The following accounts of field operations are the best efforts of the newsletter editor or other source person, are not official reports, and may have errors and omissions, for which apologies and regrets are expressed in advance.
This page will generally contain only operations that have occurred within approximately the past twelve months. All operations can be found in the yearly highlight pages.
August 15, 2010. 10-478 #26. Gus Axel-Chidsey, age 25, of San Francisco, California, suffered a possible broken leg while backpacking near Saddlebag Lake. The SAR team responded and assisted Inyo Forest Fire personnel, who were training in the area and had already begun a rescue effort. Saddlebag Lake Resort personnel also aided in the call by providing boat transportation across the lake. Mr. Axel-Chidsey was transported by his hiking partner to Mammoth Hospital. Responders were: Michalski (Ops), Holmquist, Schmidt, Beck, Rushing, Pavlovsky, and Boyd.
August 15, 2010. 10-476 #25. Sunday morning, August 15, 2010, the Mono County Sheriff's department received a call from a family member of two backpackers who were in the Garnet Lake area. She had received an email notification generated by her family members' SPOT device that they were in need of help. SPOT devices are small, handheld units that give persons the ability to send a help or emergency message by sending a signal to orbiting satellites. The SPOT company then forwards the messages to designated email address and/or rescue authorities. The SAR Team was called out to determine what kind of help was needed. A California Highway Patrol helicopter from Fresno was requested, and the crew was able to determine that the backpackers were okay and had inadvertently pushed the "Need Help" button. Responders were: Greene (Ops), Holmquist, Schmidt, Boyd, Case, Rushing, Dodson, Michalski, Gilbreath, and DeGeorge.
August 14, 2010. 10-472 #24. Angie Ruiz, 19, and her mother, Sally Ruiz, 47, both of Anaheim, California, were hiking in the Horseshoe Lake area and became separated from their group. They wandered downhill on trails but became concerned because they saw only wilderness below them, yet were too exhausted to retrace their steps back uphill. The daughter called 911, and the SAR team was dispatched. A tentative cell phone fix placed them on the Mammoth Pass Trail about halfway between Horseshoe Lake and Reds Meadow. Two hasty teams were sent in to the likely area with cold drinks, food, and umbrellas for shade. One team started at Horseshoe Lake and hiked downhill from Horseshoe Lake, and the other hiked uphill from Reds Meadow so as to increase the chances of locating the two hikers quickly. A third team started hiking from Horseshoe Lake with more extensive medical equipment and a wheeled litter as a precaution. The mother and daughter were located in tired but good condition near the cell phone fix and were escorted downhill to Reds Meadow. Responders were: Holmquist (Ops), Greene, Brad Schilz, Michalski, Dodson, Boyd, Case, DeGeorge, Beck, and Weatherly.
August 12, 2010. 10-468 #23. Jordan Eliades, 87, of Bakersfield, California, fell and struck his head on a rock while camping with family members at Sherwin Lake. The SAR Team was called out to help Eliades back to the trailhead for treatment. The team responded with their wheeled litter, and were able to transport him to the Sherwin Lake trailhead parking lot. A Mono County Paramedic unit transported him to Mammoth Hospital for treatment. Responders were: Greene (Ops), Dodson, Pavlovsky, Holmquist, Schmidt, Michalski, Barnum, Robinson, Lopez, Boyd, Beck, and Hartstrom.
August 11, 2010. 10-463 #22. Robert Schultz, 60, of Lake Tahoe, California, was reported missing in the Saddlebag Lake area after he failed to return from a day hike to his camp with a group at Cascade Lake on Tuesday evening, August 10. The SAR Team, along with a CHP helicopter, conducted a search. The steep terrain around the lake was searched by ground, air and with a K-9 unit. After a number of hours, the search teams found Mr. Schultz, deceased, near a steep rock wall west of the lake. Mr. Schultz was reported to have been a lead member of a ski patrol team from Lake Tahoe, an expert big wall climber and mountaineer who was familiar with the local area. The death is believed to be a result of a solo climber fall and is under investigation. Responders were: DeGeorge (Ops), Greene, Holmquist, Schmidt, Beck, Walker, Corning, Rushing, Case, Dodson, Ackerman, Robertson, Vetter, Weatherly, Michalski, and Barnum.
August 5, 2010. 10-446 #21. Elizabeth Brown, 63, of Berkeley, California, became ill during a backpacking trip near Gem Lake. Some of the SAR team from the Convict Lake rescue were diverted to June Lake and began hiking in to assist her, but a CHP helicopter was able to land near the dam and transport her to Mammoth Hospital. Responders were: DeGeorge (Ops), Beck, and Hartstrom.
August 5, 2010. 10-445 #20. Miguel Lizaragga, 49, of Imperial, California, injured his knee while backpacking in Convict Canyon about two and a half miles above Convict Lake. The SAR team hiked in with a litter and wheel and transported him across the creek and down the trail to Convict Lake, where marina personnel assisted by ferrying him across the lake by boat. Responders were: DeGeorge (Ops), Holmquist, Schmidt, Corning, Walker, Barnum, Michalski, Beck, Hartstrom, and Pavlovsky.
July 31-August 1, 2010. 10-435 #19. Derrick Carbiener, 21, of Mckinleyville, California, was hiking with his father in the Shadow lake area west of Mammoth Lakes when he injured his ankle and knee. The Team was called out to assist Carbiener in getting out of the backcountry. The Team was able to reach him the following morning, and transported him to the Agnew Meadows Trailhead using a wheeled litter. He was taken to Mammoth hospital for treatment. Responders were: Greene (Ops), Holmquist, Schmidt, Michalski, Corning, Pavolvsky, Ackerman, Boyd, Maroti, and O'Brian.
July 25, 2010. 10-414 #18. Horace Gates, 50, of Ridgecrest, CA, and friends from China Lake camped at 8971 feet near a tarn at the base of the east slope of Mt. Morrison, intending to climb the peak in the morning. He awoke feeling ill with vertigo, and the group requested help. The ground teams encountered Mr. Gates on the way in as he was being walked out by his companions. He declined medical aid, and safely descended to his vehicle. Responders were: Greene (Ops), Michalski, Boyd, Salay, Maroti, Scotese, and De George
July 21, 2010. 10-405 #17. Greg Vernon, 62, of Ridgecrest, CA, injured his left knee when kicking steps while descending a snowfield on the east slope of Mt. Ritter. He was unable to put weight on the knee. A companion used a cell phone to call 911 for assistance. Yosemite helicopter 551 was able to evacuate Mr. Vernon to Mammoth airport. County paramedics transported him to Mammoth Hospital. Responders were: DeGeorge (Ops), and Greene.
July 19, 2010. 10-402 #16. On Monday morning, July 19, 2010, Steve Rubenstein of Fayetteville, New York, called 911 to report his friend, Timothy Cushing of Pacifica, California, was suffering from a possible stroke. The two were backpacking in the Eastern Sierra and had stayed the night at the outlet of Iceberg Lake. That morning Cushing started experiencing stroke symptoms so Rubenstein began hiking out to the trailhead for help. He came across another group of backpackers who had a cell phone that was able to receive signal in the backcountry and called for help using their phone. The Mono County Sheriff's Department called out the search and rescue team, and due to the remoteness of Cushing's location the team requested the help of the Yosemite National Park rescue helicopter. The helicopter was able to land near Cushing's campsite at the lake, and was able to transport him to a waiting ambulance at the Mariposa Airfield. He was taken to Modesto Memorial Hospital for treatment. Responders were: Greene (Ops), Holmquist, Brad Schilz, Carole Schilz, Walker, Salay, Robertson, Ackerman, Michalski, and Maroti.
July 17, 2010. 10-397 #15. A 13 year old boy from Diamond Bar wandered away from his hiking group at the Sherwin Lakes on July 17. The Mono SAR team was activated, and search teams began to deploy in the area, but the boy was located soon thereafter by members of his group. Responders were: Holmquist (ops), Michalski, Carole Shilz, Brad Schilz, Schmidt, Case, Ackerman, Walker, and Maroti.
July 15, 2010. 10-394 #14. Valerie Ice, 54, of Mammoth, planned to carry food supplies over Lamarck Col to backpackers hiking through Darwin Basin. The two parties did not meet as planned, and the backpackers hiked east over Lamarck Col and found Ice's empty campsite. The food supply was gone. The backpackers had cell phone signal, and alerted the Inyo County authorities who launched a SAR mission. Mono SAR responded in mutual aid along with China Lake SAR and a National Guard helicopter. Ice was located in good condition near Lamarck Col late in the morning of 16 July by a climbing party that was also in the area. Responders were: Holmquist, Beck, and Rousek.
July 11, 2010. 10-384 #13. Two friends from Mammoth Lakes, Dave Shelton and Randy Sly, went backpacking in the Convict Creek area south of Mammoth Lakes the weekend of July 10, 2010. While hiking out from their trip on Sunday they ran out of water, with Sly and an accompanying dog suffering from possible heat stroke. Shelton hiked out to the Convict Lake marina and notified the Mono County Sheriff's Department. The Mono County Sheriff's Search and Rescue Team was called out and were able to reach Sly quickly with fluids for both he and the dog. After hydration, Sly and the team were able to walk out, but the dog, a 16 year-old golden retriever named Toby, was carried out using the team's wheeled litter due to his age, dehydration, and injuries to his paws. Responders were: Greene (Ops), Michalski, Rushing, Brad Schilz, Carole Schilz, Boyd, Cogan, Case, Maroti, Ackerman, and Walker.
July 7, 2010. 10-378 #12. Allen Updedraff, 67, of Houston TX, slipped on snow while backpacking across Donahue Pass, then slid into rocks and severely injured his shoulder. Another party was able to call for help via cell phone. Yosemite helicopter 551 flew in to the area through thunderstorms to attempt an extrication, and Mono SAR began to deploy a medical team by ground as a back-up to the helicopter. Other Mono SAR personnel were on standby for helicopter insertion in case the patient needed to be shuttled to a distant landing zone. The helicopter offloaded paramedics who walked the patient to the aircraft and then flew Updedraff to Crane Flat for further transport by ambulance. Responders were: Holmquist (Ops), Michalski, Pavlovsky, Greene, Corning, Gilbreath, Ackerman, Toussaint, and Salay.
July 7, 2010. 10-376 #11. Ladislav Terek, 50, of Hayward, CA, was reported overdue from a backpacking trip around the Sawtooth Range, near Bridgeport. The SAR team was activated in unified command with Yosemite National Park, as his route traversed both jurisdictions. A National Guard helicopter was also dispatched. As the field teams were leaving base, Terek walked out. He had been turned around by extensive, late season snow at Mule Pass and had been slow in retracing his route to Twin lakes. Responders were: Holmquist (Ops), Rushing, Lemon, Dodson, Toussaint, Schilling, Carole Schilz, Brad Schilz, Pavlovsky, Gilbreath, Davenport, Barnum, Greene, and Corning.
July 5-6, 2010. 10-372 #10. On Monday afternoon, July 5, 2010, Robert Butler, 66, of San Diego, was reported missing while returning from a backpacking trip after failing to meet his hiking group at their vehicle parked at the Sawmill Canyon trailhead parking lot southwest of Lee Vining. Mono County Sheriff Search and Rescue Team members began searching for him that afternoon, along with a Sea Hawk rescue helicopter from Naval Air Station Fallon and personnel from the Inyo National Forest. The following morning additional search resources were requested, and the search continued with the support of four California Rescue Dog Association search dogs/handlers, plus members of the Inyo County Sheriff's Posse. Mr. Butler was subsequently located early that morning after he contacted the caretaker at a private housing community at Walker Lake. He had taken a wrong fork in a trail while returning to the vehicle, and had spent the night approximately two miles northeast of the trailhead parking lot. He was uninjured and returned to San Diego with his hiking group. Responders were: Greene (Ops), Maroti, Brad Schilz, Carole Schilz, Boyd, Dodson, Gilbreath, Rushing, Hartstrom, Michalski, Davenport, Walker, Cogan, Bold, Holmquist, Schmidt, Corning, Weatherly, Pierce (Inyo), Day (Inyo), Durand (Carda), Smee (Carda), and Sheets (Cardo).
July 5, 2010. 10-none #9. Dave Amin, of Rolling Hills Estates, and his family of four began a hike from Minaret Vista, lost the trail in the snow and became disoriented with no landmarks in view due to tree coverage. He called 911 with his cell phone for aid, and a Team member was able to guide them via phone to a point uphill where landmarks were visible. They walked out to Highway 203 and returned to their car. Responders were: Greene (Ops), and Gilbreath.
June 2, 2010. 10-300 #8. Keith Nannery, 60, of Joshua Tree, rappelled off the end of his rope, in the far northern end of Owens Gorge, and fell 20'. After the fall, he was unable to stand, complained of chest, back, pelvic, and leg pain, and had intermittent mild nausea, but was generally stable with good vital signs. The SAR team and SO personnel responded to the scene, sending a hasty medical team to assess and support the patient and scouting teams to look for a route that could be used for transport by wheeled litter. Mono County paramedics were called for medical support, and the medics also scrambled down the class 3 access route to reach Nannery. Finding no suitable route for the wheeled litter, the SAR team lowered the litter down the climbing route, and then did a technical raising of the patient and a litter attendent. Nannery was then transported to SME by the medics. He was later determined to have fractured his pelvis in two locations resulting in some internal bleeding Responders were: Holmquist (ops), Bold, Pavlovsky, Corning, Greene, Case, B Schilz, C Schilz, Beck, Thompson, Schilling, Walker, and Weatherly.
May 31-June 1, 2010. 10-289 #7. Michael Oberth, of Lincoln, CA, was severely injured while skiing in the Matterhorn Peak area. He took a fall down a rock slope, suffering severe head injuries. One of his sons that were skiing with him skied/hiked to their base camp and notified his mother. She hiked out to Mono Village and called 911. The SAR team responded to Mono Village and sent teams in with medical and victim transport gear. The SAR team located the subject at 2246, deceased. Followup teams arrived, and did a snow lowering to a flat LZ. All team members returned to base, except for two team members who stayed with the remains overnight. The following morning a Blackhawk helicopter from the National Guard arrived and was able to land at the field team's location. The helicopter transported the remains and the two team members to the Bridgeport airport. Responders were: Greene (Ops), Beck, Rousek, Winder, Holmquist, Pavlovsky, Hartstrom, Salay, Gilbreath, Thompson, Barnum, Maroti, Bold, Cogan, Dodson, Robertson, DeGeorge, and Walker.
May 24, 2010. 10-266 #6. Anthony Aguilera Jr., of Santa Bianca, was reported missing in the cold early hours of 24 May after a night out with friends and family at Convict Lake Resort. He was last seen leaving his father's rented cabin at resort and was enroute to his own cabin. The Mono SAR team was dispatched and searched the area surrounding the resort with additional support from Mono County Sheriff personnel and a dog team from Inyo SAR. A helicopter from CHP had also been requested but was not yet enroute. Aguilera returned to the resort at 6:15 AM. He had walked up a hill, fallen down, and decided to sleep where he fell before returning to his cabin. Responders were: Holmquist (Ops), Bold, Schmidt, Pavlovsky, Lopez, Dodson, Rousek, and Pierce (Inyo).
February 6-7, 2010. 10-069 #3. Sara Knadler, 48, of Crowley Lake, and Kevin Crane, 54, of Malibu, were snowmobiling in the Crestview area and became stuck. They were unable to contact friends for assistance, and the SAR team was dispatched to bring the two in from the backcountry. The field team was also able to extricate the two snowmobiles. Responders were: Holmquist (ops), Greene (ops), Schilling.
January 9-10, 2010. 10-019 #1. Robert Lane, 60, of Mono County, was located deceased by Team personnel on Sunday, January 10, 2009, at approximately noon just off of Highway 120 near Sagehen Summit. The prior day Lane’s sister had called the Sheriff’s department, requesting that a welfare check be made as she had not had contact with her brother for several weeks. Lane lived alone in a remote area of Mono County south of Sagehen Summit that is only accessible in the winter by snowmobile. A Mono County Deputy and a Team member drove snowmobiles out Highway 120, reaching Lane’s unoccupied vehicle that was parked in drifted snow on the shoulder of Highway 120 at Big Sand Flat. They then snowmobiled to Lane’s house but were unable to locate him at his residence. On Sunday morning the Team, along with Sheriff personnel, used snowmobiles and the Sheriff’s Thiokol snow cat to begin the search for Lane. He was located lying in the snow a few hours after the search commenced, approximately a mile from his vehicle. Responders were: Greene (ops), P. DeGeorge, Beck, Brenninkmeyer, Corning, Holmquist, Michalski, Rousek, Schmidt, Brad Schilz, Scotese, Hartstrom, and Salay.
December 29, 2009. 09-881 #52. James McCurrie, 51, and Kevin McKown, 46, both from Irvine, CA, were snowhoeing on the Sherwin mountains ridgeline and become disoriented/stranded due to darkness, high winds and blowing snow. The only light source they had was a small AA flashlight, leaving them at risk to safely descend the mountainside in the poor weather conditions. The SAR Team was called out and staged at the Tamarack Lodge winter gate closure. Field teams accessed the area by snowmobiles and snowshoes. Following a ground search, the victims were located un-injured at the top of the ridge line. They were provided with head lamps and escorted down. Responders were: Greene (Ops), P. DeGeorge, Salay, Thompson, Schilling, Pavlovsky, and Vetter.
December 17, 2009, 09-860 #51. Melissa Sneekes, 25, of Fullerton, CA., lost control of her snowmobile while riding in the Big Springs area, east of Hwy 395. She sustained moderate injuries to her shoulder, hands, and leg, and the SAR team and Mono County paramedics were dispatched. Two medics were transported to the site by other members of Sneekes' snowmobiling party, followed by the SAR team snowmobiles and toboggan. The patient was transported to the trailhead by toboggan and then to the hospital by ambulance. Responders were: Holmquist (Ops), P. DeGeorge, Michalski, Jim Lemon, Pavlovsky, Walker, Greene, and Salay.
December 10, 2009, 09-849 #50. Jay LaFontaine, 49, from Pleasanton, CA was reported overdue from a backroads trip between Bodie and Death Valley. His vehicle was found unoccupied in the Bodie Hills, and the SAR team was called out to search for him. His tracks were located in the snow leading away from the vehicle. The Team tracked on snowshoes then on snowmobiles, and discovered his remains. Responders were: Greene (Ops), Salay, Schmidt, Hartstrom, Winder, Vetter, Corning, and P. DeGeorge.
November 30, 2009, 09-835 #49. The team was called to assist a Lyon County, Nevada search and rescue operation to aid two groups of campers stranded in deep snow in the Risue Canyon area and the Dry Lake area. Mono County Sheriff deputies assisted with the snowcat. The Polaris Ranger and two of the team's snowmobiles were deployed. A rescue helicopter from Naval Air Station Fallon responded, and extracted nine people and a dog. Responders were: Beck, Leyen, and Hartstrom.
November 29, 2009, 09-832 #48. Christopher Schreur, 27, from Orange City, Iowa, Robert Double, 23, from Farmington New York, Andrew Bard, 23, from Harleyville, PA, and Timothy Zorchenko, 21, from Sacramento, CA, were stranded in the White Mountains when their vehicles were unable to travel through heavy snow drifted across the road. With the aid of Tim Winkler of the Inyo County SAR Team and their snowcat, the victims were found, along with another standed party of two people. All were transported to clear road, and later to Bishop by Mr. Winkler. Responders were: Pete DeGeorge (ops), Greene, Pavlovsky, Tim Winkler (Inyo SO).
The following narrative by Bill Greene is a good read:
Winter campers decided to drive up to the White Mountains and do a little snow camping. They made it to the standard rescue spot just above the Patriarch Grove intersection. Parked cars and walked in a few miles to snow camp. Came back to their cars after the snow storm on November 27-28 and lo and behold the not too much snow had drifted in the road.
They called for help via texting their friends who called 911 (not sure I have my facts right here as this all went thru Inyo SO). Inyo SAR's Tim Winkler started working up the call and once it was determined that it was Mono County we got notified.
I was driving back from San Diego and just happened to get a call from Pete DeGeorge while I was passing thru Bishop. Pete tried calling several Mono SAR people trying to see who could bring down the sleds and Ranger with no luck.
I talked to Tim Winkler and got permission to get Inyo SAR's snowcat rolling for mutual aid. Tim was the only Inyo SAR available as a lot of their team had gone climbing at Red Rocks for Thanksgiving, plus he's one of their few cat qualified people. I met Tim at the posse hut and we hooked up the cat to their tow vehicle. We drove up and launched about a mile or two below the visitor center due to slick roads - we knew we were in for a long, slow ride in the cat.
It took, I think, about three hours of very slow going with the cat - lots of drifts in spots that were sometimes 3-6 foot deep across the road. We came upon a CHP officer who had driven in very far, and then got his vehicle stuck in a three-foot drift. He then walked in about two miles and then went back to his vehicle to dig it out. He had just finished when we met up with him.
Tim had to do some blade work to break down later drifts so the cat could get thru. I don't think the snow mo's could have done it due to the long stretches of dry road, and the ranger would have been stopped by the drifts. The cat with the blade was the ideal machine for this op. It even struggled the last half mile due to the uphill thru snow and elevation (over 11k) sapping it's horsepower. During the last uphill we were only going at times at a walking pace with the accelerator floored. Gorgeous night - almost a full moon and no wind.
We only thought that there were two people stranded, but upon arrival it was two unrelated parties. Two cars and five people!! We loaded them and their gear and headed back to the launch point in a very cramped cab and long, slow ride. Another reason that the ranger and snomo's would have not been the best tools. It took over two hours or so to get back. Pete took all the info for the salmon form via cellphone, and TW drove all the subjects to a Bishop hotel/Denny's.
They pulled their cars off the main road so in case they had to leave them for the winter the WMRC cat would not drive over them if they got buried.
Google Earth image of operation location
November 21, 2009, 09-821 #47. Michael Boykin, 69, from Coleville, CA was found deceased just inside the Douglas County, Nevada line. Team members responded to assist with transporting Mono and Douglas County Sheriff personnel to the site via the Polaris Ranger. Responders were: Greene (ops), Michalski, and Hartstrom.
November 1, 2009, 09-788 #46. Gwen Gifford, 37, from Vermont, was participating in a cross country paragliding clinic near the Hi Head hydro power station in the White Mountains. She was unable to maintain altitude and impacted the mountainside. The Team responded to the launch site to assist with the Life Flight helicopter loading. Her injuries were severe, and she died during the helicopter to Minden, NV. Responders were: Pete DeGeorge (Ops), Greene, Holmquist, Schmidt, Pavlovski, Weatherly, Case, Scotese, and Beck.
October 31, 2009, 09-786 #45. Hadi Darejeh ,51, and Darius Chakur, 37, both from the Los Angles area, were exploring the White Mountain range near 12,000 feet when their vehicle became stuck in snow drifts on USFS road 4S01 near the Barcroft station. They used a cell phone to call 911 for help. A tow truck was unable to reach them due to snow. Team members hiked in approximately two miles and escorted them to a point where the Sheriff's Department Ranger UTV picked them up. They were not injured, and were transported to a motel in Bishop. Responders were: Greene (Ops), Holmquist, Pavlovski, Beck, and Pete DeGeorge.
Google Earth image from the south looking north
October 27-31, 2009, 09-777 #44. On the evening of Monday, October 26, Kenneth Wade Brunette, 73, of Hansville, WA was reported 24 hours overdue from a solo day hike of Mt. Whitney on the previous day. Interviewed hikers reported seeing Brunette 1.5 miles south of the summit, on the trail, moving slowly toward the summit at 3:30 on Sunday afternoon.
Conditions on Sunday were clear and warm. Inyo County SAR responded Tuesday morning assisted by personnel from China Lake and Mono County SAR teams. As the search continued, teams from Sequoia/Kings Canyon and Yosemite National Parks, Kern, Montrose, Sierra Madre, Fresno, Tulare, Los Angeles, Contra Costa joined the effort and were supported with National Guard, CHP, and Park Service helicopter units.
Victim's pack spotted from the air
Conditions deteriorated by the start of the search on Tuesday and weather was generally cold, windy, and stormy, and snow slowed travel.
On Saturday, October 31, Brunette's body was located by a ground team at the southeastern base of Mt. Muir on a steep snowfield at the bottom of cliffs. The body was lowered by rope on the snowfield and carried to a point from which a CH-47 helicopter was able to do a hoist raising. Mono SAR was in the field on all search days. Responders were: Holmquist, Pavlovsky, Beck, Leyen, and Greene.
Google Earth image from the west looking east
Google Earth image from the east looking west
October 16, 2009, 09-758 #43. Kevin Garbi, 36, and Randall Dennis, 46, both from Louis, CA., were on a backpack trip beginning from Lake Mary. During their trip, a storm with rain and snowfall across much of their route stranded them in the Reds Meadows area. Their boots and camping gear became water soaked from the wet snow, and they were unable to continue. They called 911 from the pay phone at Red's Meadows Pack Station. SAR Team members staged at the USFS helispot in Mammoth Lakes. Snow and road conditions prevented use of snowmobiles or wheeled vehicles to reach the two. A CHP helicopter was utilized to fly them out. They were cold but uninjured and declined medical attention. Responders were: Greene (Ops), Pete DeGeorge, Holmquist, Schmidt, Michalski, Rushing, Pavlovski, Brad Schilz, Carole Schilz, Schilling, and Corning.
October 9, 2009, 09-751 #42. Bert Howard, 75, of Groveland, CA. became separated from the rest of his hiking party while walking along roads in the Lookout Mountain area. Mono County Sheriff deputies and CHP responded, and the SAR team was dispatched shortly thereafter to search the area. Meanwhile, Mr. Howard encountered a truck, not involved in the search, and the driver took him to Hwy 395 where a Sheriffs Office vehicle was flagged down, ending the search. Responders were: Holmquist (Ops), Madrid (MCSO), Riley (CHP), Pete DeGeorge (MCSO/SAR), Schmidt, Minder (MCSO), Case, Pavlovsky, Carole Schilz, Hartstrom, Greene, and Michalski.
September 28-October 2, 2009, 09-730 #41. Our Team was requested to provide mutual aid to Calaveras County to search for Devin Smith, 37, of Angels Camp, who did not return from a solo daytime hunting trip on 28 September. He had been hunting a few miles northwest of the nearby community of Dorrington, and search efforts began on the 29th. The terrain was rolling, with much brush, deadfall, and logging debris, and was covered with a dense network of logging roads. By Friday, 2 October, teams from Calaveras, Amador, Alpine, El Dorado, Tuolumne, Merced, Mariposa, Mono, and Marin counties had joined the search assisted by air resources from CHP. Smith walked out on his own on Friday afternoon. Mono responder: Holmquist.
September 25-26, 2009, 09-715 #40. About 10 PM on September 25, 2009, the Team was activated to search for an overdue day hiker. Mabel Grall, 44, of Aiea, Hawaii, started hiking from the June Lake loop at 12:30 PM with the intention of being at Thousand Island Lake at sunset. The SAR team searched through the night and the next day with assistance from California Highway Patrol helicopter H80 and the Inyo County SAR team. The subject made a very long and difficult descent from Clark Lakes on a direct cross country route, reaching the the June Lake Loop road about 4 PM. She experienced numerous slips and falls in the steep terrain and water courses, but despite injury was able to keep going. She was evaluated by the Mono County Paramedic crew, and transported to Mammoth Hospital for treatment. Responders were: Holmqist (ops), Greene (ops), Schmidt, Salay, Case, Rushing, Rousek, Gilbreath, Brenninkmeyer, Schilling, Brad Schilz, Carole Schilz, Vetter, Pavlovsky, Claassen and DeGeorge.
September 24, 2009, 09-708 #39. Donna Nilsen, 49, of Salinas, was reported overdue from a day hike between Tuolumne Meadows and Silver Lake. She had been expected to arrive on the evening of the 23rd, but did not. The SAR team was activated on the morning of the 24th, and a ground team began hiking from Silver Lake towards Donahue Pass, where she had her last cell phone contact with her friends. Repeated attempts to reach her by cell phone were finally rewarded, and the team learned that she was only about a mile from the trailhead. The field team reached Nilsen and escorted her to Silver Lake. Responders were: Holmquist (ops), Schmidt, Vetter, Beck, DeGeorge, Pavlovsky, Walker.
September 20, 2009, 09-704 #38. Austin Plummer, 20, of Santa Cruz, CA, was reported to be injured from a fall when descending Matterhorn Peak. Mr. Plummer tumbled approximately 200 feet down a snow field on the east side of the mountain. Helicopter 551 from Yosemite National Park was able to insert a ground team from YOSAR to an LZ approximately a half mile from the victim. They determined that Mr. Plummer had not survived the fall. Helicopter 551 did a long-line haul to the LZ, then transported the body to Bryant Field. Mono SAR members hiked in to retrieve the victim's equipment. Responders were: Greene (ops), Holmquist, Schmidt, Hartstrom, Winder, Thompson, Walker, Schilling, Brad Schilz, Pavlovsky, and Beck.
September 18, 2009, 09-695 #37. The Team was called out for a report of rock fall on Crystal Crag, and searched the area for possible victims. None were found. Trail block interviews located a climber who reported initiating the rock fall, but no climbers were injured. Responders were: Greene (ops), Holmquist, Pavlovsky, Walker, Thompson, Salay, and Brad Schilz.
September 15, 2009, 09-691 #36. Megan McGovern, 39, of Los Angeles, became stranded while hiking above Sky Meadows in the Lakes Basin. She was not injured, but was unable to go either up or down safely, and called for assistance. Teams were dispatched to the area to begin looking for her and then assist with getting her to a safer location. The SAR team successfully located her in steep terrain, set up a series of belays, and escorted her to the trailhead. Responders were: Michalski (ops), Greene, Brad Schilz, Carole Schilz, Pavlovsky, Salay, Schilling, Walker,and Corning.
September 12, 2009, 09-687 #35. Doug Canepa injured his lower leg while hiking to Glacier Pass above Thousand Island Lake. Jeff Butler, a member of the party, encountered a USFS backcountry ranger, who radioed for assistance. The SAR Team responded as well as CHP helicopter H80. When the ranger arrived at the patient about an hour later, Mr. Canepa refused further assistance. Responders were: Holmquist.
September 9, 2009, 09-681 #34. Patricia Rothwell, 65, of Thousand Oaks, CA, was reported overdue by her husband while hiking from the summit of Mammoth Mountain to Tamarack Lodge. A brief cell phone call with the subject verified that she was not injured, was on a trail, but was unable to identify her location or direction of travel. Three ground teams responded (from our monthly meeting) to the search area, and were able to establish voice contact and reach the subject quickly. She was guided to the parking area at Horseshoe Lake, and driven to join her husband at Tamarack Lodge. Responders were: Greene (ops), Gilbreath, Holmquist, Schilling, B. Schilz, C. Schilz, Case, Rushing, Schmidt, Michalski, Pavlovsky, Corning, Vetter, Beck, Claassen and Walker.
September 6, 2009, 09-673 #33. Richard Lease, 26, and Karen Vesco, 27, of Goleta, CA, got off-route during a climb of Laurel Mt. from Convict Lake and became stranded amid difficult terrain on the evening of September 5. The Team was activated and staged near the mountain at 6 AM on September 6. Ground teams carrying technical equipment climbed to the summit from Laurel Creek while a CHP helicopter responded to search. The ground teams descended on the Convict Lake side to the stranded climbers and belayed them past a difficult section of poor quality rock to the summit, and then descended with them to Laurel Creek. Responders were: Holmquist (Ops), Schmidt, Greene, Gilbreath, Brad Schilz, Winder, Schilling, Scotese, Case, Hall, and Rushing.
September 4, 2009, 09-671 #32. Jonathan Flaa, 35, of San Bernardino, CA, and Kevin Anderson, 42, of Running Springs, CA, set out from the shore near Lee Vining in a tandem kayak to tour Mono Lake. During their trip the winds began to increase, creating large waves that prevented them from returning to Lee Vining. They were able to beach their kayak, on Gaines Island near the northwest shore of Mono Lake, and called for help with their cell phone. The Mono County Sheriff boat patrol and the Mono County Sheriff Search and Rescue Team responded to the lake. Due to the shallow water near where they beached their kayak, the search and rescue team used an inflatable boat with an electric motor to reach the two who were approximately a half mile from shore. The winds and waves had decreased since they had become stranded, allowing them to paddle their kayak to shore while being guided by the SAR Team. Responders were: Greene (Ops), Brenninkmeyer, Holmquist, Schmidt, Rushing, Pavlovsky, Brad Schilz, Salay, Vetter, and Hall.
September 3, 2009, 09-666 #31. On September 2, Edmundo Saenz, 52, of Fairfield, CA, was reported as overdue from a solo climb of Split Mt. that began on September 1. Air search by a CHP helicopter began on the afternoon of September 2. On the morning of September 3, Mono County SAR Team responded to a mutual aid request, joining ground teams from Inyo SAR, China Lake SAR, and Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks to search the area. Helicopters from CHP, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, and China Lake Air Naval Weapons Station responded to insert ground teams and search from the air. That afternoon, search base received word that Saenz had been picked up on a road to the northeast of the search area and was uninjured. The climber had taken the incorrect descent gully, spent the first night stuck in a gully, descended the gully and spent the next night near Tinnemaha Creek, walked out to a road on September 3. Responders were: Holmquist (Ops), Beck, and Salay.
August 30-31, 2009, 09-653 and 2009-LAW-0288 #30. Jeff Maurer, 47, of El Portal, CA, suffered fatal injuries as the result of a climbing leader fall on the lenticular limbo climbing route on the Third Pillar of Mount Dana near Lee Vining. A nearby climber hiked out to report the incident. A CHP helicopter was unable to assist in the recovery due to high winds, downdrafts and steep terrain. A Mono SAR ground team was dispatched, but was turned back by steep-loose terrain and darkness. At 5:00 am on August 31, a second Mono SAR team started climbing and reached the victim. Helicopter 551 from Yosemite was unable to do a short haul due to continued high winds, but assisted by transporting ground teams from Yosemite and Mono SAR teams to the Dana Plateau. Mr. Maurer was raised 700 feet to the plateau, from which he was transported by helicopter. Responders were: Greene (ops), Schmidt (ops), Holmquist, Salay, Michalski, Pavlovsky, Case, Corning, Rousek, J. Lemon, Rushing, Winder, Claassen and P. DeGeorge.
August 20, 2009, 09-626 #29. Chris Horton, 50, and his 14 year old daughter called for help after becoming stranded on a steep talus slope while trying to get from Crystal Lake to the Mammoth Crest. The SAR team was able to reach the subjects in class 3 terrain, and assisted them up to the Crest Trail where they were able to hike out with Team members to the trailhead. Responders were: Greene (ops), Beck, Michalski, B. Schilz, C. Schilz, Salay, Holmquist, Schmidt, Pavlovsky, Weatherly, Rushing, Hall, P. DeGeorge.
August 16, 2009, 09-611 #28. Larry Goodman, 63, from Sausalito, CA was reported overdue while hiking from Tuolumne Meadows to Sonora Pass. Team members began searching south from Sonora Pass, and quickly encountered Mr. Goodman, who had underestimated the time needed for his trip. Responders were: Green (ops), Hartstrom, Holmquist, Schmidt, C. Schilz, B. Schilz, P. DeGeorge.
August 14, 2009, 09-619 #27. Steve Mays, 36, from Elk Grove, CA became ill while ascending to Sherwin Lakes on a backpacking trip. A hiking partner jogged out to obtain help. Team members hiked in with a wheeled litter, accompanied by Mono County paramedics. Mr. Mays was transported to the trailhead via litter, then to Mammoth Hospital via ambulance. Responders were: Schmidt (ops), Holmquist, Greene, Salay, Pete DeGeorge, Brad Schilz, Carole Schilz, Case and Brenninkmeyer.
August 11-12, 2009, 09-605 #26. On August 11, Jack Winkler, subject of operaton #25 on August 8-9, reported by cell phone that he was stranded Northwest of Pond Lily Lake, had been without food and water for 3 days, and that his dog had left him. The Team responded with a member inserted by CHP helicopter H40, located him, moved him to a safe place, and stayed with him that night. On the morning of August 12, the Team member located his dog near the confluence on the north side of the river, and brought her back to Mr. Winkler. CHP helicopter H40 again landed nearby, and after medical evaluation transported Mr. Winkler to the Forest Service helipad near Mammoth Lakes, where he refused medical care by the County Paramedics, and was taken by a Mono County Sheriff Deputy to the local medical clinic. Responders were: Greene (ops), Holmquist, Michalski, Salay, Rushing, Rousek, Corning, Gilbreath, Thompson, Pavlovsky, and Pete DeGeorge.
August 8-9, 2009, 09-597 #25. Jack Winkler, 76, of Mammoth Lakes, was taken by Reds Meadow Pack Station to a camp near Cold Creek on July 24 with a wilderness permit for 11 nights. He was due to be picked up by the packer on August 4. He was not at this camp then or on subsequent days on August 5, 6, and 7. The Team began a ground and air search on August 8. Mr. Winkler was located by ground teams at his second camp near the confluence of Fish Creek and the San Joaquin River late in the afternoon of August 8. He declined assistance, and indicated he intended to stay there until August 11. SAR Team members spent the night and came out on August 9. Responders were: Greene (ops), Gilbreath (ops asst.), Michalski, Holmquist, Schmidt, Pavlovsky, Corning, Vetter, Rushing, Salay, Jim Lemon, Scotese, and Pete DeGeorge.
Ops 09-593 River Trail/PCT - Ryan Salay Photo
August 5, 2009, 09-593 #24. The Sheriff's Office received a 911 call from Diana Kikovsky, who's husband, 62 year old Sergey Dikovsky of Brooklyn, New York, was experiencing severe abdominal pain while backpacking near Thousand Island Lake. The team responded, and also requested the assistance of a California Highway Patrol helicopter from Fresno.
Due to high winds the helicopter was unable to land near the subject, so Search and Rescue Team members were transported, along with a wheeled litter, to a spot approximately one mile from his location. He was located by team members and transported to the waiting helicopter which transported him to Mammoth Airport. He was taken by ambulance to Mammoth Hospital for treatment. Responders were: Greene (ops), Michalski, Pavlovsky, Jim Lemon, Rushing, Salay, Vetter, Corning, Pete DeGeorge, Holmquist, Schmidt.
Ops 09-584 - Balloon recovered from Ski Lake - Barry Beck Photo
August 1, 2009, 09-584 #23. The Sheriff's Office received a report of a partially submerged raft on Ski Lake, near Leavitt Lake.
A SAR team was dispatched to investigate. An object was visible in the water, so the team donned immersion suits and swam to the object to investigate.
The object turned out to be a large novelty balloon with a rock attached. Origin unknown. Responders were: Holmquist (ops), Beck, Leyen
July 28, 2009, 09-577 #22. Catherine O'Neil, 50, from Anaheim Hills, CA. was reported missing while walking with her 9 year old son in the Mammoth Lakes Basin area. The Team was called out to search for them. While driving across the bridge between two lakes, the operations leader heard shouting coming from the far side of the lake just to the east of the cascade from Lake Mamie. Searchers were able to reach the two quickly, who were uninjured. They had lost their way in the brush around the cascade, and stopped when it became too dark to move. They were escorted back to their campsite at Twin Lakes. Responders were: Greene (ops), Michalski (ops), Salay, Holmquist, Schmidt, Pavlovsky, Brad Schilz, Carole Schilz, and Thompson.
Ops 09-534 Gem Lake injured foot rescue - Barry Beck Photo
July 14, 2009, 09-534 #21. Bryce Keel, 18, from Victorville, CA. was camping above Gem Lake with a Scout organization when he injured his foot while chopping wood. Four field teams responded.
One team hiked to the subject directly, and the other three teams hiked to Agnew Lake then were aided by SCE employees who activated the tram system and boats.
The subject was carried by litter to the upper end of Gem Lake, then moved by SCE boats across Gem and Agnew Lakes, and down the tram to the power plant on Rush Creek.
SAR members transported Mr. Keel via Rescue 2 to Mammoth Hospital for treatment. Responders were: Michalski (Ops), Greene, Salay, Beck, Pavlovsky, Merchant, Holmquist, Schmidt and Schilling.
July 10, 2009, 09-524 #20. Denette Hardy, 48, from Ontario, CA, fell while hiking 4 miles up the Minaret Lake trail, and injured her ankle. Her husband hiked out to obtain help. The SAR Team responded with litter and medical supplies, accompanied by Park Service personnel from Devils Postpile. The subject was evacuated via litter to the trailhead, and was transported to Mammoth Hospital by private vehicle for treatment. Responders were: Schmidt (Ops), Holmquist, Michalski, Pavlovsky, Corning, Vetter, and Case.
July 8, 2009, 09-517 #19. Donald Hall, 52, from Dallas Port, WA. and Sherril Wilson, 54, from Turner, OR. were enroute from Phoenix to Fresno, CA. in a Cessna 182P. No flight plan was filed After refueling at Mammoth Lakes Airport, the aircraft was reported by a witness to be flying very low on a westerly heading over the Twin Lakes area, as though it was sightseeing and that it didn't have enough altitude to clear the pass to the west. The aircraft impacted trees while maneuvering at a low altitude, and the pilot and his passenger were killed. The Team did a search grid around the crash site for debris and assisted with the recovery of the remains. Responders were: Greene (Ops), Schmidt, Holmquist, Michalski, Weatherly, Case, Pavlovsky, Brad Schilz, Carole Schilz, Rushing, Salay, Schilling, Corning, Vetter, and DeGeorge.
Ops 09-513 injured hiker - Trudi Patrick and Ryan Salay Photo
July 7, 2009, 09-513 #18. Roger Patrick, 59, from Thousand Oaks, CA was hiking near Lake Helen when his leg postholed through the snow and he injured his knee. 8 Team members hiked to his location, splinted his leg, provided first aid and began the carryout.
Due to difficult terrain, a second calling post was initiated and 7 additional Mono County SAR members responded and hiked in to assist. The injured person was brought out to the Saddlebag Lake trailhead where he was escorted to Mammoth Hospital by a Team member in the injured person's personal vehicle. Responders were: Michalski (Ops), Rushing, Salay, Hartstrom, Jim Lemon, DeGeorge, Case, Beck, Pavlovsky, Greene, Brenninkmeyer, Holmquist, Corning, Vetter, Schmidt, and Thompson.
July 5, 2009, 09-502 #17. Renowned climber John Bachar, 51, residing in Mammoth Lakes, was free-soloing the Dike Wall above Lake George when he fell. There were no witnesses to the actual fall, but nearby climbers reached him in less than one minute after he fell. The Team was called to assist Mammoth Fire Department and Mono County Paramedics with the evacuation. Responders treated the climber on scene (who had sustained major injuries), did a hand-carry of the liter through the boulder field, and a wheeled litter carry-out down the trail to the boat dock. He was transported across the lake to Medic 3's ambulance. He was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at Mammoth Hospital. Responders were: Greene (Ops), Michalski, Schilling, Salay, Rushing, Jim Lemon, Schmidt, and Holmquist.
July 3, 2009, 09-487 #16. Scott Kellerman, 63, of Nevada City, CA, fell and hit his head while descending Red Slate Mountain. He hiked back up for cell service and called to report that he had sustained head lacerations and possible vision impairment, and he would try to hike out. SAR team members hiked in with medical supplies, litter and wheel for potential transport of the subject. A CHP helicopter from Fresno also responded, but was released. Scott was encountered on the trail 5 miles in, and was able to hike out with the team. He was accompanied to Mammoth Hospital for treatment of his injuries. Responders were: Schmidt (ops), Beck, Case, Corning, DeGeorge, Holmquist, Lemon, J., Lemon, L., Rushing, Salay, Schilling, Thompson, Vetter
Ops 09-478 Bridgeport Reservoir Search - Barry Beck Photo
July 2, 2009, 09-478 #15. Lawrence Eugene Mitchell, 81, from Los Angeles was last seen fishing from his boat in the Bridgeport Reservoir on July 1.
An observer on the shore saw that the boat had become flooded, and called 911. On July 2 the Team responded to assist with the search.
The victim's body was eventually recovered on July 3 by San Bernardino dive team members. Responders were: DeGeorge (Ops), Beck, Hartstrom, Holmquist, Rushing, Salay, and Schilling.
Ops 09-453 Fantail Lake rescue - Barry Beck Photo
June 19, 2009, 09-453 #14. Shannon Ferguson from Ellerslie, GA was hiking with a college geology field trip just above Fantail Lake. At approximately 3:30 PM as she was jumping from rock to rock during a stream crossing, she injured her left knee and was unble to walk. One of the teaching assistants hiked out to the Yosemite entrance station to seek help.
The SAR team responded with 15 members. The subject was evacuated by litter to the roadhead at the campground at the bottom of the Saddlebag Lake road, and was transported to Mammoth Hospital via a college vehicle. Responders were: Greene (Ops), Gilbreath (Ops), Carole Schilz, Brad Schilz, DeGeorge, Holmquist, Schmidt, Leyen, Beck, Michalski, Salay, Rushing, Weatherly, Case, Pavolvsky.
Ops 09-393 Evidence Search - Bill Greene Photo
June 2, 2009, 09-393 #13. A ten year old minor, of Bishop, apparently shot himself in the finger on Saturday, May 30, 2009, while playing with a handgun in a field in Chalfant. He claims to no longer have the weapon, and the SAR team was dispatched on Tuesday, June 2, 2009, to search the field and neighborhood for the handgun.
The team did not locate the weapon or any other evidence despite an intense search. Responders were: Holmquist (ops), Schmidt, Vetter, Corning, DeGeorge, Greene, Michalski, Weatherly, Salay, Pavlovsky, Schilling
May 30, 2009, 090531012 #12. An aircraft was reported to be flying very low in the Owens Gorge area, and was assumed by the observer to be in distress. The Team responded with two vehicles with ELT receivers to attempt to pick up a distress signal. None was heard, and no crash was reported. Responders were: Greene (Ops), Case, Schilling, Salay, Rushing, Claassen, Holmquist, Winder, Schmidt, Pavlovsky, Hartstrom, Rubalcava, Jim Lemon, and Weatherly.
May 23, 2009, 09-373 #11. A 17 foot boat belonging to Craig Ruzicka, 46, from Simi Valley, CA. sank at the dock at the Convict Lake marina due to a torn bellows. The Team responded with dry suits and were able to lift and move the vessel to the launch ramp where it was de-watered and trailered without further damage. Responders were: DeGeorge (Ops), Greene, Michalski, Holmquist, and Schilling.
April 27-May 1, 2009, 09-277 #10. Allen Melendy and Mary Beth Hayden from Canon City, CO. were reported overdue on a flight from Tonopah, NV to Modesto, CA. Their plane, a Valantin TAIFUN motorized glider, went missing at approximately 1600 on 4/24. The pilot and passenger were on a cross country flight from Colorado to Modesto. FAA began the notification process when they failed to reach their destination as indicated on their flight plan. Civil Air Patrol (CAP) was designated the primary search agency, as typical in these large search area missions covering many counties and possibly two states. They searched in various areas along the route, starting with the last radar hit near the intersection of 120 east and Benton Crossing Road. The plane dropped off Hawthorne, NV radar due to leaving the radar coverage area of the Hawthorne radar facility. That day was very windy and snowy.
Mono County/SAR became involved when information developed that the passenger's cell phone received a text message that originated on the AT&T tower on the top of Mammoth Mtn at approximately 2000 4/24. Further investigation pinned down the exact panel on the cell tower that communicated with the cell phone. This panel was pointed at 080 degrees, and had a beam width of approximately 100 degrees. After working with AT&T technicians and the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center (AFRCC) in Langley, Virginia, they were able to develop a pattern coverage map that significantly reduced the potential search area. Effective range for the tower on this type of cell phone communication mode further reduced the distance to roughly a 30 mile radius from Mammoth Mtn.
CAP flew many missions during this search. Three grids (each grid is approximately 8 x 8 miles) were flown the first day (Saturday), starting with the radar coverage drop point. Subsequent days involved many more grids (multiple times), involving over 20 CAP each day from CA and NV air wings.
On Monday, the team was dispatched to Montgomery Canyon, east of Benton, to follow up on a possible sighting of glider wreckage reported by CAP aircraft. Four teams of two entered the area in 4x4 vehicles and the Sheriffs Office 6x6 Ranger. The four teams then began a ground search up the canyon in various combinations of personnel. No wreckage was located.
On Tuesday a unified command structure commenced with Mono SAR/CAP, and we also began receiving helicopter assets for search missions. First on scene was a CHP helo, followed in subsequent days by many Blackhawk and Chinook helicopters. The last day (Friday) also included a C130 in-air refueling plane for four Pavehawks from Nellis Air Force Base in Las Vegas. Mono SAR and Inyo SAR personnel flew many observer missions in helos during the week, and also did ground searching with binoculars along 395 and the Glass Mountains.
Ops 09-277 missing airplane - Marie Pavlovsky Photo
The high probability grids were searched multiple times by CAP planes flying at 1,000 feet above-the-ground (AGL), while helicopter assets flying the same grids maintained a 500 foot AGL ceiling to keep separation. High probability areas shifted slightly during the week as additional information was developed on potential route, weather data, pilot habits, prior day search results etc.
The aircraft was located mid-day Friday by a helicopter crew approximately two miles northeast of the Caltrans Crestview Maintenance facility in a high probability search grid. The plane had clipped a tree in what looked like a northerly path. and impacted the ground upside down. Both wings were torn off in the impact, and both occupants were deceased in the aircraft. No ELT transmissions were received while at the crash site, which could have been a function of battery drain, switch settings, damage, etc. Recovery operations finished just as the rain began at the crash site. Responders were: Greene (Ops), Holmquist, Schmidt, Beck, Pavlovsky, Brad Schilz, Carole Schilz, Corning, Vetter, and Leyen.
March 15, 2009, 09-185 #9. Edward Brown, 38, from Los Angeles, hit a tree while snowmobiling on the I trail near Deadman Summit. The Team responded with snowmobiles and transported Mr. Brown to the Deadman trailhead via rescue toboggan. Medic 7 transported him to Mammoth Hospital for treatment. Responders were: Greene (Ops), Holmquist, Schmidt, Michalski, Corning, and Brad Schilz.
March 11, 2009, 09-180 #8. Katrina Fraser, Josh Laney, and Ivana Burkett from South Lake Tahoe, CA became lost and stranded in snow in Little Antelope Valley. A tow company was unable to find them on the snow drifted roads, and the SAR Team was called out to search. They were located and taken to Mammoth Lakes to arrange to lead the tow truck to their vehicle. Responders were: DeGeorge (Ops), Holmquist (Ops), Schmidt, Michalski, Pavlovski, Vetter, and Corning.
March 7, 2009, 09-167 #7. Geoff West, 25, from Pacific Palisades, CA. was reported missing in the Dragon's Back area of Mammoth Mountain. As the Team was responding, Mr. West arrived at his condo, with no injuries. Responders were: Michalski (ops)
March 6, 2009, 09-165 #6. Jonathan Penson from Los Angeles was last seen the previous day near the Main Lodge area. After being reported missing, the Team responded to search, as well as a MMSA snowcat. Mr. Penson was found at Reds Meadow by the snowcat driver, and was transported back to Main Lodge. Responders were: Michalski (Ops), Holmquist, Schmidt, Carole Schilz, Jim Lemon, Zahn, Leyen, and Hansen.
February 26, 2009, 09-147 #5. Stephen Coates, 21, from Mammoth Lakes, was snowboarding on the Hemlock Ridge line with a group of friends. He became separated from them after dropping too low to return to the ski area. After he failed to return home, his roommate reported him overdue. The Team responded on skis and snowshoes searching outside the ski area boundary. To aid in containment, a MMSA snowcat went down to Reds Meadows. The subject was found uninjured near Pumice Flat campground, and transported back to Main Lodge by snowcat. Responders were: Holmquist (Ops), Pavlovsky, Jim Lemon, Corning, Vetter, Greene, Schmidt, and DeGeorge.
January 31, 2009, 09-085 #4. Serina Tran and Jenny Dang from Southern California became lost while snowboarding in the Dragon's Back area on Mammoth Mountain. The Team responded to Tamarack Lodge to coordinate search efforts with Mammoth Mountain Ski Patrol. Cell phone contact was made between SAR base and the missing subjects but their location was still unknown. Ski Patrol eventually located the two and escorted them to Tamarack Lodge. The Team sent two field teams to Horseshoe Lake for possible transport to Tamarack Lodge. The subjects were not injured, and were happy to be found. Responders were: Michalski (Ops), Beck, Leyen, Pavolvsky, Jim Lemon, Brad Schilz, Carole Schilz, Holmquist, Corning, and Vetter.
January 26, 2009, 09-073 #3. Cindy Zane, 43, from Camarillo, CA. became lost while hiking in the Inyo Craters area with her dog. She spent four hours attempting to find her way back to her car without success, then called 911 from her cell phone as darkness fell. The Team responded with snowmobiles and located the subject at a trail intersection, and also a party of lost snowmobilers. Zane was transported back to her car, and had no injuries or need for medical care. Responders were: Greene (Ops), Holmquist, Pavlovsky, Jim Lemon, and Brenninkmeyer.
January 15-16, 2009, 09-043 #2. Marco Casco, 49, and Pedro Gonzalez, 55, both of Las Vegas, NV, were returning home from an errand to Gardnerville. The two men were reported overdue, and CHP, Sheriffs Department Deputies, and the SAR team were dispatched. The victims' vehicle was located by CHP on closed Hwy 120 E near Sagehen Summit. A Sheriffs Deputy successfully drove along snowy Hwy 120 following the tracks and located the subjects not far from the intersection with Benton Crossing Rd. at 2 am. Both Casco and Gonzalez were cold but uninjured. Responders were: Holmquist (Ops), Schmidt, Michalski, Beck, Jim Lemon, Brenninkmeyer, and Weatherly.