Dale Matson
The Fresno County SAR Team along with teams from Tuolumne,
Merced, Mariposa and Madera Counties were involved with a mutual aid search with
the Yosemite search and rescue team on Monday. There were dog teams and a
helicopter used also.
After caravanning up to Yosemite from Fresno with great
haste, the Fresno County SART arrived at YOSAR HQ. I long ago learned not to put the magnetic SAR
signs on my car until after I arrived
at the destination. (They blew off)
Yosemite View From YOSAR HQ
We were briefed at
0700 on the missing person, a Foresta resident. Foresta is an unincorporated
community within the park boundaries that was nearly destroyed by fire in 1991
and the scars of that fire are evident.
Matt Stark On Right
We were introduced to the incident commander Matt Stark with
sergeant Joe Smith designated as the overall Fresno SAR team leader. I remember
the days when Keith Loeber was the incident commander for a multiday Sentinel
Dome area search we helped on. We found the Corcoran city manager after three
days. He was fine.
The subject of the
search, Ann Lory, had been missing since Saturday evening. She had been out
collecting rocks. Her jacket was found later on a pile of rocks. I was cold, as
I stood there during the briefing in the 32-degree weather. I was thinking, “It
would be tough to be out for two nights in weather like this without even a
jacket.”
Fresno County had the largest contingent of searchers
consisting of Sheriff’s deputies and volunteers from the mountaineering unit. I
was on team four with deputy Tim Jacobson and led by deputy David Rippe. The civilians
included Bill Allen, myself and newer team members Don McAlpine, Dr. Sue Spano,
Christine and two other gentlemen whose names I have forgotten. The deputies
included Bo, Matt, Robert (aka Koda Bear), and two other deputies.
Bill Allen
drove our mountaineering unit vehicle donated to us by the Santa Barbara SAR
team. The coolest vehicle however, was the Merced team’s yellow Hummer. I want one, but maybe not yellow. They are a
tad wide for trails.
The Fresno team convoyed over to Foresta. Jed, a Yosemite
front country ranger, assisted us. He noted that he had spent three years as a
backcountry ranger too. We parked near the Foresta Firehouse. The teams set out
from there at about 0900. Bo’s team and our team headed in the same direction
for a time.
General Area Of Search
Thick Brush With Two Team Members
Our area had an enormous amount of buck brush and little holes,
made invisible by the weeds, that made travel difficult. We also had difficulty
keeping one another in sight. There were a lot of burned logs that we had to
climb over and our clothing took a beating. My Outdoor Research gators paid for
themselves many times over as they took the brunt of our travels. It wasn’t
long before I had shed two top layers. Both my hand were bleeding from cuts so
I put my gloves on. Koda gently scolded me later that the gloves go on before you
get the cuts. Thanks for the reminder Koda. I would rather run ten miles on the
trails at Woodward Park than the 3.25 miles off trail we traveled.
Tim And David
We were out
for about two and half hours when a call came on David’s radio that Ann had been
found. I understand that she had become disoriented and headed
downhill toward highway 140. She fell, was injured and could no longer walk. A
relative, who was on one of the search teams, found her. Ann was airlifted to a
hospital for medical treatment.
Our team was out for about three hours total and climbed
over 500’ in that time. We reassembled and headed back to HQ for the
debriefing. I was surprised to see frost remaining in some spots on the valley
roads after noon. David’s new cap was now his ‘lucky hat’. I was sorry to hear
from Koda that he had lost his treasured
“Storm Stories” cap. It was blown off his head while being airlifted by Eagle
One on a recent SAR mission.
Author
Koda and Sue With Christine In Back Left
We celebrated Thanksgiving week early Monday. Thank you Lord
for a safe and successful search and thank you for the privilege of working
with so many individuals willing to put others first.
There is a link to the Fresno SART blog on the top right for those who may be interested in joining the volunteer team.
ReplyDeleteI'm just gonna pick up a few rocks. What could go wrong? It's a nice day, too.
ReplyDeleteOops, I tripped over that stump and the weeds covered the hole. My ankle is badly sprained or broken. Can't walk and this stuff is too hard to crawl over. Wish I had thought to invite a friend.
Ann Lory can be thankful that Dale and the other SAR folks are better prepared than she thought to be.
The highest esteem belongs to the 'guys' who volunteer to bravely go out into "the-who-knows-what" to look for the unprepared or unlucky. Nice to know that guys like Dale are there and ready and prepared.
I'd like to talk to Ann Lory and see what she has to say. Today is Thanksgiving. Thanks to the Fresno SAR. Make that three heaping cups.
I have known Dale since 1960. We have been best friends since then. I smile when I know "how good he turned out," Any hiking I do in the Fresno area, he'll be at my side. Ya wanna bet?
Dr. Phil,
ReplyDeleteNobody expects to get lost when they go out. I'm sure she is thankful. Maybe the next time it will be me. Two hikers were just rescued by CHP helicopter near Mt. Whitney.
http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-hikers-rescued-snowstorm-mount-whitney-20131127,0,2352274.story#axzz2lxYi8MTV