Commander’s Corner
The Forest is open! That
statement, along with the fact that Sgt. Hudgens will soon return,
means that SAR should be back to normal. We’ve had a couple of
missions that went well on our part, especially the rescue at Box
Canyon. The training and preparations we made there as well as the
coordination of our four rope instructors made it the most
efficient rope rescue at Box Canyon yet.
I will be out of service
August 3rd through August 7th as Janet and I
are hosting our youngest son and family and are treating them to a
trip to Disneyland during that period. They have been here nearly
a week now and I’m thoroughly enjoying the process of spoiling my
two Grandsons ages 5 and 7.
Two items we need to
concentrate on in August are the fundraising activities. First is
the security duty for the Rodeo street dances on Aug 15 &16 . This
is an easy way to participate and raise funds. If you can work at
all during these two evenings, contact John Boyles immediately.
Also, phase two of our annual fund raising is going into effect
now that our Jeep raffle is done. This will be a mass mailing and
we need help for such things as envelope stuffing and
organization. If you can help on this, contact the Peters or Mike
Taylor.
Now that the rainy season has
started, it is important to check your packs for water proof gear,
particularly if you get an assignment that requires over-night on
the trail! Extra socks, waterproof boots and a poncho or rain
jacket should be high on your priority pack list.
Things seem to be going our
way as we have recently received a couple of grants for technical
equipment. New GPS radios, a satellite phone for areas of poor
communications, and field use computer equipment should help bring
search and rescue in Gila County into the 21st century!
More details to be announced at the August meeting.
See you on the trail,
Jim
Don’t forget; the
meetings this month are Aug 12th for the Board
and Aug 14th for the General Meeting.
MAIN
STREET RODEO DANCE
A reminder to all
Squad Members
On Friday and
Saturday August 15 and 16, we will be providing perimeter
patrol and security at the
Main Street Rodeo Dance.
For those of you who were not able to assist with the ticket
sales, this will be an excellent time to help with our fundraising
efforts. We will need a large presence each night.
This gives us an excellent opportunity to do a good job of
PUBLIC RELATIONS.
We were asked to do this job because of our effective security
work at the All-Indian Rodeo last October. Please plan
to work this into your busy schedules.
Call me if you have
any questions. Johnny
476-3247--TRSAR
510.
Website
Check out our site at
www.trsar.org
Thanks to Bill Pitterle for doing this.
LOCAL
WEATHER
Courtesy of Bill Pitterle 566
http://wjpitterle.mystarband.net/weather/wx.htm
Thanks
LandMark Restaurant and Saloon
has donated $250 to TRSAR from the
“Parrots in the Pines” weekend. They did this voluntarily
as a way of appreciation to the community. Lets all show our
appreciation by patronizing their business. They serve excellent
food in a pleasant atmosphere. Stop in for a meal and let them
know you are with TRSAR.
Thanks Also
We have in our ranks the greatest people in the world: quiet,
unpretentious, hard-working volunteers who give willingly of their
time and resources. All of you are to be commended, although it
seldom happens, but without your time and efforts, many people
would not receive the help necessary to save them.
The Board of TRSAR takes this opportunity to say
THANK YOU, each and every
member for being there when you are needed the most.
Training Schedule
14 Aug
Autistic Subjects training.
After the meeting by John and Jane Boyles daughter Terri Wendt.
16 Aug
Rope Training. Time and
date to be announced. Terry Murray in charge.
21 Aug
CPR 1800 hrs at Ira Gibel’s
house. Sign-up in advance is required.
28 Aug
ATV/Trail-bike Training.
Baker Butte, Coconino County. Meet at LDS Church in Pine 0800
Thursday . John Avery in charge.
18 Sept
CPR Re-Certification. 1800
hrs, Ira Gibel’s house. Sign-up in advance is required.
16 Oct
First Responder. 1800 hrs
at Ira Gibel’s house. Sign-up in advance is required.
Grim
Reminder
Date: Fri, 1 Aug 2003 09:14:11
Grand Teton
National Park mountain rescue rangers Jack McConnell, left, and
Marty Vidak prepare to haul injured climber Rodrigro Liberal to a
ledge, Saturday, July 26, 2003, on the Grand Teton in Grand Teton
National Park, Wyo. Two climbers who were hit by lightning that
killed a companion on the Grand Teton said pain and paralysis
marked their six-hour ordeal, which ended with the dramatic rescue
by airborne park rangers. Rangers, working at
13,000 feet,
saved Liberal, hauled down four of his companions and retrieved
the body of Erica Summers. (©AP/WWP)
Fundraiser
Wayne Johnsonof
Strawberrywas the winner of the 2003 Fund-Raiser. Wayne owns the
Strawberry Auto Service and has been a longtime supporter of
TRSAR.
Congratulations to Wayne and Thanks to the members who helped us
sell over 400 tickets.
The next phase of the 2003 effort is doing a mass mailing of
donation letters to the local community. We will be having an
envelope stuffing party this month and we will need a dozen or so
members to help out on this. The date will be announced at the
meeting Aug 14th.
Mission Archives
In
a recent report, I related my first experience in the Kristi
Snow-Cat on a rescue at Edwards Park north of 4-Peaks. I would
like to share with you the second times I had the privilege going
out with Kristi.
This time it was a
request on the Saturday after Thanksgiving about 1993. An airplane
flying over Tonto Basin area called in a report of stranded
campers signaling for help near the top of Mt. Ord. We had had a
major, predicted by the way, snowstorm move through the state on
Friday and a family from Phoenix had chosen to go camping in the
mountains anyway. Bob Hudson and Marvin Rewerts had just driven up
on Friday the “new” Dodge Power Wagon truck that we bought from
the State Surplus program through Gila County. It was totally
unprepared and only had a pintel hitch to tow military trailers.
We had to torch a hole in the bumper to install a ball and
jerry-rig trailer light connections just to be able to get the
snow cat on scene.
By the time we did
all that and drove to the Mt. Ord turn-off, about 4 hours had
elapsed and the Search Coordinator on scene was tired of waiting
so he had chained up his 4x4 pickup and driven up to the subjects
camp and loaded them in the back. We went as far up the road with
truck and trailer as we could and then had to get the rig turned
around. Considering there was about 18” of snow and no room, we
did well to accomplish it at all. We had to unload the Kristi,
unhook the trailer and pull it around to face down hill. We then
waited in case the Deputy were to encounter any problems and might
still need the snow-cat.
As it turned out, he
made it out OK and we then re-loaded the cat and headed for home.
Keep in mind that these types of missions are always at night in
the worst winter conditions. You have to have a strong heart and
steady nerves to drive or ride in a untested pickup pulling a 24’
flatbed trailer on icy roads. We made it home safely with no
incidents, just red in the face for not being better prepared for
the unexpected.
JMT 502
Thanks to all who
contributed to this issue of the newsletter.
Please continue to
share for the enlightenment of all.
Mike
