Tonto Rim Search and Rescue has not had any actual missions in a couple of months. I’m not complaining, because the weather has been nasty anyway. When the rains do subside, I’m sure our action will pick up.
I want to remind squad members to be prepared for missions and to continue to monitor State SAR Frequencies when enroute to a mission. Carry your pager and Cell phone if you have them. Very frequently we are asked to "10-22". This means to stand down, take no further action, or cancel. Making sure all responding Squad Members get this message is important and is sometimes hard to do. When returning to Payson from missions in the country I will try to broadcast the "10-22" on Channel 11 (SAR frequency). Hopefully I’ll catch some members that were previously out of radio communications range.

Mike and Ellie Taylor have been doing a great job calling squad members when a search is activated. They have also done a good job of catching people before they leave the house when a mission has been cancelled. This is a difficult situation. Sgt. Hudgens will not wait until he confirms absolutely the need for our squad. This would lengthen our arrival time. These false starts are unavoidable and we must understand.

Since we are having a lull in our mission activity, we have been taking advantage of the time to make the community aware of Project Lifesaver. Jack Quinn has done a great job getting the information on our Website. He has also been able to get us a spot on our local Channel 4. Don Peters was able to make contact with Randy Roberson at KRIM who provided some air time in support of this effort. Randy also taped a short ad that he is airing frequently during the next few days. Randy contacted KMOG and provided them a shorter version of his ad for KMOG to air.

In addition Richard Haddad has provided an awesome article in the Payson Roundup about Project Lifesaver. Richard went to Richard Roy’s house to interview and photograph Richard and his wife Martha. Last year we conducted a search for Martha who is suffering from dementia. Hopefully this publicity concerning Project Lifesaver will bring in some donations. We each need to be thinking of potential donors or ways to make money for this project.

There have been some changes to our Website (www.trsar.org). I’m curious to see if anyone notices what they are.

Stay active and stay healthy

Bill Pitterle
500@trsar.org

Don’t forget; the meetings this month are March 8^th for the Board and March 10^th for the General Meeting.

The Webmaster has added a new page to our website. It is entitled "MEMORABLE MISSIONS" and the 2nd article is posted there now. Check it out at: http://trsar.org/memorable_missions/memorable_missions_index.htm

Part I and II were the preparation and early part of my cycle trip from Panama to NY. This is the third and last entry.

I had just finished a particularly hazardous part of the journey on a mountain called "Cerro del muerte".

Fortunately, near the peak of the mountain there was an inn, cars parked and for that part of the trip, a large number of travelers. I gratefully shut off the ignition, walked into the inn, and ordered "chocolate caliente"…hot chocolate. I think I drank 3-4 cups. I was able to get a room to stay the night. I made the mistake of going to sleep with my clothes on and began to sweat becoming more uncomfortable as the night wore on. (The rooms were not heated….)

Morning came and my spirits were lifted. I soon came to the peak and coasted down the mountain into the beautiful capital of San Jose.

The next part of my adventure that I vividly remember was entering El Salvador. I was on a fairly level part of the Pan American Highway and I could see way off into the distance. I saw a black cloud about 5 miles away and inquired at a local tienda (store). The owner pointed to the sky and said "moscas". Moscas means flies in Spanish, so I didn’t pay much attention thinking that he had misunderstood my question.

Driving a few more miles I noticed the appearance of black flies and stopped my cycle. The cloud was millions of small black flies. As they were hovering, I had no choice. I had my goggles on and placed a bandanna over my nose and mouth.

Then I gunned the cycle and tore through the flies at about 45-55 mph. After getting through the cloud of flies, it took about 30 minutes to clean myself off!

It took one more long trip by cycle after I was in the states to realize that a windscreen is the single most important piece of safety equipment on your cycle after the helmet.

The next incident clearly indicates the importance of a windshield on a cycle.

I was driving in Guatemala headed for my next rest stop and it was approaching dusk. I was in a mountain area driving about 50mph and enjoying the ride when, thump, I hit a low flying bat whose radar most have been on the blink. As the small bat hit me in the chest, my first reflex was to slow down, but the right hand of a cyclist is on the accelerator (right hand grip) and as the bat hit me, I was thrown back a little and my right hand turned, speeding the bike up momentarily. It took a few minutes to stop the bike and recover. It was also the closest I came to having an accident on the cycle.

The next incident that left an indelible impression on me was when I approached the border between Guatemala and Mexico. I knew the border crossing closed between 12 and 2pm for siesta, so I made sure to get there early. As I approached the border at about 11:30am I made the mistake of taking off my goggles, and helmet. (I did have some dirty blonde hair at the time) and my blue eyes were dead giveaways that I was a Norte Americano, a gringo. Out of the corner of my eye I saw one of the border guards change the "abierto" (open) sign to "cerrado", (closed).

Most of the Latin Americans I had met were friendly and helpful. I knew right away that I was in trouble at the border. I inquired when the border was open and one of the border guards said 2pm. Knowing I was licked, I turned the bike around and headed for a small river that I had passed. I parked the bike, took my boots off, put my feet in the river and took my own siesta!

I vividly remember that when I entered the United States via Brownsville, Texas, I got down on the ground and kissed the dirt.

We may have a lot of problems in our own country, but once you have spent two years of your life in a third world country…you can really understand what problems are.

And I’ll never forget the big Texan at the border who took one look at me and said, "Welcome back!" I only had $50.00 bucks left to my name to make it from Texas to NY but I spent $8.00 at a local diner for a Texas steak and mashed potatoes! I still like rice and beans and "arroz con pollo", but it was great to get an American meal!

The rest of the trip was a blur but I ended up at a college wrestling buddy’s home in Wilmington, Del. As I knocked on his door and he opened it, I’ll always remember the expression on his face! After recuperating for two days, I made the trip to NY.

My mom also had an interesting look on her face….when she saw me and my little cycle. In order to keep her from worrying….I had told her before the trip that I was taking buses home.

Respectfully submitted,

Ira Gibel –532

This past summer Les Hulse & I were presenting a YES class at Shadow Rim Girl Scout Camp. When the class had concluded we were in the process of leaving Shadow Rim when suddenly we heard a woman screaming for us to stop. A rattlesnake was coiled & ready to strike behind one of the dorms. The caretaker was gone & Les & I were the only men at the camp. They were all frightened & badly needed our help.

The counselors told us to kill the snake but we refused & told them that we would capture it. Little did I know that Les was an old pro at dealing with rattlesnakes. He requested a large bucket with ice, empty trash container, rake & shovel. In five minutes we had everything. I took the container of ice & threw it on the coiled rattlesnake. It was immediately stunned & shot straight up in the air. While it was stunned, Les caught the head of the snake between rungs in the rake. I took the shovel & scooped up the snake very quickly & dropped it in the trash container. Les immediately placed the lid on the trash container. It all took less than one minute after the ice was thrown on the snake. We hauled the snake in the trash container about three miles from the camp & let it go. The snake looked back at us as if to say, "What happened", & then continued on its merry way.

For our effort, Les & I each received three boxes of yummy Girl Scout Cookies. Now you know how to capture a rattlesnake as long as you have the right tools. It was quite an experience.

Ron Crimmins
526

webmaster@trsar.org

Fun Website Explains What It Means to Be in SAR

Sometimes it's hard to explain what volunteer SAR is. This website shows how a way-too-typical search goes, and what it's like to be in it.

http://www.angelfire.com/scifi/sven/PVRG/Choose_Your_Own.html

Tonto Rim SAR Members can now have your very own email address through our site. Just contact our Webmaster at jack@jackswebs.com 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

I believe each one of our members has a one-time story that needs to be shared. Please write it up and get it to your editor. Editor@trsar.org

12 Mar. (Sat) Man Tracking Training– Time: 0900 – Location: FR198 – Instructor: Don Johnson

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19 Mar. (Sat) Rope Training – Time: 0900 – Place: Pine Canyon Narrows – Roger Miotto and rope instructors in charge

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26 Mar. (Sat) ATV Ride - Time: 0900 – Location: Junction FR67 and Doll Baby Rd. Instructor: Don Johnson

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2-3 April (Sat-Sun) SAR Academy – Time: 0800 – Location: Cultural Hall in Pine

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9 April ( Sat) Man Tracking Training - Class room – Time 0900 - At the Squad Building

GPS approx. 34˚ 27.37 N, 110˚ 37.44 W.

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14 Apr. (Thu) Indoc Session – After General Meeting – Instructor: Les Hulse

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Planned ATV Rodeo – All squad members – Instructor: John Avery

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Planned Navigation Classrooms (with exercises) – Basic GPS Settings and Techniques - Basic Map and Compass Techniques (no GPS) – Organizer: Les Hulse

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Planned Traffic control class will be put on by the Sheriff office

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If you would like to volunteer to run a training session, or if you have a training session request contact any
Board Member or Don Johnson

P To reserve use of squad ATV, contact John Avery at 928-476-2106 or 480-892-4424

Jacket, gloves, boots, helmet, and eye protection required to operate Squad ATV

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This article was posted on the NASAR website, http://www.nasar.org/nasar/news.php?id=162

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Thanks to those who contributed to this issue of the newsletter.