RMRU NEWSLETTER Mission Reviews: July 2014 - March 2015 Mission Reviews Instruction- July 2014 - March 2015 -What If everything goes wrong... How will you be found? -The 10 Essential Systems. Updated must have gear on every outing The following pages contain a RMRU Training selection of first hand accounts -Annual Helicopter Certification of RMRU missions written by the team members involved. First Quarter 2015 1 ABOUT RIVERSIDE MOUNTAIN RESCUE UNIT FOUNDED 1961 MEMBER MOUNTAIN RESCUE ASSOCIATION 1963 GOVERNING BODY: RIVERSIDE COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT MEMBERS: ORIGINAL: 6 | CURRENT MEMBERS: 32 ANNUAL BUDGET: ORIGINAL $200 | CURRENT $15,000 MISSIONS: TOTAL OVER 2,000 | AVERAGE PER MONTH: 3.33 The Riverside Mountain Rescue Unit is a group of volunteers trained and ready to respond to wilder- ness emergencies. At any hour of the day, law enforcement agencies, national park and military officials may call upon the Unit to aid an unfortunate victim. The unit is on constant alert, via text messages, to search for and effect the rescue of hikers, skiers, rock climbers and outdoorsmen whenever and wherev- er tragedy strikes. The unit performs about 95% of its missions in Riverside County. However, it has trav- eled south into Mexico, north into the High Sierras and into Nevada to accomplish its lifesaving missions. The unit is currently comprised of 32 volunteers, who literally come from all walks of life. They regularly RIVERSIDE MOUNTAIN RESCUE UNIT leave their jobs (or in the middle of the night, their warm beds) to respond to a call for help. They do not receive remuneration for time given to search and rescue. The members make up a small, but spirited, group of mountaineers who spend one weekend each month training to sharpen their rescue skills. Each member must provide all of thier own equipment at a cost of more than $2,500. Beside acting as highly competent rescue workers, members also work closely with schools, clubs, church groups, and Scout troops throughout the area to teach mountain safety. The ounce of prevention may well prevent the untimely pound of cure. On the Cover... Looking up the permanent snow / ice field. Mt. Ritter 13,150 ‘ and Banner Peak 12,942 ‘ Top of the permanent snow / ice field. In the far Elevation about 12,000 feet with permanent snow / ice field between distance center Mammoth Mountain Ski Resort In August 2014, at an elevation of almost 12,000 feet , a mountaineer on the permanent snow / ice field between Banner Peak and Mt. Ritter in the High Sierras west of Mammoth Mountain Ski Resort. Notice the large number of rocks and boulders on the snow. Within 15 minutes of taking this photo, at least 50 rocks in size from a few inches to over 4 feet careened down this slope which originated from the snow chute on the upper right. Fortunately the climber was at the base of this snow / ice field where this photo was taken. The climber was wearing a helmet, used crampons and ice axe on this ice slope. TIP: When hiking or climbing it is critically important to understand your surroundings and the equipment and skills necessary for safe travel. Stop Think, Observe, Plan (STOP) is a great acronym to remember be- fore a trek as well as when on an outing. RMRU NEWSLETTER IN THIS ISSUE MISSION REVIEWS July 2014 - March 2015 Page 4 ANNUAL HELICOPTER CERTIFICATON - Summary of our required annual helitac certification Page 8 INSTRUCTION WHAT IF.. Everything goes wrong. How will you be found? Page 14 THE 10 ESSENTIAL SYSTEMS - Gear you should always carry - Focus on Illumination Page 22 RIVERSIDE MOUNTAIN RESCUE UNIT President’s Message Last March marked my 20th training activity. Come check us Response Team (SERT). The anniversary as a volunteer of out at one of our meetings held RMRU Recruitment Committee Riverside Mountain Rescue Unit the first Wednesday of each has been tasked with creating (RMRU). This time has provided month at the Hemet Sheriff’s a professional presentation for many memorable and rewarding Department. The contact infor- use at Recruitment event. This moments helping hikers and mation is located on the back of presentation will be used with climbers in distress as well as this newsletter. I look forward to other recruitment event items, the personal close friendships meeting you! specifically our vehicle and developed with other members RMRU EZ-UP. My goal is we of the team. In 2014, RMRU was called out will conduct recruitment events on missions averaging nearly at least quarterly. We are always looking for new 1 per week. Considering this team members and hope you strong mission level, as presi- To add interested candidates to will consider joining our team. dent my primary goal for 2015 the team quickly, I have also Prospective members need not is to increase team member- been working closely with RSO have background in backpack- ship to at least 50 active and to expedite the background pro- ing and mountaineering. Month- trained members capable of cess for new team members to ly trainings are required for all responding to missions. To join our team. members and these trainings help achieve this goal I have will assist you in learning the created a Recruitment Com- My second goal is to continue skills necessary to participate in mittee with RMRU along with our rigorous and specialized our search and rescue activities. one person on the Search and training for our new and current As we are part of the Riverside Rescue (SAR) Council, which members so we can safely and County Sheriff’s department, a I have been a member since effectively use our skills during a comprehensive background its creation almost two years mission. check is required before you ago. The SAR Council is di- can participate in any rescue or rected by Sheriff’s Emergency Rob May President RMRU 3 RMRU NEWSLETTER Mission Reviews July 2014 - March 2015 The following pages contain a selection of first hand accounts of RMRU missions written by the team members involved. RMRU volunteers are on call 24/7, to search for and rescue hikers, skiers, rock climbers, and outdoorsmen whenever and wherever needed. Mt. Baldy Missing Hiker tain Rescue who were still in route. to get picked up at an LZ and support February 11, 2015 the extraction. With winds quickly Shortly after my arrival, an elderly approaching, a Cal Fire Helicopter San Gabriel Mountains man was spotted in the vicinity of Written by Kevin Kearn with paramedic already on board was Goode Canyon, where my newly tasked to support the mission. Still RMRU responded to an Office of formed team, once assembled, was unsure if winds would allow the hoist, Emergency Services (OES) request to search next. Things evolved quick- I joined the freshly arrived team from to assist the San Bernardino County ly after some initial difficulty verify- Sierra Madre that was staging to Sheriff on Wednesday morning. San ing that the elderly man was indeed quickly move up the Baldy trail and Bernardino SAR teams were searching our subject. While descending, he then descend to the subject in Goode for a 72-year old missing male in the Canyon ahead of teams that were re- vicinity of the southern side of Mt San directed and approaching from below. Antonio (Elevation 10,068’, AKA “Mt “While descending, he apparently Baldy”). He was out hiking with his missed the turn off the western Fortunately for everyone, the pilots brother on Tuesday when the two got ridge on the Mt Baldy Trail that fol- were able to hoist the subject before separated on the way down in late af- lows into the draw toward the green the winds made it in impossible. We ternoon. His 70 yr-old brother walked ski hut.” returned from our staging area and out at 6:30am Wednesday morning the subject was reunited with his after rescuers had searched all night RMRU RESCUER KEVIN KEARN family at the command post at 1230 for the two. hours. Both of the brothers were apparently missed the turn off the exhausted but in good condition. I was the only RMRU team member western ridge on the Mt Baldy Trail able to respond and it was difficult to that follows into the draw toward RMRU Members Involved: get through morning LA traffic to the the green ski hut. Instead, he drifted Kevin Kearn Sheriff’s command post established down the north slope of the ridge into at the Manker Flats Fire Station. The the heights above Goode Canyon. weather was clear and temperatures Before the slope he was on became TIP “Check your Six” were in the 60s. Although winds too steep for him to safely descend As you hike either on a trail or seemed light, they were increasing as any further, he stopped, exhausted in off one, frequently look back on Santa Ana winds were expected later this spot. in the day. I checked into the com- where you came. Look for key mand post at 10:00am and was put The helicopter on station that spot- local features especially trail on standby. At least 8 teams were in ted him did not have a hoist, so while junctions. Often these only lead the field and I would join up with three coordinating for a hoist-equipped to view points, continuing could personnel from Sierra Madre Moun- aircraft, I was redirected to prepare lead down a streep gully. 4 RMRU NEWSLETTER prepared with food and water, with Stuck Hikers above temps in the low 70’s. Special thanks to Both subjects were instructed how the Tin Canyon Trail our Deputy’s on the ground as well as hoist would work and then hoisted up January 25, 2015 well as our Sheriff’s Aviation! Corona, Ca RMRU Members Involved: Written by Cameron Dickinson Cameron Dickinson On a Sunday afternoon I received a call Sheriff’s Aviation: Chad Marlett (Pilot), from our Call Captain asking whether Eric Hannum (TFO) or not I can respond quickly to a hoist mission to rescue 4 individuals stuck on a steep hill above Tin Canyon Trail in Co- Rescue Couple & 2 Dogs rona.