Commander’s Corner

This year our squad has done something different related to fundraising. In the recent past we have purchased a major item to raffle. This year the fundraising for the squad is being done by sending out donation request letters to property owners in our community. Sgt Hudgens brought Project Lifesaver to our attention. The Squad decided that we would support Sgt Hudgens in raising funds for this Project. Well, we have done very well in both projects. Project Lifesaver funding is looking good and many donations are coming in as a result of the letters sent out.

Many things have and are happening at the Squad building. This year the Squad has spent considerable time and money on property enhancement. Brooks utilities have required us to install a water backflow device at the Squad building. The county told us we had to move our fence at the Squad building because it was on their right of way.

Most of you are aware of these things. What I don’t think you know is how much the efforts on the above projects have affected ONE PERSON.

The result of these efforts funnel down to one person, the Treasurer, Joanne Travis. For every donation received for Project Lifesaver, a record to Project Lifesaver is made on the computer, a thank you letter is generated for that donor, an envelope is addressed and stamped and the funds deposited in the bank. For every donation to the Squad (and there have been hundreds), a record is made on the computer, a thank you letter is generated for each donor, an envelope is addressed and stamped and funds deposited in the bank. All the building enhancements have required many checks to be written and accounted for. All this is on top of the normal bills paid by the Treasure like APS, Water, Insurance, Paging service, Sat Phone, advertisements, expenses related to fundraising etc. Membership dues, refunding members for misc. expenses, purchase of patches and t-shirts etc. This is a tremendous job.

We owe a lot to Joanne Travis and Sue Schuett. Sue Schuett has worked very hard to organize this year’s books on Quicken to accommodate all of these transactions. Sue is not a member of our Squad but has been a tremendous help to Joanne and our Squad.
I can’t express enough the feeling of appreciation I have for their efforts. I wanted you to be aware of these efforts too.

Most who join Search and Rescue think of tasks and events related to searching and rescuing people lost or injured. There is a tremendous amount of work done to support this effort. Get involved.

Stay active and stay healthy.
Dave Pirtle
Commander


Don’t forget; the meetings this month are August 9th for the Board and August 11th for the General Meeting.

Guest Article

Mule on the Hill

One bright Monday morning we left from the Campbell Blue not being familiar with mules or horses. We were now ready to hit the trail into the back country after consuming of a fourteen inch pan of Dutch oven biscuits and gravy, bacon, and eggs. Looking up at the sky as the weather man said a storm might be approaching, but to a seasoned outdoor man we took no heed up the steep trail from the Blue to the ridgeline. Down the ridgeline to a number of deep canyons topping above the timberline we glanced to the next ridge where we planned to make camp. Looking back at the sky we questioned ourselves; which was a wise thing to do. So after a little conversation we decided maybe it was best to head back to base camp.

Down the trail four or five miles a light rain commenced to fall. Then heavier and heavier, it started to turn to light snow, then heavier snow. It was soon up to the mule’s knees. The trail turned to the left so we spurred the mules to the left down the trail, 50 feet down the trail the mules stopped. We tried to urge them on but no way, they stopped.

My friend turned and said, "John, move those mules out of the way", the mules would still not move. I crawled off the mule, took the reins pulled him hard and turned him around. Up to the top of the ridge, I led the mule. The mule continued to the ridge as I yanked on the reins hard. The mule spurred a time or two, kicked sideways and lay down. I finally coaxed the mule back on its feet and down the trail in the opposite direction. Turning the mule around again back to the way we were going the mule spurred again and nipped at me. I turned to my friend and said, “This mule’s loco”

As I returned back to the mule and passed in front of him he nipped my shoulder. My revolver being handy and five rounds in the cylinder it was time to put this mule out of its misery. My friend looked at me and asked, "John what are you going to do?" I smiled at him as I drew my revolver. He replied, "It's only a thirty mile walk, I can't see how you can carry our equipment." At this point I decided to crawl back on the mule and give him his reins and let him go where he wanted. The weather had dropped below zero at this time. The warmth of the mule felt good. So we wandered on down the trail. A few hours later the mule stopped, we tried to urge him on to no avail Slipping off the mule, with thoughts of dragging him on, I slipped on a Dutch oven lid we had left that morning. The mule knew his way, we were back at camp. The mule was smarter then I.

John Avery 508



SEARCH News from all over.

Lost Scout was cleaning fish when found
Sunday, July 31, 2005

OGDEN, Utah (AP) -- Ogden Boy Scout Zachary Jones, lost for 19 hours in the Green River Lakes area of Wyoming's Bridger-Teton National Forest, had caught a fish and was cleaning it when he was found.

Zachary, 14, said Thursday that he, four other Scouts and three leaders of Ogden's Troop 253 were preparing to move camp at 2 p.m. Tuesday, when he went into the forest to go to the bathroom and became disoriented in the thick lodgepole pine.

"I thought I knew where I was going, but then I realized that I couldn't find camp," Zachary told the Standard-Examiner. "When you're up in the mountains you can't see anything, you can't tell where you are."

Shortly before he left the group, Zachary had changed from shorts to long pants, and put a leather jacket over his T-shirt to protect himself from mosquitoes. The jacket and pants would later help stave off the cold when temperatures dropped to 27 degrees Tuesday night.
He also had a small bag with matches, a water bottle and a collapsible fishing kit with him.

Once he knew he was lost, he headed uphill to a rock mound where he thought he could spot the camp. On his way up, he fell in a stream, soaking his clothes. Exhausted, wet and unable to see over the forest, he spent the night in a clearing. Wednesday morning, he walked another half mile to Shirley Lake.

By the time a rescuer found Zachary at 9 a.m. Wednesday, the Scout had warmed himself around a fire and was gutting a brook trout he caught.

Zachary also gathered and ate boysenberries along his trek, which he said Scout leaders had pointed out to him earlier.

"He's a really bright, really smart kid," father David Jones said. "His Scout leaders trained him very well and he was able to use those skills."

The troop leaders and nearby campers had been searching since Tuesday afternoon for the lost Scout, and the Sublette County Search and Rescue Team was called out at 10 p.m., Zachary's mother, Staci Jones, said.

Zachary was found by camper John Scherer of Kansas City, Mo., who told the family that he was once a ranger in the area.

"I was just sitting there, and I heard someone yell that they were with Search and Rescue, and ask if there was anyone here," Zachary said. "I thought that I was hallucinating, but when I heard it again I yelled back and told him where I was."

David said he and Staci were informed that Zachary was missing at 11:30 p.m. Tuesday. The couple and four of their other seven children packed enough clothes for a week of searching. They arrived at the rescue base at 8:45 a.m. Wednesday, just 15 minutes before Zachary was found.

Zachary experienced slight hypothermia, but he was otherwise unharmed by his experience, Staci said.

"He just looked really tired, and we just held him and hugged him as tight as we could," Staci said. "Nineteen hours was so long for us, but we know it could have been much, much worse."

Staci said that she doesn't think Scout leaders were negligent in any way, and plans to allow Zachary to camp with his troop in the future.

Lost hikers are rare in the Green River Lakes area, Mary Cernicek, public affairs specialist for the Bridger-Teton National Forest, said. The area is heavily trafficked and has clearly marked trails, Cernicek said.

Information from: Standard-Examiner, Casper, Wyoming http://www.standard.net

Breach of law leaves kids in the lurch
http://nashuatelegraph.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050731/OPINION04/107310065/-1/opinion

Fundraising

Fundraising Letter stuffing party at Squad Building 6PM Tuesday August 30, 2005



Website

Tonto Rim SAR Members can now have your very own email address through our site. Just contact our Webmaster at Mail for the TRSAR Webmaster  to arrange for it, no cost to you or us.


We are promoted and you’ll also find our newsletter on the Rim Country Volunteer site;
http://www.inpayson.com/TRSAR-Payson-Rim-Country-Area.htm

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Navigation Route (self-practice) exercising GPS and magnetic bearing functions:
From the starting point at the FR 194 sign:

1 – Go to 0450015E – 3803405N (stake H)
2 – Go 818 ft at bearing 63° (stake C)
3 – Go to 0450274E – 3803339N (stake D)
4 – Go 498 ft at bearing 231° (stake A)
5 – Go to 0450170E – 3803121N (stake O)
6 – Return to start

The total walking length of this route is 3388 ft. (about 0.65 mile) measured from FR 194 marker.


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August 2005 Training Schedule