Commander’s Corner
The Harvest Moon is now waning and the nights are definitely
cooler, perfect for night searches! This was the case at the night
tracking exercise on the 25th which was well attended. It is
satisfying to see the interest in training improving. Speaking of
tracking training, Jim McMillion and Sgt. Hudgens have agreed to
help set up a training course in tracking leading to a Squad
Man-tracking Certification. I’ll keep you up-dated on the
progress.
Our major fund raiser is now complete for 2002 and the results are
outstanding. We couldn’t have picked a better winner if we had
tried to rig the drawing. The winner, 12 year old Joe Allaire of
Star Valley was almost as excited as his dad! While the fund
raiser was a little short of last year, considering the prolonged
forest closure, the loss of one Pine craft show sales opportunity,
and the Rodeo weekend sale at Safeway, we did very well. Credit
for success goes wholly to the Peters and the Conklins who never
let up! My personal and public thanks go out to them. Fund raising
is a very important part of our organization, and we need more
members to step up and help.
While I’m thanking members, I want to include Mike Taylor for his
untiring effort in putting out this newsletter each month. It is a
valuable tool in keeping the members up to date on what is going
on and particularly for new members in answering questions they
haven’t even thought to ask yet. Mike could sure use a reporter to
gather information, do interviews, and prepare articles for
publication. If you think you have talent in this area and are
interested in helping the Squad in this way, give Mike a call. New
members are welcome to participate!
On a final note, we all join the Bagleys in grieving the loss of
their infant son, Cash. Bill told me, however, that he was
grateful to be able to meet Cash and have him baptized. I urge all
members to keep both Kathleen and Bill in their thoughts and
prayers. I can think of no greater loss than that of one’s own
child.
Jim
Don’t
forget; the meetings this month are Oct 8th for the
Board
and Oct. 10th for the General Meeting.
Leaders and Legends in
SAR
Jane
Boyles
James Langston, Retired
Maricopa County Sheriff Department
Currently; State of Arizona Emergency
Services
Director of Search and Rescue
Almost the first thing you learn about
James Langston is that his first name is James. (Not Jim).
Most people call him “Langston” and that is often how a phone call
is received by him. My first introduction to Langston was at
the Brian Greer search. The search had been going on all
night when he arrived with his group; command motor home, ATV's,
horses, and about 250 volunteers from all over the northern half
of Arizona. This was the first revelation that he was not
only organized but knew what he was doing and where the needed
resources were. I knew I could learn a lot about
search and rescue from this man and commenced to take every class
he taught or recommended.
I have attended probably a dozen Search
and Rescue Academies and the message he gives is still the same.
The Academy is just the beginning of a volunteer's training.
To direct a search there is a method and a plan, a leader and
teams. If you follow your leader's
I loved working command with James
Langston wherever the search was conducted, but most of all at
Lone Pine Saddle on Four Peaks. He could have several
helicopters flying, dog teams and search teams covering the
mountains on both sides and still have time to show his concerns
about the welfare of the many volunteers. Safety was always
a factor, but up on the mountain it could become a big issue in a
hurry with a change in the weather. He placed trust in his
leaders to know the physical limitations of their teams.
Maricopa County has the great fortune
of having some very professional volunteer teams.
The Mountain Rescue group is probably
the best I have had the privilege of working with. Everyone
has to be at least an EMT to belong. They are proficient at
rope work, mountain climbing, helo rescue and tracking. Of
all of the searches I participated in, Mountain Rescue was usually
the first on the scene and the last to leave. Weather and
darkness never stopped them. I certainly knew that I could
count on them as a resource and James placed a lot of faith in
their capabilities. DSU- the Desert Search Unit has some
remarkable man trackers. While some of the original team are
retired, they will come out of retirement to teach a class.
They love their job and have so much to give to the next
generation of volunteers. James had absolute faith in their
abilities and good judgment.
James loves the outdoors and he loves
to elk hunt. Multi agency trainings were often held during
or near the dates of the hunting season. I am convinced he
filed for an elk permit in the area that was near the training as
he always had camp set up in the vicinity and either had his elk
hung in a tree or had one under surveillance when the rest of us
arrived on scene.
We are fortunate to have James
Langston at the state level now overseeing all the searches.
He still finds time to train at the academies. He is a natural
instructor. A conversation with him often leads to
budgetary issues and the value of volunteers. Without
well-trained volunteers, the Sheriffs' departments cannot
effectively perform the Search and Rescue operations mandated by
law in the State of Arizona.
YES
OBSERVATION OF A “YES”
(YOUTH EDUCATION FOR SURVIVAL) PROGRAM
On Saturday, September 21, 2002, I had the privilege of
observing a YES program at the Shadow Rim Camp for younger Girl
Scouts, (Brownies) about 6-8 years of age.
As a
retired educator (32 years teaching high school in Long Island) I
had resisted being involved in the YES program. I did help
out in the new adult YES program and that was very rewarding.
Myself and
Bill Martin along with two prospective members; Denise Beahr and
Alicia Keller witnessed a positive learning experience for these
youngsters.
As an educator, I
knew there were some advantages for the SAR team presenting the
program.
1)
It is an interesting and informative program, and was held
in the outdoors.
2)
The children were enthralled, asked numerous questions and
were a great class, and considering the attention span of 6 year
olds, they stayed interested in a program that lasted more than an
hour.
3)
There were three excellent presenters: Mike Taylor,
former TRSAR cmdr.; Jim Martin, current cmdr.; and Ron Crimmins,
board member and officer.
4)
Ruby, Jim Martin’s bloodhound, added to the program with
her presence and at the end of the program, actually demonstrated
her prowess in locating a youngster in a mock search.
The
children were presented with many different scenarios of what to
do and what not to do if lost in the wilderness.
Points
emphasized including finding a secure place for shelter, not
moving around once you realized you were lost and staying calm by
making SOS signs, decorating a tree (with orange high visibility
construction tape) and utilizing your most important tool in a
survival situation…..your head and your ability to think and make
good decisions.
Also
stressed in the program, were the advantages of carrying a small
survival pack, relatively inexpensive and all items were easily
obtainable.
Suggested items for the fanny survival pack: water, trail
mix, signal device (demo. – some silver foil folded over a small
section of cardboard, large plastic garbage bag to also use for
protection against rain and hypothermia, flashlight to signal at
night (include extra batteries), space blanket, roll of orange
construction tape and of course a whistle.
Whistle
commands were reviewed, and the point was emphasized how to help
the trackers etc., and to realize that the trackers are the
friends of the lost person.
I
would recommend for all SAR members to observe a YES class and get
into the program. There are many benefits for all who get
involved.
1)
It helps to review in our minds, the most important things
to do in a “lost” person scenario.
2)
It is a great PR (Public Relations) project
3)
It helps to give our squad members a unique program to
develop, use, and better our skills in making presentations to the
public.
4)
It helps to educate youngsters and adults in wilderness
survival
5)
It will probably reduce the number of searches we would
have to do if we didn’t have the program.
Respectfully
submitted,
Ira Gibel – 532,
Safety Officer
Fund-Raiser
We
took in $3,225 at the Northern Gila County Fair this past
week-end. Our total income for the fund raising in 2002 is
$23,994. Our expenses were $8,565.45 which leaves us with a
net profit of $15,428.55. We started out slow but ended with
a bang. We had a great year with our raffle. Thanks to each
of you who helped in any way and a BIG
THANK YOU to Don & Patt Peters and Shirley & Doug Conklin.
They carried the biggest part of the load all year.
Ron
Crimmins 526, Treasurer
Member Profile
Patt Peters 531
Patt was born in Fresno Cal in the 40’s.
She attended Roosevelt High School and was a Pom Pom girl all four
years. Then she attended Fresno State for two years majoring
in Art and Home Economics. In 1960 she moved to Yosemite
National Park and worked as a waitress at the Yosemite Coffee
shop. There she met her husband Don who was working the
backcountry of Yosemite as a Park Ranger. Because of Dons
job the time they had together was short and sweet. Don
proposed to Patt at the top of Glacier Point. Don Asked and
didn’t push. After marriage they moved to Santa Cruz and
bought a 400 sq. ft house for $10,000. They have two Girls,
Yvonne and Kerri. Later they moved all over northern
California before they spent some time in Lake Tahoe. They
lived in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho for a while before moving to Phoenix
in ’81. In 1996 they settled in Payson. While
attending the Pine fair they heard about Tonto Rim Search and
Rescue. Patt enjoys making Porcelain Dolls and is currently
taking an Oil Painting Class at the local college. Patt is
usually the one who does Call Outs for the squad when we have
missions. Patt and Don have also taken the Bull by the horns
regarding Fund Raising. They have done an OUTSTANDING job in
all Fund Raising efforts. Tonto Rim Search and Rescue would
NOT be as financially well off as we are today if it wasn’t for
their efforts.
Thank you, Patt, for being there
for us.
Announcement
Dacey Taylor and Nancy
Gray are getting married in a private ceremony on October 10th
and are taking a weeklong honeymoon around the state including the
State Fair and Bisbee area.
There will be a reception
held for them on November 2nd @ 1:00 at the home of his parents;
Tom and Judy Taylor, off Quail Run in Diamond Point. Follow the
signs.
You are all invited but
RSVP please by October 25 at 474-7064.
FOR SALE
1994 Jeep Wrangler 4X4, low miles
4 cyl, 5 spd, lift kit, 31” BFG
tires with American Racing wheels. 2 tops, 2 lock boxes and alarm
system. Nerf bars, receiver hitch and rear rack. Alpine
radio/cassette with sound bar & dual speakers. Warn 8000 winch,
high lift jack and rear cargo rack. Will throw in trailer to carry
a Quad. All this for only $9500 OBO. Call Don Peters;
472-7457
Training Schedule
Scheduled Training Sessions
(current)
11-13 Oct. (F-Su) SAR City, Barstow CA,
sign up on-line
www.bcconline.com/sarcity
19 Oct. (Sat) Rope training, Time and
location TBA, (In charge; Chris Christy)
26-Oct (Sat) Line Search
Tracking Practice – time and location TBA (in charge: Les Hulse)
Guest Comments
Something I'll
never forget
On June 10, 1999, I became a member of
TRSAR. On June 12, 1999, I was called to a mission at Box Canyon
to help retrieve a 10 year-old girl who had fallen and hurt her
back.
The Call-out person who called said it
was not customary to call such a new member out so soon, but
others were busy or could not be contacted so I was needed to help
with the rope rescue. She also was new and neither of us knew
exactly where Box Canyon was.
So I went out Hwy 260 and waited at Bear
Flats turn-off until I saw a license plate with TRSAR on it and
followed. It turned out to be TR11. Being that we were late, the
equipment had already been carried to the rescue site.
I then encountered our Safety person and
she told me, "Don't do anything until I tell you to do it." So,
being used to taking orders from my wife, I did what she told me
and when. {'She' being TR19}.
Within the next hour to an hour and a
half, and with all the pulling and tugging on the ropes, the
stokes started coming up the hill. I was told to go to topside and
pull it up to the ledge. As we picked it up and set her at the top
of the ledge, in a 'wee' voice, the subject said "Thank you."
That was all the thanks we needed. I
didn't know any one that was helping at that time but credit
certainly goes to all that were involved.
Doug Conklin 534
Changes
One member has upgraded
to Active Status.
Congratulations to
536 Ed Spicer
his dedication and effort.
Memories
The Squad was given a
1964 Kristi Snowcat around 1970 and had a few occasions where it
proved valuable.
I was fortunate to be
involved in three of those missions.
The first was during a
President's day weekend when a heavy winter storm was predicted
but Saturday was spring-like. Three families from the Valley found
the nice weather on a 3-day weekend to be irrisistable and headed
for 4 Peaks to camp. They all had 4x4 SUVs with highway tires and
so had no problem getting down into the Edwards Park area north of
Lone Pine Saddle.
It started snowing
Saturday night and continued through Monday, eventually laying
down 22 inches of the white, slippery stuff. By morning on Sunday
there was enough on the ground to defeat any chance they had
to return home. One of the men walked out Sunday to Punkin Center
and hired a 4X4 wrecker to come up and tow them out. But by the
time they arrived back at the camp, it was evening and the tow
truck could only move one vehicle about a 1/4 mile. The tow-truck
operator had to unhook and leave them there as he was having
increasing problems with traction and barely made it back out
alone.
It was early Monday
morning when he got back to a telephone to report the situation to
GCSO. They sent two deputies up El Oso Rd to verify and they could
only make it part way due to the increasing snow fall.
We were activated
about 11:00 AM to bring the snowcat and rescue the subjects. Due
to the fact that we had 18 inches in Pine and still snowing, the
highways were ice packed all the way to OX Bow hill and the going
was slow. There were three of us, Bob Hartz driving, Mike Larkins
and myself shivering. By the time we reached the Deputies it was
late afternoon. We unloaded Kristi and headed up the road. It
would be a 5 hour, 19 mile round trip in the little "pumpkin".
Other than cold, noise, fogged up windows and exhaust fumes,
Kristi was a sweetheart. She worked her heart out, and took us
right to the subjects.
We knew little about
them or where they were so we had to go on instinct.The tow truck
tracks had been completely covered but when we found the Nissan
Pathfinder blocking the road, we knew we were close. We had to
skirt the canyon edge of the road to get around the vehicle, but
Kristi hung right in there.
The blood pressure got
a good work-out that night, I assure you.
When we arrived at the
other two vehicles, we got the warmest welcome you'll ever find
from 6 young adults. They had 3 children also, the youngest being
18 months.
Now Kristi was not
intended to transport 12 humans, but she did it that night without
complaint from anyone. We were packed in like sardines and a lot
warmer than the trip in.
We took them back to
the GCSO officers who transported them to Punkin Center. We
reloaded and drove back to Pine on solid ice all the way from Rye.
It was 2 AM when my head hit the pillow, thankful for a successful
mission and safe trip.
502 Mike Taylor
Thanks to all who
contributed to this issue of the newsletter.
Please continue to
share for the enlightenment of all.
Mike
