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OPERATIONS NOTES:
* NEW Response Configuration using 2 Polaris Rangers: We will soon be
responding to backcountry medical
incidents with 2 Polaris Rangers so that
we can take TWO EMTs to the scene instead of just one. We’ll be
getting a
3rd Ranger soon, then a 4th.
* Speeding ahead on your ATVs is not what to do. No need to go that fast.
Breaks equip that’s not yours.
Fast means you’re not looking around, like
should be. If the Bronco is along, staying near it is better.
* The Satellite phone needs to be "out there" more, in case radios don’t
work. One more option.
* Absolutely (got it?) no driving other people’s vehicles, any where, any
time. Liability issue
#04- 31 5- 2- 04 Overdue Biker
Sovereign Trail
Over before it started. Too bad. The Sovereign Trail is new to us
as yet.
Responders: Nancy from a dinner party, John, Bego, Sam, Margy, Jim
Dave, Barbara, Brian, Lee
And this from the Spring 2004 University of Arizona Alumnus mag:
"The UA Tree Ring Lab research indicates 2002 was the driest year in
Arizona in 1,500 years ...
" Santa Maria!
#04- 32 4- 8- 04 Lost Hiker
Dee Pass to White Wash
The call came in as a 75 year old guy out looking for rocks and
hadn’t been seen for 5 hours. It was a hot, sunny day and he had no water.
The search area became the first few miles east of the Ruby Ranch Road from
the power lines south. He could be anywhere. But he left tracks.
1 T 15 found the RP and followed them to the Point Last Seen and
showed us a footprint. Three horiz bars in the heel print. Brent had his ATV
and got on the tracks following them, loosing them, finding them, following.
Brent had us page the DPS helicopter from Salt Lake City (ETA 1730 hrs). 1 T
10 Louis joined him on the old 4WD roads in the rugged Morrison Formation.
Tracking like hounds. About half the ground out there held tracks, the other
half was very hard pan stuff, about as trackable as slickrock.
GCSAR arrived on scene. Some went to Brent’s area at the head of
the tracks, some up to where the scent article was, the PLS and Centcom at
the top of a hill overlooking the search area. Nancy and Shalla got the
scent and and headed around to the head of the pack with Sam driving the
Bronco. By now the pack of searchers were on a long, straight sandy road
leading to the south towards the rim of White Wash. Tracking.
About this time, Rex got together a Plan B in case the search
looked like it would go into the night. We would search for 45 minutes by
helicopter, then call out alot other resources for the night shift. Rex
asked Emery County to send an ATV team. The Park Service was alerted.
Thinking about an all night encampment out there. Steve White would ground
crew the helo.
The subjects tracks turned off the sandy road and went down the
bluff into the bottom of White Wash, not too far up-wash from the "main camp
place" at the Dunes.
Marvin, an LA fireman retired in Cedar City, said he thot about
just stopping a couple of times. Then "I guess I walked in a few circles."
His tracks were very crooked for the first few miles. Then he found a
straight road. When he got to the edge of the mesa above White Wash he could
see the vehicles in camp. He made his way down the bluff where 2 guys from
Colorado were on their ATVs. These guys took him to their camp and put him
in their pickup truck for a ride back to the beginning.
Andrea and I were stopped along the main road. She had binoculars
up while I was converting some coordinates on the GPS. We had agreed to stop
every vehicle. One came by. Andrea spotted our subject in the truck. Cool.
We all went back to Base Camp. Summer and Paula tended to Marvin who was a
bit tired and dehydrated.
It was suggested that Rex buy us all dinner at Ray’s in Green
River. Went to the Shed instead.
Communications were generally good way out there. Talk around
channels of GCSAR and Car to Car worked mostly. Old SO seemed to hit OK
except in the low spots around Salt Wash.
Responders: Sam, Nancy Shalla woof, Brian, John, Lee, Jim G, Bego and
Andrea
Brent 1 T 15 and Louis 1 T 10
EMTs: Summer and Paula
Debrief of 04- 32: Carolyn Morris, wife of Marvin the lost, sent a
fine thank you card and some good cookies ! !
#03- 33 5- 9- 04 Sheriff’s Office
Assist
A man was murdered on Hwy 128, milepost 21. The alleged perp
reportedly split
in the victim's camper. An eyewitness alerted officials. Many law
enforcement types were called out for a manhunt. A couple of hours later,
Trooper Mecham found the vehicle near the Westwater exit, off in the trees
away from the road. A subject ran from the area and was apprehended.
In the initial stages of the man hunt, 1 T 4 called for 4WD
vehicles. Sam responded. 1 T 4 also called for the DPS helicopter. Bego
responded with the fuel truck (with permission from 1 T 9).
After the suspect was apprehended, the two of us took the Command
Post out to the scene with food and drink (and air conditioning) for the
Investigator Walker and his assistant, a Mr. White. Mr. White was very
helpful and polite all afternoon.
Responders: Sam, Bego, Rex, Jeff, Nancy
#04- 34 5- 9- 04 Overdue Biker
Porcupine Rim
She was located in town before we started out from the Shed.
Responders: Sam, John, TBerry, Margy GCSAR Training:
Sovereign Trail 05- 11- 04
Dale Parriott and Larry Schwarck toured us around parts of the
Sovereign Trail so we would know the location of the single track parts, 4
wheeler parts and road parts. Our concern is access to the various sections
of single track in case we need to use the wheel and litter for an
evacuation.
Thanks to these 2 guys. Ride With Respect is their "club." They’ve
built alot of trail, marked everything as what kind of vehicle is allowed
and put in alot of hard work to make this a fun area.
#04- 35 5- 13, 14- 04 The
Barbara Gilbert Search Arches National Park
Started out as an overdue hiker in the Broken / Tapestry Arch area,
quite near the campground. Usually, this type of call would be over in an
hour or so. Gary 221 went up there to see about it and things just kept
getting bigger.
Rangers gathered getting assignments from Ops. Nancy and Shalla
went up and worked 15 hours on the trail. Successful trailing by Shalla
considering the terrain and winding route. Tracking was difficult, even
hiking was difficult in some areas. She walked the slickrock areas by the
mile. Many searchers were out there with flashlights, some all the moonless
night. GCSAR sent out a page at 10:15 pm to inform everyone that a real page
would be happening at 5:30 am should the need arise.
At first light new teams of trackers went out. A bit later the Mesa
Verde helo came over and picked up Jim W and Frank to fly near the ground
trackers who were on her tracks, the few that there were. The helo flew each
drainage. It landed a few places to check out stuff. Where did she go?? Then
the DPS helicopter came into the scene. Larry Van Slyke, CAP pilot, who
straightened out CEM and Langley AFB singlehandedly, flew around the search
area also.
GCSAR contributed four 4 wheelers to come in from Yellow Cat and
Mollie Hogans, up into the northeast flank of the Anticline, towards upper
Cordova Canyon. We were to cut for sign from there over to the pipeline to
ensure she didn’t escape out towards the freeway. We deployed at "the tire"
on the Yellow Cat road and went around north of Mollie Hogans, past one of
the big muddy reservoirs. We were almost skunked by a rimrock but a weird
little track in the washes took us to the way across Salt Wash. The road up
hill, not on the map, passed an old prospect and we found a way (passing
right by a quarter corner brass benchmark) that connected to the Cordova
Canyon track. Cool. Flowers like crazy out there.
We parked the ATVs and started hiking south-southeast, cutting for
sign. Crossed the pipeline- no sign found. By then the trackers were over
the next ridge with the helicopter. We kept hearing "she’s headed towards
the mountains.’ So we joined up. They gave us some areas to clear. Moving
south along the rim. She had been missing for about 22 hours now.
Barbara was down in Salt Wash (when, how?) and got the attention of
a searcher who was passing by up on the rim. In a minute, the DPS helicopter
with Doug, Steve B, and Corky aboard, picked her up. Upon takeoff, she got a
"Park Pass" out of her purse and showed it to the gentlemen in the helo.
By this time there was a bunch of media interest and it got on the
10 o’clock news.
A well commanded search by Jim, Gary, Karen. By Friday lunchtime
the size and complexity of this search was expanding so fast that we were
1/2 an operational period short of becoming a full-blown ICS rig. The
population of the rescue village rose above 50. Logistics, Planning and
Finance were being worked up.
A lot of sleep forfeited. A lot of folks from the NPS Headquarters.
A lot of difficult tracking.
Responders: Shalla, Nancy, Bego, Lee, John, Brian, Frank, TBerry. 10
or so agencies, over 50 people.
Parts of Barbara’s interview by Galen Howell went like this: [Friday]-
...wrong turn at Tapestry Arch... decided to keep walking until reaching
campground or road... about 6 pm, went up on a high point to get a better
view... [before dark] traversed some ledges... awhile later, walked in reeds
and water. [At night]- ...shivered. [Saturday]- walked at first light to
warm up... took a nap in the first sunlight... saw helo, waved, helo left...
saw person on rim (thot it was her husband)... got picked up by helo. Called
it her "personal nightmare."
From her husband and group- Very appreciative of the quick response and many
resources.
The NPS Morning Report for Friday, May 21, 2004 Arches National Park (UT)
Lost Women Found Following Major SAR
Barbara Gilbert, 68, of Hemet, California, became lost near the
Devils Garden Campground on the afternoon of May 13th. She became separated
from the rest of her party while hiking on the Broken Arch Trail and was
found by searchers 22 hours later - thirsty, hungry and tired, but otherwise
in good condition. Park and Grand County SAR ground searchers, with the
assistance of a scent dog, found her footprints late in the evening of May
13th in rough, canyon-cut slickrock terrain and began tracking her.
Replacement ground searchers continued tracking her the next morning and
were joined later by a Civil Air Patrol plane and two helicopters, one from
Mesa Verde NP and the other from the Utah Department of Public Safety. Over
50 people were involved in the search from Arches, Canyonlands and Mesa
Verde and seven other federal, state and local agencies, including the U.S.
Geological Survey, Civil Air Patrol, BLM, Utah Highway Patrol, Grand County
Sheriffs Department and Search and Rescue, and Moab Valley Fire Protection
District. The incident received significant regional media interest.
[Submitted by Jim Webster, IC]
From Arches NP Superintendent Laura Joss:
Subject: Search and Rescue
I'd like to extend my thanks to everyone that assisted on the
successful search and rescue of Barbara Gilbert. We had a remarkable
response from staff, volunteers and partners, and I especially thank those
of you came in on your time off or worked overtime (and overnight!) to help.
Bego Gerhart of Grand County Search and Rescue spotted Mrs. Gilbert
at 1:10 pm in the bottom of Salt Wash, and she was fine, but tired, hungry
and thirsty. The family was extremely grateful for everyone's efforts and
extend their deepest appreciation to all.
Special thanks Jim Webster for his outstanding leadership
throughout and to Gary, Karen and everyone else who directly assisted Jim. I
apologize to all of you that I'm not listing individually, but your help is
appreciated.
I was impressed to see everyone's high level of professionalism
during this incident. You are all a great team !
By Lee Junge- Grand County Search and Rescue 1 T 815 -->
The May 14th search for a missing 68 year old woman in Arches N. P.
was a classic, by the book, made for training film search using multiple
agency resources.
SAR members responded to the Mollie Hogans area with four ATVs and
proceeded to the NP boundary. We formed a line and began walking, looking
for tracks.
Shortly after crossing the pipeline near Clover Canyon I came upon
small footprints of a person who was obviously confused or indecisive as the
tracks would go a short distance, then double back and go a short distance
in another direction, finally taking a southeast direction towards Salt
Wash.
The next minute, radio traffic from 1 T 819 said that tracks of the
missing person had been positively ID’d. A few minutes later 1 T 836 had the
lady in sight and it was all over except for a great ride back to the ATVs
in the UHP helicopter.
5- 30- 04 Hikers find Barbara’s route down off cliff
Starting at Wolfe Ranch cabin we hiked up Salt Wash. Sounds easy
but for the riparian zones choked with tamarisk, willow and other
impenetrable shrub thickets. Got scratched up a bunch crashing thru. We
crossed Freshwater at its mouth, then Salt Wash to the east side. Found old
boot prints on the game trails but wrong size, wrong age. Crossed back west
on a well mudded in beaver dam. After awhile we found the route up on to the
high mud terrace that is the general valley fill level. Salt Wash is incised
into this old flood plain 50 or so feet.
And there they were. Tracks that looked to be the right size and
the right narrowness coming down the game trail into the lowland reeds and
thickets. Even tho the tracks had 2 weeks and a rain there was little doubt.
They were also the only tracks around.
It looked like there were tracks going both ways north of this
point. Continuing on, her tracks were easy to find especially whenever they
crossed sandy washes. About a mile up valley there appeared to be a way up
the cliff. Tracks. We carried on towards the point found, about a mile
further up the wash. It looked like there were only northbound tracks going
that way.
We concluded to go back a bit and try the rim out. Again, tracks
coming down the talus. It’s all steep talus except for the last 20 feet
which is a short, low angle crack. Anyone who is determined to get off the
rim could scramble down easily. Tracks on top, coming north from the
Freshwater Canyon area. From the top there is no hint of a route down until
one is standing right there.
The top of Barbara’s route down is at 0627365 x 4290254. The top of
the Freshwater Canyon route is 0627837 x 4289326 and is also very
nondescript coming at it from the top .
#04- 36 5- 15- 04 Overdue Biker
Kane Springs Canyon
This gal was overdue and that worried her companions cuz of
some medical consideration. We got as far as the Deputy when the gal showed
up.
Responders: Sam, Nancy, Bego, Frank, Barbara, Lee, Brian
#04- 37 5- 15- 04 Fall
Poison Spider
Very confusing 3rd party info. Man fallen? Involved a small
child??
A small child had fallen out of the kiddie carrier and gashed his
forehead. 10- 22.
Responders: Sam, Bego, Barbara, Brian, Jon F, Nancy
GCSAR River Rescue Training 5- 22- 04
Nancy 822:
"Killed both PWC's right at the beginning at Negro Bill. Stashed
them and went on up to just below Big Bend (just above nude beach). Some
people drove up so that there would be people available in case of a
call-out. Good instruction on things in the river and what causes
them.(smooth spots, ripples, waves, angled waves, holes, etc.)(with pictures
in the sand). Almost everybody drove the boat for long enough and through
varied enough water to get a good idea of it. Practiced with throw bags.
Chatted a lot. Laughed and had fun. Learned a lot. Headed back to the boat
dock. Boat got caught in a heavy micro burst. Hitched up the PWC's, one on
each side of the boat. Talked about the next meeting/picnic. Loaded up the
boat and PWC's. Came back to the shed, cleaned up the gear and fixed one of
the PWC's.(loose wire) Home."
#04- 38 5- 23- 04 ATV Rollover
Fins and Things
Adult male with possible broken back from ATV crash. Later we
were told that there was also a 5 ? yr old male involved. The kid’s helmet
saved his life for sure.
Farmington Air Care ETA was an hour and a half. No said 502. St
Mary’s CareFlight said can’t come then relayed an ETA of 30 min, yes said
502.
Responders: Nancy, Sam, Frank, John, Lee
Mount Rainier National Park (WA) Fatal Climbing
Accident
On June 3rd, four rangers climbed to Liberty Ridge on Mount
Rainier in response to a climbing accident involving two municipal
firefighters. The accident occurred at the site of another fatal climbing
accident two weeks ago. One climber was killed; the second sustained
injuries to his hand. Both were airlifted from the mountain with the
assistance of an Aerostar B-3 contract helicopter and a Blackhawk from the
Oregon Army National Guard. Steve Klump was IC.
Salt Lake Tribune 25 May 04
Associated Press
An advisory board is looking at taxing cars to help pay for
search and rescue operations. A state fund was created by the 1997
Legislature to help counties pay for searches. The fund started with a one-
time grant of $80,000. The rest of the money comes from a portion of fees
for hunting and fishing licenses and boat and off-road-vehicle
registrations.
But the advisory board that determines how the state fund is
disbursed is hoping to change how the fund receives money and to provide
more of it. The board said at least 34 % of the searches and rescues, are
for hikers and mountain bikers. So, the board is advocating taxing cars,
pickups and SUVs but not recreational vehicles. A 60 cent tax could provide
$300,000 for the fund.
#04- 39 5- 31- 04 Climber Falls
The Portal
This doctor was rock climbing up a crack with all the proper
rope and gear and his son belaying. He fell, pulling 3 pieces of protection
(I heard, is it true?) out of the rock. The particular cliff he was on is
composed of somewhat soft sandstone He hit a ledge then tumbled down another
30 feet. Unconscious for a bit and hurt.
The first person to get to the scene was Galen A225. He said it
would be a low angle scree evac with the litter on belay. We soon agreed
that it was pretty darned steep and loose for low angle. It soon became the
Park Service personnel doing most of rigging with the rest of us helping and
doing the rest of the scene. We were also dealing with Care Flight who was
given erroneous coordinates !!
At this point, it came over the radios that a bus had been hijacked
up on I-70. Sheesh !
We were wondering how to get the litter down the steeper, looser
road cut part at the bottom when Aug mentioned the Ladder Truck at the Fire
Department. Good idea. Out they came. Corky stuck the tip of the ladder in
the bottom of the gully, above the cut part. We attached the litter to the
ladder and the patient was lowered right on to the ambulance gurney down on
the road. Slick. Closest thing to a short haul we’ve done in 2 years.
Meanwhile, CareFlight had landed at AMH until we were ready for it
to land on the Highway, well away from all those powerlines. He flew over,
we loaded the patient and off they went.
A short debrief happened at the GCSAR Shed. "Another well done
interagency outing."
Thanks to all the traffic control people on Hwy 279. We had it
closed for awhile.
Responders: GCSAR- Frank, Sam, Nancy, Bego, Aug, Dave, Barb, Jim,
Brian
EMT- Jeff Davis, Michelle Steele
Himself: Larry Van Slyke
NPS- Galen, Jason, Sarah, Glenn, Mark, Alyssa
MFD- Corky, Joe, TJ, Chris, Woody
#04- 40 6- 1- 04 Biker Down SRBT
This guy came down from way up and crashed hard. Wow.
We belayed the wheeled litter down the slickrock (interesting
vector problem) and on out to the Ambulance not far away. A perfect use for
the rope in the Ranger Rock Pack.
Responders: Frank, Bego, Sam, Jim, Brian, Dave, Barbara (digital
pictures)
Shawn and Zane (remember Doug’s gift to him at the last
SO party?)
EMTs: James, Summer
#04- 41 6- 5- 04 Lost Bikers
Poison Spider
These two started out to do Poison Spider up to the Portal
Trail and down. Got lost. Called on their cell phone, said they had seen
town at one point. They were going to stick it out for the night at 10 pm.
They had a bit of water and no matches or extra clothes. They called back at
midnight for us to come get them.
We sent up 3 ATVs and the Bronco and found them on top, west of
"high speed mesa," in the corrugations. You know. It was a 4 hour deal,
usually 5 or 6 when we go up there. Big moon.
Responders: Bego, Sam, Shawn, John, Jim, Lee
A short article about GCSAR was submitted to the Utah Sheriff’s
Association newsletter.
----------------------------
Cooperation is the thorough conviction that nobody can get there unless
everybody gets there.
----------------------------
Discipline is not the enemy of Enthusiasm.
GCSAR Picnic
To get to the picnic we received coordinates to some place in
town where there was a brown bag with picnic things in it, then coordinates
to the picnic site. Cool.
Fun... and games.
Lee 8 one 5 cooked some mean burgers.
#04- 42 6- 9- 04 Overdue ATVs Book Cliffs
Paged 3 times.
Over by the Colorado State Line, two UT State weed guys were to ATV
up one road and down another. They spent the night out lost.
They were found in the morning by Uintah County Natural Resources
folks headed toward Vernal about half an hour after they were reported
missing.
Mesa County SAR was to come into the search area from the east.
Responders: Lee, Rex, Frank, Sam, Barb, Jeff
Rodeo Parking and Parade-
They say this could be the last rodeo cuz it’s not paying for itself. Mutton
busting was the best.
#04- 43 6- 14- 04 Biker Down
Poison Spidy
Couple from Belgium. He fell down and gashed his knee. She
walked down to the parking lot and tried to drive their little rental car up
to him. Part way, no way. They called 911.
We responded with 2 Rangers, 2 GCSAR members and 2 EMTs. The new
tool. Worked fine.
The lowering of the litter rack on the Ranger is a plus.
However, what equipment would have gone out if we had a second
medical call-out at the same time.??
Responders: Bego, Lee EMTs: Jeff, Paula, Camille
"Jim Gostlin in Rapid 10" Cataract Canyon.
Elegant river photo at <riverbound.org>. Have a look
#04- 44 6- 18- 46 Overdue Biker The Poison Spidy- Golden Spike- Portal
Trail Triangle.
Two bikers came down the Portal Trail while a third "took off"
to the NW, presumably to connect with Golden Spike and on out that way.
There was still alot of daylight left when the radio traffic
started on new SO channel. Deputies were talking to the RP and scouting both
parking lots. This time interval gave us a half hour to get ready to respond
to the page. Rare and Nice.
The Dad finally decided to call Search and Rescue. We were headed
to each trailhead with ATV groups and the Bronco when 10-22d.
The guy had turned around. Later, he lost a wheel so he had to hike
with his bike, then hitched a ride with a lone jeep coming down. Good thing.
He was pretty beat up from dehydration.
Responders: Nancy, Frank, Jim, John, Sam, Bego, Aug
NPS Morning Report:
Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks (CA)
Rescue of Injured Employee
A member of the park’s rare plant crew who injured her knee while
crossing a creek in Tehipite Valley, a remote area of Kings Canyon, was
rescued by helicopter last week. Due to a lack of adequate landing zones,
the park’s contract helicopter short-hauled ranger/park medic Dave Walton to
the site, then short-hauled Walton and the injured woman a short distance to
a point where the helicopter could land. She was then brought on board and
flown to Cedar Grove. This was the park’s first operational short haul,
having just finished all the requirements for the program only a day prior
to the incident. Cedar Grove area ranger Erin Warrem was incident commander.
Big Bend National Park Two Missing
Hikers Rescued
A search was begun for two overdue hikers on Monday,
May 31st. The hikers had set out on a day hike through Cattail Canyon on
Sunday, but had also left a note at their campsite asking that help be sent
if they failed to return by 10 a.m. on Monday. Park ranger/pilot Nick
Herring, flying the park’s Cessna Turbo 206, quickly located one of the two
hikers, who was seen signaling with a space blanket from atop a 700 foot
pour-off. A Texas DPS helicopter was called in to assist with area
reconnaissance and to establish communications via a radio drop. Both hikers
reported that they were in good condition, but were ledged out and could not
move up or down the canyon. The helicopter transported two rangers and
technical rescue gear to the area. The rangers and hikers spent the night in
the canyon and were met by a second team of rescuers coming up from Oak
Springs the next morning. The four rescuers and two hikers continued down
Cattail Canyon and safely arrived at the trailhead around 10 a.m. Ranger
Kathi Hambly was IC.
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (AZ,UT)
Technical Rescue of Injured Climber
The park received a 911 call at 7:45 a.m. on May 22nd,
advising that a 31-year-old woman had fallen while climbing and was stranded
on a 100-foot cliff above the lake in Warm Springs Canyon within Bullfrog
Subdistrict. The caller reported that the woman was complaining of ankle
pain, but that she evidently hadn’t suffered any life-threatening injuries.
Six rangers responded: Tim Sveum (IC), Greg Kouns (Ops), and Jason Bauwens,
Laurie Axelsen, Andrew Fitzgerald and Shuni Roth. A county deputy joined
them. A Classic Lifeguard helicopter was used to transport them and their
gear to the top of the 300-foot cliff. The SAR team set up a bolted anchor
system to lower rescuers and a litter down to the woman, who complained of
back, ankle and wrist pain. She was lowered to a park boat, taken to a
landing zone, and airlifted to a hospital.
Lava Beds National Monument (CA) Children
Found Following Major SAR
Kyra Young and Timothy Ellinwood, both 11, became separated from
their school group and family in Catacombs Cave on the afternoon of May
27th. The children became lost and exhausted at the far end of the cave,
where they remained while awaiting rescue. When the children were found 26
hours after the initial report, they were cold, tired, and hungry, but
otherwise in good condition. The area where they were found is in a remote
section of cave not shown on most cave maps and beyond a small passage not
accessible to the average adult.
Catacombs Cave includes complex branches and passageways with a
total traversable length of about 6,900 feet. The ceiling height of the cave
ranges from 12 feet to less than a foot, and rough, sharp lava makes many
sections extremely difficult to access. The sound dampening nature of the
lava hampered the search and contributed to the delayed discovery time. Park
and Siskiyou County Sheriffs SAR personnel, with the assistance of local
cavers, searched the cave three times before locating the children. Over 75
people were involved in the search effort on the surface and in Catacombs
and surrounding caves.
Grand Canyon National Park (AZ)
Passenger Jumps To Death From Helicopter
A passenger on board a commercial air tour helicopter flying at
about 4,000 feet opened the door while in mid-flight and jumped to his death
just before noon on Thursday, June 10th. The man, who was in his mid-20s,
landed near White's Butte, about two miles northwest of Hermit's Rest. The
pilot and five remaining passengers on the Papillon Airways sightseeing tour
returned to the Tusayan Airport, shaken but unharmed. Rangers attempted to
recover the body that day, but high winds, steep terrain and the remote
location hindered their efforts. A recovery team was flown to the site the
next morning to investigate, document the incident, and recover his remains.
Although the death appears to be a suicide, a joint investigation by the
NPS, NTSB, FAA and sheriffs office is currently underway. Hunter Bailey, IC
GCSAR Training 6- 24- 04
At the Fire Training Tower, TBerry and Frank set up two rappel
stations and Bego the climbing wall. Good training on how to rig a building
with anchors. Rigged separate belay lines. Dave used a Grigri and Jon Fuller
did his very first rappel. Tying knots. Matt and John on the climbing wall.
Fun evening, even the wasps.
Saturday saw Jim Gostlin at the Fire Tower learning the Grigri.
Rappelled. Belayed a leader fall.
Below is part of a page I saw in some LE mag in the S.O. [June 2004] --->
Retention Levels- [ from: Center for Excellence in Teaching, Johns
Hopkins Univ. ]
10% of what we read (looks bad for Silt)
20% of what we hear
30% of what we see
40% of what we see and hear
60% of what
we discuss with others
70% of what we experience
personally
80% of what we discover and solve individually or
in small groups
95% of what we teach to someone else
"While the lecture process has merit in ensuring the presentation of
material, it proves the least effective method for teaching adults."
[ Nels Niemi, famous explorer, reminds us to "see one, do one, teach one.’ ]
"Officers must know why they are learning the material,
which, in turn, instructors should express in objectives that provide the
training’s purpose and expected outcomes. Training objectives have three
components: 1) a statement of what the officer is expected to do, 2) a
statement of the quality or level of performance deemed acceptable, and 3) a
statement of the conditions under which the officer must perform. Officers
also need to use their own experiences as a basis for leaning. Here is where
the move from the traditional pedagogical instruction method (the one way
transfer of knowledge from the instructor to the student) must take place.
The andragogical style, which promotes the mutual involvement of the student
and instructor in the learning process to help enhance the learning
environment, should replace the pedagogical instruction method. Allowing
officers to learn by observing and interaction with others and by giving
them opportunities to practice what they have learned further enhances the
learning environment, providing immediate positive feed
back............................." [and]
"Providing officers with printed material clearly outlining and
explaining information that easily measures knowledge, comprehension, and
application prior to formal training allows from more class time to progress
instruction into areas that encourage analysis, synthesis, and evaluation of
the topic. "
[trying to relocate the whole article..]
"Here are rocks and no water....."
At present, Flaming Gorge is storing 2.7 million acre-feet of water
which is 69% of its full capacity. For comparison, Lake Powell is currently
storing approximately 10.6 million acre-feet which is only 43% of its full
capacity. The water surface elevation of Lake Powell is 3586.8 feet above
sea level which is 113.2 feet below its full pool elevation.
ftp://ftp.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/support/snow/snowpack_maps/colorado_river/
wy2004/cosn0405.gif
On the wettest (green) part of the above snowpack map, the San Juan
Basin, the San Juan has already dropped to 500 cfs with little chance of a
rise before monsoon flashfloods.
How 'bout that Colorado River Compact?
Friday, July 30, at the Colorado Water Workshop at Western State
College in Gunnison, several members of the Upper Colorado River Commission
will be on hand to consider and discuss the once-unimaginable possibility
that the drought could, in the near future, precipitate (as it were) a Lower
Basin call on the river. For more about that, see the Water Workshop website
at www.western.edu/water.
#04- 45 6- 30 and 7- 1- 04 Missing
Person Lion’s Park, next to the Colorado River
Two guys stopped at Lion’s Park to swim in the river. The vehicle
owner went back to his new jeep. His buddy came a moment later but he was
covered with mud so the vehicle owner told him to go wash off before getting
in his new Jeep. The guy went back to the river and didn’t come back for
some (?) minutes. The vehicle owner then went into town for a Slushie,
returned to Lion’s Park, waited a bit (?) more, then went looking. His buddy
was gone........
Six hours later the vehicle owner called 911 cuz he couldn’t find
his friend and was worried that he might have drowned in the river. Nancy and search dog emeritus Shalla sniff around for 2 hours.
We tried to put our river rescue boat in but the motor wouldn’t behave.
(Turns out the throttle linkage was messed up, but it worked 5 weeks ago).
No go for us and it got dark. The NPS brought their mini-snout out but it
was dark for them too. Operations would resume at 0600 hrs.
So we did. The NPS brought their diesel jet boat down. The Command
Post was parked. Moab Fire Dept Divers came on scene. Everyone was getting
wound up for a day in / on the river.
Something seemed odd. But then a clue appeared.
Curt 1 T 4 went to interview Justin Maxwell, head chef at Red
Cliffs Lodge. Justin had picked up the missing guy who was hitchhiking back
to Denver. Justin gave him $50 and some shoes.
After awhile the guy called MPD from Denver.
As 805 said, we were looking in the river for a hitchhiker.
Responders: Frank, Bego, Nancy, Shalla, Brian, John, Sam, Lee,
Barbara, Kevin, Aug
NPS: Lloyd Holyoak, Glenn Sherrill and a
third guy
MFD: TJ, John F, Kurt K, Joe W, Curt S,
Corky
And: 1 T 1, 1 T 2, 1 T 4, 13B62, A 220. Mr.
103 stopped by for a free drink.
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