OPERATIONS NOTES:
Wear a Helmet
Wear a helmet
Respond on the radio when responding to the shed so the OIC knows who
is coming, when.
--That may take a bit of patience. Within 10 minutes?? Cell phone the OIC
usually works.
--Helps the OIC to know what talent is coming, what vehicles, what
geographical knowledge, etc
--"It’s a problem when you don’t let the OIC know you are coming." Rex
Radios: Push PTT, wait 2 seconds to talk. Wait for repeater to click off.
Monitor SO2, GCSAR always.
CLEAN THE TRASH AND STUFF FROM every VEHICLE YOU OPERATE.
_____________________
XX-XX 9-5-05 Agency Assist San
Juan SAR and 1T502 Behind the Rocks, White Knuckle
Coordinates for White Knuckle Hill were given to CareFlight. Got
502 to turn on their GPS so we could know where they were relative to the
accident. Well’s book and the NGS Moab South map were handy. San Juan SAR
rode their ATVs in from the Hwy. Helmets???
Jeep rollover at the bottom of White Knuckle Hill. Head injury so
helo paged. CareFlight flew right over them. The red jeep being looked for
was on it’s top, hence, not red from the air. No other vehicles in the
party. Also, the people were stashed under a tree off to the side and
apparently didn’t jump up to signal the helo.
Eventually, everyone converged on the scene. CareFlight flew the
injured Colorado Firefighter to Grand Jct.
Responders: Zane 1 T 10 handed it to Bego who
was stationed at the beginning of the dirt.
EMTs: Jeff, Ashley, Paula
Of note: San Juan SAR has recently bought 3 Polaris Rangers with the
enclosed cab !
05-69 9-7-05 Lost Biker Klondike
Bluffs
Louis went out to talk to the RP and paged us. Other people soon
found the subject. 10-22.
Responders: Bego, Sam, Jim, Mike, Nancy, Margy,
Paula
05-70 9-10-05 Girl Standing in River on
Bridge Pylon - at Midnight in the Rain
Hmmm..
Yup, intoxicated. Went down to the river to go swimming in the dark
and heavy rain. Went swimming twice. Made it out to the bridge pylon. We
were paged. As we were responding, she swam to shore.... and Zane. She
spent the night in the sober-up spot.
Responders: Rex, Jim, Duckie, Cody, Bego
05-71 9-13-05 Broken Ankle Steel
Bender
ATV accident. 4WD ambulance and Rangers went to get.
Responders: Rex, Sam, John, Jim, Lee, Mike,
Cody, Duckie, Jeff A
05-72 9-13-05
Two jeeps overdue from Steel Bender. 10-22 minutes later.
Responders: Sam, Jim, Barbara, Margy, Mike,
James Mon, Duckie
05-73 9-14-05 Dog Stuck in Pothole
SRBT
Reported yesterday as a dog in a pothole, other dog circling around
top of pothole barking. Today we went and got the dog out. Randy knew this
dog pretty well. Tom Schellenberger too.
Responders: Jim Dog and Cat D.V.M., Randy
Zimmerman Animal Control, Bego, Kris
05-74 9-20-05 Overdue Mtn Biker Amasa Back
(Cliffhanger)
Overdue biker. His friends went looking and scouting around
possible campsites where he could be. Last seen up the trail a bit a 6 pm.
1 T 15 went out to the start of the trail with the RP. No one there
so GCSAR was paged.
Soon, voice contact was made with the subject. He was not very far
up the road on the other side of the valley. RP went over with a
flashlight. We were 10-22d.
Responders: Rex, Sam, Cody, Duckie, Mike, Lee,
Matt, James Mon
_____________________
From the Kolb brothers after floating down the Green and Colorado Rivers:
To desilt water on 1911 trip, "...we bruised the leaf of a prickly
pear cactus, and placed it in a bucket of water. This method, repeated two
or three times, usually clears the muddiest water." You can see this in
action in the color film from the 1938 French kayaker expedition.
Genevieve goes walking off through the desert, carrying a knife and
wearing heavy gloves. She finds a suitable prickly pear, and cuts several
pieces off using a knife and a fork. Then she threads them onto a stick
and puts them in a bucket of water. Et Voila! Water for tea. It's also
described in the journals. Of course, we've probably all heard of this all
our lives, I know I have. I always thought it's easier just to drink the
water, silt and all. The bible says every man must eat a peck of dirt in
their lifetimes, after all!
Roy Webb, C.A. Special Collections Marriott Library University of Utah
Salt Lake City, Utah
_____________________
Definition of Survival: Staying warm and dry until found.
<www. theozarks.com/Children.htm> or <www.sarbc.org/litw3.html>
9 Rules of Survival for Children 1) Stay together 2) Stay in One
Place- Hug A Tree 3) Keep Warm including cover your Head 4) Find a Cozy
Waiting Place, not a Cozy Hiding Place 5) Put out Something Bright 6) Look
BIGGER for Searchers 7) Do Not Lie on the Ground, it’s Cold 8) Do Not Eat
Anything You are not Sure of. 9) Stay Away from Large or Fast Water
Children’s Survival Kit
1) ZipLok Bag- as container for the rest and use as a cup.
2) A snack, something to eat. Also in a plastic bag.
3) A whistle... to attract searchers TO you.
4) Orange plastic signal Flag- 6 inches by 5 feet.
5) Reflector for sending signals.
6) Large strong trash bag to make a rain poncho.
How to React if Your Child is Lost in the Woods-
<www.ehow.com/how_12576_react-child-lost.html>
Brennan Hawkins parent’s reaction
<abcnews.go.com/GMA/Moms/story?ID=981441&page=1>
Hug A Tree programs- there are several sites, here is one
<www.rcmp.ca/ccaps/hug_e.htm>
and, most importantly,
<www.abctooncenter.com/lost.htm>
_____________________
05-75 9-23-05 Seizures SRBT near
Tip Over Challenge
30 Hummers........male having seizures....... they brought him
out..... 10- 22
Responders: Rex, Jim, Cody
05-76 9-24-05 Mtn Biker Bonk
Courthouse Tower
Biker went over the handlebars and really conked the helmeted heat.
We sent a Ranger and two 4 wheelers. EMS took a street ambulance.
The exact location of the patient wasn’t becoming apparent soon enuff. Way
tons of radio traffic. EMS got Careflight coming. Weird coordinates given,
like, between Taiwan and China.
Responders: Nancy, Lee, James McM, Cody, Duckie,
Jeff 2A89
EMTs: Michelle, Cindy, Season
05-77 9-24-05 River Rescue Colorado
River Rocky Rapid
Check this out --> People on a river raft, floating and drinking.
They stop at Sorrel River Ranch to use the phone cuz it’s near dark. They
pull the boat up on shore a bit, don’t tie it up and leave one girl passed
out (ETOH on board) on the boat.
Something causes the boat to float away in the night. She is still
passed out.
A mile downstream is Rock Rapid. The boat enters the rapid a bit
left of center and soon high centers on a rock. She is still passed out.
It’s an hour plus before we find her. Many people, many lights,
looking, looking.
A bit later, Mike at the oars with Jeff Arbon and Ron Thomas, row
his 12 foot boat out to her in the middle of the river. She looks up, sees
their lights and says, "What the f___." And that’s the first thing she
remembers. By the time they launched the boat everyone with big lights had
converged on the shoreline at the Rapid and there was "plenty" of light
for Mike to see. Engine 2 was ready to pluck her up with the ladder
(wouldn’t that be something...)
Mike and crew transport her and the boat to the landing at Rocky
Rapid.
From the start, the objective was to get many people with as many
big candlepower lights to search the first 5 miles, especially the first
two miles, of river below Sorrel. The distribution of lots of light. Find
that boat ! ! And hope for the best.
The fact that the boat hung up on that rock may have saved her
life. The boat could have floated 1 more minute downstream, flipped or
pinned on the rock wall forming the right side of the rapid.... Imagine
coming to as you are dumped in a river, whizzing by one foot from a rock
wall but you don’t know it cuz it’s dark, cold and wet and confused. Woo
Responders: Nancy, Bego, Frank, Sam, Lee, Jeff,
Rex, Duckie, Cody, Jon, Paula, Margy, Shawn, Jim,
Matt, Mike and boater friend Ron Thomas
Moab Fire Dept: Aron, Corky "Wesley" Brewer and Engine 2
State Parks: Jeff Arbon and boat
05-78 9-26-05 ATV Rollover Poison
Spider
This 66 year old guy from Iowa flipped over backwards and the ATV
landed square on him.
His son had to leave him there in the hot sun, ride his ATV back
down to the car and drive almost to Hwy 191 to get a cell phone signal.
Then he returned to his Dad. Dad was pretty hurt.
We didn’t have much exact location information when we started up
the trail. Then 13B61 said he had arrived on scene. We soon arrived.
We summoned a helicopter cuz his injuries were pretty bad and we
didn’t feel he could tolerate the ride down in our Ranger in a litter.
CareFlight in GJ and Page Life Guard not available. So Care Flight 3 out
of Durango came over. He was flown to Grand Junction.
He died in the night of a torn aorta. How sad.
Responders: Bego, Duckie, Lee, Aug, Sam, Mike,
Jeff Arbon
EMTs: Jeff, Ashley, Season
05-79 9-29-05 Mtn Biker Ankle
Sovereign Trail
She fell off her bicycle and broke her ankle. Her internist husband
made a splint out of the front forks of his bike. An award-winning splint
it was.
Louis led the pack going in. Lots of standing water, washouts and
mud in the area from the last rains. She was up on the single track a mile
but we got our Ranger in there anyway. Packaged her up and then took a
short cut out to a different dirt road. Beautiful afternoon.
Responders: Bego, John, Lee, James McM, Cody,
Sam Louis 1 T 8
EMTs: Paula, Mrs and Mr Summer (James) Jackson
05-80 9-30-05 Mtn Biker Wrist
SRBT
This guy broke his wrist out by Mile 7.0 on the SRBT. We responded
with the Litter Ranger and the 3 seat Ranger. He was driven back to the
parking lot in the passenger seat with sling and prop.
Responders: Bego, Cody, Sam, Margy, TBerry,
Duckie
EMTs: James, Chad
05-81 9-30-05 Overdue Hiker The
Wetlands
Mary, from Sweden, hiked into the Wetlands from the main parking
lot and hadn’t been seen for an hour and a half. That didn’t seem right to
her waiting friend and he called the police.
We sent several people into the trail systems that go to the power
line, the Colorado River, the Observation Hut and east to 5th West and the
Parkway trail system. Others went around to Stewart Lane, Portal Vista
subdivision, 4th North.
Mary had hiked thru to Stewart Lane and onward to the City Park.
Then over to the MIC. She got a ride back to the Wetlands parking lot.
Shalla had secured a scent item and was hot on the trail. Urban
Search.
Responders: Bego, Nancy, Shalla, Lee, Duckie,
John, Cody, Sam, 1 T Eric 15, 2 T 10
05-82 10-3-05 Mtn Biker Down
Porcupine Rim
This was one of those where the information on the exact location
of the subject didn’t come together for a long time. Some distances were
given in kilometers. Were they on the single track or the jeep trail? How
far? He had a serious back injury, possible ribs and wrist and other
hurts.
It was a group of 16 or 17 riders coming down from the mountain and
spread out. One person in the group but way out ahead didn’t even know one
of his friends was hurt.
Rex sent ATVs in from the top with 502. Louis and Frank covered
interviewing people as they came down the singletrack to Hwy 128.
CareFlight was launched "toward Moab." The info was still so sketchy we
guessed at where he could be and gave those coordinates. Turns out, those
coords were just a 1000 feet off. Not bad.
Providentially, 502, GCSAR and the Helo arrived at the same time.
Problem solved.
Responders: Rex, Cody, Duckie, Sam, Lee,
Barbara, Dave, Frank, Bego
EMTs: Jeff, ?, ?
05-83 10-3-05 Lost and Injured Motorcyclists
These guys from AZ started out from Big Mesa CG to ride Gold Bar,
Golden Spike and down Poison Spider. They were caught out after dark.
Several had crashed and one guy "broke" his elbow. They cell phoned for
help and gave coordinates.
At 11 pm we arrived on scene with the Ranger and 502. They were
instantly energized. The elbow guy had it wrapped. What they needed mostly
was guidance so we led them out to the parking lot. They were grateful.
Responders: Bego, Lee, Mike, Dave, Barbara
05-84 10-6-05 ATV Over the Edge
Kane Creek
She lay crumpled up at the bottom of a seventy foot steep rubble
and talus filled slope. Her ATV was a few feet away, basically unhurt. Her
leg looked awful. We put CareFlight on stand-by.
She was very brave as we fixed her up. The litter and wheel roll
out was short but steep up to the road.
It’s interesting to see how EVERY body lightens up a bit when the
morphine flows.
Responders: Rex, Frank, Bego, Sam, Aug, Lee
EMTs: Terri, James
St. Mary’s CareFlight Helicopter - Helicopter Behavior CME credits
Marsha the flight nurse and Joe the pilot.
What a pair. The complete helo evening ending with the Terrain
Board and scenarios.
Again, alot about the WIND and communication. NLET is the preferred
final approach channel.
05-85 10-6, 8-05 Search for Missing Man
San Juan County
87 yr old man walks away from his car in the bottom of Cottonwood
Canyon, south of Dugout Ranch. Maybe he wanted to. Nancy talked with his
people. Shalla searched. Cody covered ground.
Responders: Nancy, Shalla, Margy, Cody
05-86 10-9-05 Broken Sand Buggies
Golden Spike
Dark. Three sand buggies, 2 of which were broken. Nine people not
so prepared for a night out.
They called for a ride out. No one hurt, just a ride out. We said
we don’t give rides, please call a tour company.
John Marshall is a tour company. In he went in the Mog and the
Bronco went to be trail guide.
Cody drove the Hi Bronco for a while with Lee spotting. Up in there
somewhere, they jumped in to the Mog. The 9 were picked up. Another 8 hour
Golden Spike tour.
Responders: John, Cody, Lee, Sam, Jim, Nancy,
Matt, Cody
05-87 10-13-05 Fallen Hikers
Bartlett Wash
Two hikers got up on top of some slickrock domes and started down a
gully. At one point they jumped down a short cliff that they couldn’t get
back up. Oh-oh. They continued down to a point where they HAD to jump 30
feet to the streambed.
One guy injured his ankle / foot and the other crunched a
vertebrae. The ankle guy made it out to the vehicle and onward to help.
Louis 1 T 8 and the RP made it back in ahead of us and he told us
the correct turns to make to get there. Thru Bartlett Wash and down a hill
that took "guchi" (Rex) to get up on the way out.
It was a short half mile hike to the Px with the litter and wheel.
Responders: Bego, Rex, Lee, Mike, Cody, Duckie,
Sam, Kris
EMTs: Jeff, Margy, Cindy
05-88 10-15-05 ATV Off Cliff Fins
and Things
A 20 year old female and her ATV went off the side of a fin and
landed on rock 15 feet below, injuring both her legs pretty badly. Her
friends and boyfriend were right there.
13B62 took the EMTs in and 1 T 8 went also. We came with the
Ranger.
It took quite a while to package her up. Her friends were great
help. Nov 1 update- Gets out of hospital Fri, can put tiny bit of weight
on left leg, none on right for two months, boyfriend still very "in there"
with her, will call us when she comes back down
Responders: Bego, Lee, Jim, Sam, Matt
EMTs: Kris, Summmer, Phil
05-89 10-17-05 Biker Down
Paged out as a broken knee out where the SRBT and Hells Revenge
cross. Well, that happens in several places. Luckily, the jeep party that
phoned this in gave coordinates.
So we put the coordinates
into a GPS and pressed the GOTO button. We hurried out but by the time we
got nearby, the subject was riding out in a jeep.
Responders: Rex, Bego, Lee, James McM
EMTs: Jeff, Paula, Ashley
05-90 10-21-05 Base Jumper Crash
Portal, South Side
Pretty weird place to jump.
A "wall strike" due to twisted parachute lines. He fell to the
steep talus sustaining internal injuries.
The rescue happened on one of those steep talus slopes where
everything moves. Every step involves loose dirt or rocks.
We dug a level place for the litter. Frank rigged a rappel rack
belay for the litter. We had a 300 foot rope. Down the loose hillside we
went with half dozen jumpers helping out. 300 feet was just right. After
untying the litter, we walked down the short power line road.
Responders: Rex, Bego, Frank, Dave, Barbara,
Lee, Jon, James McM
NPS: Jeff Webb litter tender, Glenn Sherrill
05-91 10-22-05 ATV Over Cliff White
Wash Sand Dunes
This guy went up a gentle slope at a high rate of speed only to
find out it had a cliff on the other side. No time to stop. Airborne. Ker-plunk.
13B62 responded from Bartlett, 1 T Brent from Green River.
Ambulance 502 responded and so did we. CareFlight was paged and given
coordinates by 13B62 over the UHP- Cedar Mountain repeater.
Big blowing sand when the helo arrived. The cell phone was used to
communicate with dispatch.
Responders: Nancy, Bego, Lee, Mike, Dave,
Barbara
EMTs: Kris, Jeff, Paula
05-92 10-22-05 ATV rollover Moab Rim Trail
We were paged and quickly learned the rollover subject had made it
down to the parking lot. 10- 22.
Responders: Nancy, Bego, Lee, Dave, Barbara,
Jim, Margy, Mike
05-93 10-22-05 Overdue Hikers Steel
Bender Trail
Shawn Chapman gets an atta boy for securing a scent article for
Shalla right at the beginning of this search. People and ATVs started in
from both ends of the Flat Pass Trail and 2 went walking down Mill Creek
from the upper end
Shalla the Search Dog was on full tilt boogie K whopper double
rollerskate. Unmistakable trail- woof. Altho Cody and Jim found the
missing pair, Shalla would have in short order.
Responders: Nancy, Shalla, Cody, Duckie, Dave,
Barbara
05-94 10-23-05 Base Jumper Crash Echo
Campground Kane Springs
Another "wall strike" and falling, falling. This guy broke his
ankle.
Responders: Nancy, Bego, Dave, Barbara, Jim,
Lee, Mike, Margy, Jon, cody, Duckie, James Mon
EMTs: Jeff, Paula, Megan
_____________________
People in charge.... "are not alot of fun when they think knowledge is
power." FEMA guy
Earl Perry, famous river runner and ranger up ta Dinosaur NP was told this
by his superintendent: "Boy, there’s dumb, ‘n’ hell, we all do dumb,
cain’t hardly be human ‘n’ not do dumb sometimes. But then there’s jist
plain dumb, ‘n’ when you get to doin’ jist plain dumb, they ain’t no savin’
you
_____________________
ARCHES ROCK rocked.
10-28-05
Jason Ramsdell, SEUG Technical Rescue Coordinator
Gathering at 6 pm in the new VC for a chalk talk. Emphasis on
teamwork and safety.
Go to shed, transport equip uphill to a new practice cliff near
Park Avenue
Hike up to site, interesting by headlamp
Set up and do one raise and two lowers: BFRs, 47 litter jiggers,
all by headlamp
Weather gray, cool, not cold Definite fun
Responders: NPS- Jason, Jacob, CRISTA, Bob
GCSAR- Bego, John, Duckie, Jim, Barbara, TBerry, Cody,
Matt, Jeff San Juan- Deputy Jared
_____________________
05-95 10-29-05 Mountain Biker Down
Sovereign Trail
Once again for this trail, it was difficult to ascertain just where
the subject was. There are not too many descriptors on the single track.
We did know he had severe left arm injuries so CareFlight was put in
flight.
By the time EMS and SAR got to the start singletrack, Cody and Jeff
had arrived on scene on their motorcycles. Brent Pace gave CareFlight the
coords of where he was and said the scene was a bit further north. That
worked.
We scouted a better way in to the single track. Saw the helo take
off "over there."
Responders: TBerry, Bego, John, Jim, Barbara,
Lee, Jon, Paula, James McM, Cody, Duckie, Jeff
05-96 10-29-05 MotorCycle Down Fins
and Things
This guy was doing wheelies and went over backwards, no helmet.
Head and shoulder injuries.
13B62 made it to the scene first. Two Rangers with 3 SAR and 2 EMTs
responded. CareFlight was on standby, then canceled.
Responders: TBerry, Jim, Cody, Duckie
05-97 10-30-05 MortorCycle Down
Hells Revenge
Left arm injuries. Two Rangers responded and brought the subject
out.
Responders: TBerry, Lee, Duckie, Cody
_____________________
10-30-05 Last Sunday, Terry Flynn and Lucy Wallingford and a group of
hikers went down Bluejohn Canyon, made famous by Aron Ralston cutting off
his hand. The 2 boulders that played in Aron’s drama have both been eroded
and washed down to where his feet were, posing no danger to anyone
anymore.
_____________________
Ortovox avalanche beacon
issues voluntary recall :
This problem may apply to all brands of beacons
In cooperation with the Consumer Product Safety Commission, Ortovox
is announcing a recall for all M1 and M2 avalanche transceivers.
The problem is that double AA batteries -- especially depending
upon brands -- have different physical dimensions. After a sharp blow
batteries that are too small may shift and cause the transceiver to
shutdown.
The CAIC urges owners of M1 & M2 units to visit www.ortovox.com or
call 888-215-3131 for a recorded message with information for getting a
free, new battery door that is simple to replace on your transceiver.
It is also our opinion that this is not an Ortovox problem but a
battery problem, and ALL brands of transceivers
may be subject to the problem of small-sized batteries. We have
reproduced this problem with other brands. ALL transceiver users should
check their units and batteries. A sharp rap or two of the transceiver
into one's hand is usually a sufficient test to see if the batteries will
shift. Do not strike a hard object as it may damage the transceiver.
The issue of loose batteries is not new. Some of you may remember
the old Echo I & II transceivers (late '70s and '80s) where the owner's
manual told users to wedge folded cardboard between the battery and the
case. In the absence of a battery-compartment door a wrap of tape around
the unit to hold everything in place was also suggested.
The Ortovox web site is a great resource for learning more about
batteries.
> Dale Atkins, CAIC
> Loui McCurley wrote: Winter is coming... check your beacon!!!
Ortovox has determined that under certain circumstances, due to
variance in the size of AA (LR6) batteries, there is a chance that the
batteries in an M1 and M2 avalanche transceiver could become dislodged as
a result of a severe blow, resulting in a loss of power. Apparently, the
international standard for AA (LR6) batteries allows for a significant
variance in both the length and diameter of the battery. These variances
allow for batteries that meet the standards, but which may lack a
prominent negative terminal, which could allow the battery to dislodge.
Ortovox is quick to point out that the company's M1 and M2
transceivers have passed the European EN standard for shock resistance.
However, the battery dislodgment has been observed under testing
conditions different from the European testing standard. According to the
company, there have been three reports of failure in the field - out of
the nearly 100,000 beacons manufactured and sold world-wide. There have
been no reports of injuries.
There is no need for consumers to return their transceivers.
Ortovox is offering a free exchange of the battery compartment lid for all
M1 and M2 units. The new lid, which is specially marked to easily show
that it is the new lid, reduces the tolerance and movement of the
batteries within the battery compartment.
The recall applies to all M1 and M2 transceivers, regardless of the
color and year of manufacture. The retrofit does not involve the Ortovox
X1 or F1 units. Ortovox will send consumers a new battery compartment lid
at no cost. This retrofit battery compartment can be easily installed and
complete instructions for the battery compartment lid retrofit are on the
website - www.ortovox.com >>
<http://www.ortovox.com/>.
From the first issue of "30º to 45º, " the Winter Rescue Team
newsletter:
The Beaver Creek Ski Area of April, 1971.
The Grand County Economic Development Committee had a contract with
Envircon to study ski area potential>> "Beaver Creek but especially Bear
Creek seems to be suitable for winter sports development. Medicine Lake,
near La Sal Pass, deserves some further consideration. However, some
Conclusions: 1) Snowpack is variable... undependable below 9200-9500
feet... snow depth records indicate a very serious snow shortage. 2) All
slopes, regardless of elevation, except N and NE exposures, are not
suitable... excessive snow melt. 3) Winds are a strong factor... lifts
should be below timberline... State and Federal land swap may not be
possible... Not many good ski runs... Avalanche hazard is minimal in the
Beaver/ Bear creek area. However, there are numerous avalanche paths in
and around the La Sal Mtns... Care would be needed to assure that
cross-country skiing avoided these paths... The western side of Geyser
Pass seemed to have good depths of snow... quite gentle... has perhaps
more potential for snowmobiles than for skiing
30°-45° has conducted Exclusive Interviews with 5 legendary
beta-endorphins:
"Only from the extreme of comfort and leisure do we return willingly to
adversity." Y. Chouinard
"You will never find enlightenment on a full stomach." Doug Scott
"Snowmobiles I understand." Jim Nyland
"Climb the mountains and get their good tidings." John Muir
"As a leader you are at times slightly set apart from the group but there
is a private quality in me
which does that anyway." Chris Bonnington
_____________________
A Women's Crack Climbing Event
Presented by <Moab Desert Adventures.com>
CHICKS ON CRACKS 2005
sted by Emma Medara and Lisa Hathaway
Impeccable red sandstone, splitter desert cracks, the chance to improve
your trad climbing skills under the tutelage of some of the most skilled,
enthusiastic and experienced female climbers of the genre...
This is an opportunity not to be missed; top notch instruction, motivation
from all angles and a chance to meet new friends in the spectacular Moab
desert. Come climb on world renowned desert sandstone, practice placing
solid gear, mock lead crack climbs, learn invaluable rope safety and self
rescue techniques from an AMGA certified guide, see inspirational slide
shows by well known female climbers and enjoy good food, hang-time and
plenty of prize winning opportunities.
Moab Desert Adventures presents a unique opportunity for female climbers -
come to Moab and learn to crack climb or improve your crack climbing
skills in the world's foremost crack climbing destination, Indian Creek.
Join the guides and guest guides of Moab Desert Adventures for a weekend
of instruction, invaluable safety training and fun!
2005 is the third year of Chicks on Cracks, and we are in the process of
organizing this year's event. We are planning on having two events. The
first event to be held the weekend of October 22nd & 23rd, will be a
grassroots level event, more suited to beginners. The main event which
features all our guest guides, fantastic prizes from our sponsors and
slide show will be the weekend of November 5th & 6th. For more information
on price, agenda, how to register etc click here.
Weekend format includes registration, introductions, crack climbing
clinics and Rope Safety/Self Rescue clinics, slide shows, bar-b-que,
raffles, silent auction, full day climbing at Indian Creek and lots of
fun.
<< Margy Baker from GCSAR and GCEMS attended this event >>
_____________________
From Brad Dimock- river guide, <FretwaterPress.com> publisher, historian,
amazing multi-tasker... Back to the old sweepage debate of how does a
sweep boat actually sweep.
Last year Jon Hamilton was here--lead boatman of the 1960 jet boat
uprun of Grand Canyon. His dad was quite and engineer, inventing the jet
thrust boat simply because he wanted to drive up the shallow rivers of New
Zealand. Jon is quite and engineer himself. I showed him the sweepboat and
he was captivated by its mysterious means of propulsion. He has given me
permission to pass on a few of his missives about the physics involved.
I'd be interested to hear from the scientists in the crowd about Jon's
ideas. Brad I have tried to work out why a couple of tons of sweep boat
would float downstream faster than the same weight of water, which it had
displaced. The effect seems to be most apparent in a fast river with
fairly continuous rapids and a rough rocky bottom causing standing waves.
Under these conditions turbulence, vortices and breaking waves would
increase the transfer of momentum between the upper layers of water and
the river bottom, effectively slowing the surface water. Now, if two tons
of surface water were replaced by two tons of rigid hull, the turbulence
would be damped out in the first several inches, or more, of water below
the bottom of the boat. The boat would not be subject to momentum transfer
by turbulence or vertical currents and its hull resistance should be much
the same as in calm water. Depending on the boat's weight, and the river
gradient, there could be a 20 lb to 50 lb horizontal force making it move
downstream, relative to the water. How much faster, do you think? A light
inflatable raft might be held back by hitting waves and by friction over
its large area bottom. The narrower, heavier, deeper sweep would travel
faster. I've now put some figures to my idea re the speed of a Sweep boat.
A steady river gradient of 1:400 (13 ft/mile) is assumed and an average
water speed of 14 ft/sec (9 1/2 mph) near the surface of the river, (The
water would be slower at greater depths). Considering an imaginary plane
one foot below the surface, I estimated that, as a result of turbulence,
the vertical flows across the plane, both up and down, might be equivalent
to 3% of the horizontal flow above the plane. In that case, it works out,
the surface water would be about 1/4 mph faster than the flow at the
plane, 1 ft below the surface. The next calculation was the speed to
expect for a Sweep 20 ft x 5 ft and drawing one foot of water. Because of
the slope of the river there is a horizontal force of 15.6 lbf pushing it
along. If there was only the frictional resistance to overcome, 'Tideman's
Friction Constants' show that the boat should easily do 2-1/2 or 3 mph
faster than the current. 'Taylor's Standard Series for Residual
Resistance' (mainly wave-making) are of limited help for a Sweep but,
taking both forms of resistance into account, it still looks as if 2 to
2-1/2 mph should be expected. Your observation, that the Sweep seems no
faster than the current in calm flow, is understandable. It is only in
fast flow that turbulence develops, slows the river and allows the Sweep
to run faster than the surface water. I've just found an old Colorado
survey chart showing the river levels between mile 0, (Lees Ferry) and
mile 295 (now flooded by Lake Mead). It shows stretches of low-gradient
river punctuated by short sections of steep rapids. Typical gentle
sections have a fall of 2-1/2 to 5 ft/mile, typical steep sections 10 to
20 ft/mile. There is a fall of 2000 ft from Lees Ferry to Spencer Canyon,
at mile 246, making an overall average fall of 8.1 ft/mile. from =>
_____________________
The following article originally appeared in the Salt Lake Tribune and
is reprinted in its entirety with their kind permission. It was
written by Lori Buttars.
'Old codger' hangs up ranger hat
For the past dozen or so years, whenever a timid National Park
Service trainee needed a little inspiration to rappel down a ledge,
"Black" George Simmons answered the call.
"I guess you could say I was the bait," the 82-year-old
Simmons says, chuckling about some of his more unusual duties as a
volunteer ranger at Canyonlands National Park. "People are naturally
afraid. But if they see an old codger like me doing it, they don't have
much choice."
Now, that "old codger" is moving on to a new horizon after a
spat with park authorities over his housing arrangements.
Right now, Simmons lives in a three-bedroom house in the
park's Island in the Sky District. But a new ranger with a family is set
to move into the home near Moab. That means Simmons has to relocate. The
Park Service is willing to find him a new place in the area, but cannot
guarantee he won't have to share space with another ranger.
For a man who values his privacy - he doesn't even discuss
the origin of his curious nickname - that's not an option. So "Black"
George is packing up.
"I'm not sure where I'll end up," he says. "I've got a lot of
contacts, including one in Siberia. But I wouldn't want people to think I
am retreating to Siberia, so I'm going to stay with friends in Dolores,
Colo., until I decide."
As a volunteer, Simmons has spent his retirement years
trading his time for an outdoor lifestyle few his age can imagine.
Simmons' first volunteer gig after retiring as a geologist
with the U.S. Geological Survey, came at Big Ben National Park in Texas.
He also labored in Wyoming's Grand Tetons and southwestern Utah's Bryce
Canyon, where he carried the Olympic Torch in 2002.
But he keeps returning to Island in the Sky, where he worked
as a geologist during the uranium boom of the 1950s and became one of the
first experts to map Cataract Canyon.
His legend is such that visitors come to the park hoping just
to strike up a conversation with the animated New Orleans native.
His trademark "Yehaw!" and "Where're you folks from?" are
often the first greetings visitors hear as they enter Canyonlands. And he
has been known to converse with visitors from around the world in their
native tongue.
"He's an effervescent character," Park Superintendent Tony
Schetzle says. "He's got a lot of passion for what he's doing, and it's
served him well and us well, too."
Park employees have come to regard Simmons as an extra pair
of eyes and ears, Schetzle says. He is a favorite traveling partner for
rangers on patrol. Lately, his primary responsibility has been monitoring
the air quality, a tedious task that requires filling out forms and
keeping records.
On a recent rescue, Simmons climbed atop Upheaval Dome and
acted as a radio relay between searchers and the command post.
Other rangers are glum about him leaving. His birthday party,
earlier this week, became his farewell.
"I'm not physically able to go out and do all of the things
the rangers do," he says. "But I'm an old topographer that can go out on a
fire and describe temperature and the wind speed and the type of material
that is burning and other stuff that they need to know to fight the fire,
and it frees up another ranger to do the hard work."
http://www.sltrib.com/utah/ci_3027341