bikers, Chris's Mill Creek adventure, Clinton stabilizes Frank's porch
#00-1,2,&2.5 (Jan-Apr2000) -- Nathan jumps, Matt splats, waiting for high water, confluence disappears, Mill Creek wall strike

#99-5 (Sept-Dec99) -- The "Mari" incident, Westwater drowning, Jeeping off Gemini, Stuck on Fine Jade
#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)