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P U B l l S H E D MONTHLY BY THE RIVERSIDE MOUNTAIN RESCUE UNIT, INC. A VOLUNTEER NON-PROFIT CORPORATION

P. 0. BOX 5444, RIVERSIDE. CALIFORNIA 92507 MEMBER OF THE MOUNTAIN RESCUE ASSOCIATION

Volume V I I , I s s u e 5 , Vay 1971 E d i t o r , J i m F a i r c h i l d P h o t o g r a p h e r , Lee M i c k e l s o n P u b l i s h e r , W a l t W a l k e r

COMING EVENTS = = =

12 May, Board M e e t i n g , 1900 a t F a i r c h i l d ' s house . 19 May, R e g u l a r M e e t i n g , 1 9 3 0 , County H a l l o f Reco rds . 2 1 - 2 3 May, T r a i n i n g S e s s i o n , Climb of Snowcreek on t h e North Face o f M t .

San J a c i n t o . F u l l d e t a i l s a t t h e r e g u l a r m e e t i n g . 9 J u n e , Board Meet ing 2 3 J u n e , R e g u l a r M e e t i n g . 25-27 J u n e , Descend T a h q u i t t Canyon - t o p t o bo t tom. 2 9 J u n e , 6 , 1 3 , 2 0 , 27 J u l y , F i r s t Aid I n s t r u c t o r ' s C o u r s e , R i v e r s i d e County

Red C r o s s C h a p t e r House, 7-70 pm. C a l l FAIT F a i r c h i l d i f you a r e i n t e r - e s t e d .

9 , 1 6 , 2 3 , 25 S e p t e m b e r , Advanced F i r s t Aid Review. The f i r s t t h r e e d a t e s a r e T h u r s d a y e v e n i n g , t h e l a s t i s a f u l l day r e a l i s t i c , o u t d o o r , even o n - t h e - c l i f f , p r a c t i c e . P r e l i m i n a r y s i g n - u p i s r e q u i r e d f o r both t h e

a above c o u r s e s s o we can t e l l you d e t a i l s l i k e wha t t o b r i n g , what t o s t u d y and p r a c t i c e , e t c .

4 J a n u a r y 1972 i s t h a t t i m e a g a i n ! When we s t a r t t h e F i r s t A i d C o u r s e , c o v e r i n g S t a n d a r d and Advanced m a t e r i a l with emphas i s upon prob lems r e l a t e d t o w i l d e r n e s s and l o n g t e r m c a r e o f t h e s i c k and in-jured. , . ---T-h-e -

, c o u r s e w i l l run e v e r y Tuesday o f J a n u a r y and F e b r u a r y , maybe t h e f i r s t Tuesday o f March.

INTERIOR ALMOST C O M P L E T E D PLANNING A N D P R E P A R I N G A H E A D - - -

W h i l e w e may s t i l l e n c o u n t e r a m i s - s i o n where we mus t u s e i c e a x e and c r a m p o n s , summer i s a p p r o a c h i n g w i t h i t s h e a t p r o b l e m s . T h i s p a s t w i n t e r was a c o m p l e t e b u s t r e g a r d - i n g r a i n a n d snow, s o s p r i n g s a n d s t r e a m s w i l l b e e i t h e r a b s e n t O X

g r e a t l y d i m i n i s h e d . We w i l l h a v e t o c a r r y ample w a t e r w i t h u s on s e a r - c h e s and e v a c u a t i o n s , a n d , m o s t i m - p o r t a n t , t a k e a r e s e r v e o f t h r e e t o f i v e g a l l o n s t o h a v e on h a n d a t b a s e . When t h e a i r t e m p e r a t u r e e x - c e e d s 9 0 d e g . F . , and we a x e c a r r y - i n g packs and s e a r c h i n g - h i k i n g - c l i m b i n g i n t h e sun, t h e n e e d for w a t e r i n c r e a s e s s p e c t a c u l a r l y i n c o n t r a s t t o t h e c o o l o r ba lmy d a y s

A l Andrews a n d Don R i c k e r a l o n g w i w i t h h e l p f r o m some o t h e r t eam mem- b e r s h a v e a l m o s t c o m p l e t e d t h e work on t h e i n t e r i o r o f t h e new v a n . The p h o t o was t a k e n by RMRU member B i l l S p e c k .

o f w i n t e r . We s i m p l y c a n n o t c a r r y enough w a t e r t o a d e q u a t e l y s u s t a i n o u r s e l v e s a n d a p o t e n t i a l v i c t i m for 2 4 h o u r s i f t h e t e m p e r a t u r e e x - ceeds 1 0 0 d e g . F. T h a t ' s when e x - c e r c i s i n g i n t h e s u n , a n d when

Paqe 2 - V o l u m e V I I . I s s u e 5 , Mav 79

a r e n ' t w e e x c e r c i s i n g i n t h e s u n on a m i s s i o n ? A l s o , c h e c k your c a l l - o u t good f o r i t e m s t h a t may m e l t o r s p o i l i n h e a t , a n d o t h e r i t e m s o f g e a r t h a t m i g h t n e e d p r o t e c t i o n . A c t u a l l y , o p e r a t i o n s i n summer h e a t a r e n o t s o b a d i f y o u a r e p r o p e r l y p r e p a r e d p h y s i c a l l y , m e n t a l l y , a n d m a t e r i a l l y , One t h i n g i s for sure, y o u ' l l b e w e l l p r e p a r e d on t h e - s e - cond o p e r a t i o n i n e x t r e m e h e a t !

SEARCH & R E S C U E A C T I V I T Y - - -

7 A P R I L 1 9 7 1 - S E A R C H & E V A C U A T I O N # 7 1 0 9 - T a h q u i t z R i d g e

The c a l l came a t 2030 s a y i n g t h e r e was an i n j u r e d p e r s o n n e a r ~ a h q u i t z P e a k . I t h o u g h t i t w o u l d b e a s i m - p l e m i s s i o n , h i k e i n a n d g i v e f i r s t a i d a n d a c a r r y o u t o r f l y o u t i n t h e m o r n i n g , how wrong I was .

When I a r r i v e d a t I d y l l w i l d t h e t r u e s t o r y b e g a n t o come o u t . Two b o y s , Mark and S t e v e , b o t h 1 7 y e a r o l d h i g h s c h o o l s e n i o r s , h a d b e e n camping i n L i t t l e T a h q u i t z V a l l e y a n d h a d gone t o c l i m b t h e p e a k . When t h e y r e a c h e d t h e p e a k i n l a t e a f t e r n o o n t h e t r a i l was b e c o m i n g i c y . They d e c i d e d t o c l i m b down on t h e r o c k s o f t h e n o r t h w e s t r i d g e high above T a h q u i t z Rock, k e e p i n g o f f t h e i c y t r a i l . Steve w e n t a h e a d a n d g o t . a r o u n d o u t o f s i g h t o f Mark. A t 1800 Mark h e a r d some r o c k s f a l l a n d a s h o r t y e l l . Mark c a l l e d a n d g o t no a n s w e r , a f t e r 45 m i n u t e s h e r e a c h e d S t e v e a t t h e b o t t o m o f a c l i f f . He was uncon- s c i o u s , Mark c o v e r e d him w i t h j a c k - e t s and w e n t for h e l p .

W e p a c k e d g e a r q u i c k l y e x p e c t i n g t h e w o r s t . Mike O r r t o o k t h e RMRU o x y g e n u n i t , Bob N e l s o n two a i r s p l i n t s , Dave C r i m i t h e r e s c u e s l e e p i n g b a g , Tom Dadson a n d Dave H a d l e y t e n t s a n d f i r s t a i d b e l t s , Mike D a u g h e r t y and I r a d i o s , w h i l e o t h e r s t o o k t h e b reak-down l i t t e r , t e c h n i c a l g e a r , and r o p e s . A t 2245 w e s t a r t e d up w i t h Mark s h o w i n g u s t h e way.

B y 0015 we r e a c h e d t h e c h u t e Mark t h o u g h t S t e v e was up. Dave H a d l e y a n d I w e n t a h e a d q u i c k l y w h i l e t h e r e s t o f t h e g r o u p came up s l o w l y with Mark. By t h i s t i m e we w e r e on h a r d s t e e p snow a n d c l i m b i n g a n d s e a r c h i n g by f l a s h l i g h t was g e t t i n g h a r d . H a l f way up t h e c h u t e we s t i l l h a d n o s i g n o f S t e v e , and Mark was h a v i n g d o u b t s a s t o i f we w e r e i n t h e r i g h t c h u t e . w e s p l i t up w i t h Mike D a u g h e r t y , Mike O r r a n d Bob N e l s o n w i t h r a d i o 59 g o i n g down t o t r y t h e c h u t e t o o u r E a s t . Tom s t a y i n g w i t h Mark, and B e r n i e M c I l - v o y , Dave H a d l e y , Dave C r i m i and I c o n t i n u i n g up t h e c h u t e w i t h r a d i o 58 . We r e a c h e d t h e t o p a n d drew a b l a n k , s o down t o Tom a n d Mark. T a l k i n g t o Mark a g a i n w e g o t a b e t - t e r d e s c r i p t i o n of t h e c h u t e and w e n t West o n e c h u t e t o t r y a g a i n .

T h i s c h u t e f i t t h e d e s c r i p t i o n , s t e e p , b r u s h y w i t h h a r d snow u n d e r i t , a n d c l i f f s on t h e s i d e s . B u t s o o n w e w e r e n e a r t h e t o p a n d n o l u c k . Dave ~ r i r n i a n d Dave H a d l e y were on e a c h s i d e and B e r n i e and I i n t h e m i d d l e . B e r n i e and I s t o p - p e d a n d w e r e s h i n i n g oux l i g h t s a r o u n d . " T h e r e h e i s , " B e r n i e s a i d About 30 f e e t a b o v e u s i n t h e b r u s h was S t e v e . A b o u t 30 s e c o n d s l a t e r a l l o f u s w e r e t o h i m , h i s f a c e c o v e r e d w i t h d r i e d b l o o d was a p a l e w h i t e c o l o r .

Dave H a d l e y c h e c k e d f o r l i f e s i g n s , n o n e . " T h i s i s 58 t o a l l u n i t s , we h a v e f o u n d t h e v i c t i m , h e i s d e a d . " ( E d . n o t e : A c t u a l l y a code s y s t e m

was u s e d t o t r a n s m i t t h e m e s s a g e i n

Page 3 - V o l u m e V I I , I s s u e 5 , May 7 9 7 1

c a s e r e l a t i v e s o r f r i e n d s m i g h t b e n e a r t h e r a d i o a t b a s e . 1 Time, 0230 on a d a r k a n d c o l d n i g h t . I t was t h e f i r s t t i m e I a n d some o t h e r t eam members h a d s e e n a body a n d i t was q u i t e a s h o c k . The v i c t i m h a d s u s t a i n e d m u l t i p l e h e a d i n j u r i e s , many a b r a s i o n s on h i s b a c k , a n d an o b v i o u s f r a c t u r e t o t h e upper l e f t l e g ( f e m u r ) .

We r a d i o e d b a s e t h a t a body b a g a n d a s t e e l l i t t e r w o u l d be n e e d e d . A team, composed o f W a l t Walker, Dick W e b s t e r and Ed H i l l , who h a d b e e n h i k i n g i n t o a s s i s t i n t h e s e a r c h w e r e r a d i o e d t o r e t u r n t o b a s e t o p i c k up t h e r e q u e s t e d g e a r . W h i l e a t b a s e Lee M i c k e l s o n was a d d e d t o t h e t eam a n d t h e y s t a r t e d up t h e h i l l .

B e r n i e a n d Dave ~ a d l e y w e n t up t o s e e i f t h e y c o u l d f i n d w h e r e h e

f e l l . About 2 0 f e e t a b o v e was a g l o v e , 30 f e e t more a n o t h e r , a n d 50 f e e t more a p o o l o f b l o o d . A l l t h i s was on a 4 5 d e g r e e slope l e a d - i n g t o a c l i f f where h e f e l l f rom a b o u t 40 f e e t t o t h e snow b e f o r e r o l l i n g down i n t o t h e b r u s h . W e a l l t r y e d t o catch some q u i c k s l e e p b e f o r e t h e o t h e r members a r r i v e d .

A t 0530 t h e o t h e r team members a r r i v e d a n d a s t h e s u n came up we p r e p a r e d f o r t h e c a r r y o u t . I t i s q u i t e a j o b c a r r y i n g t h e l i t t e r down h a r d snow, t h r o u g h b r u s h , a n d down t h e r o c k s . F i n a l l y a t 0830 we r e - a c h e d t h e r o a d h e a d . A f t e r t a l k i n g t o t h e o f f i c i a l s and g i v i n g t h e c o r o n e r t h e body we w e n t down f o r b r e a k f a s t i n I d y l l w i l d , A f t e r e a t - i n g , 1 4 RMRU members h e a d e d home t i r e d , s l e e p y , a n d s a d , h o p i n g w e w o u l d n e v e r h a v e a n o t h e r m i s s i o n l i k e t h i s a g a i n . - P e t e C a r l s o n

P a g e 4 - Vo lume V I I , I s s u e 5 , May 1 9 7 1

1 4 A P R I L 1 9 7 1 - S E A R C H - # 7 1 1 0 San J a c i n t o M o u n t a i n s

E a r l y Wednesday a f t e x n o o n t h e R i v e r - s i d e Coun ty S h e r i f f ' s D e p t . c a l l e d t o s a y a young man ( 2 7 1 w a s m i s s i n g f r o m a home i n I d y l l w i l d . The i n - f o r m a n t s a i d P e t e l e f t , o r was l a s t s e e n , a b o u t 0 9 3 0 T u e s d a y m o r n i n g , h a v i n g m e n t i o n e d h e w o u l d l i k e t o h i k e up t o S u i c i d e Rock, o r Tah- q u i t z Rock, o r T a h q u i t z P e a k . T h i s m i s s i n g b u s i n e s s was t r u e , b u t t h e l o c a t i o n was i n d o u b t . Anyway, we r e n d e z v o u s e d a t t h e Sky-Yach t . The w e a t h e r w a s c o o l a n d u n s e t t l e d , b u t l a t e r t h e c l o u d s c l o s e d i n and a d r i z z l e b e g a n , f o l l o w e d b y g e n u i n e snow d u r i n g t h e n i g h t . We a s s i g n e d two t e a m s t o g o a r o u n d a n d up S u i - c i d e Rock, c h e c k i n g t h e b o t t o m o f i t s c l i f f s a n d t h e a r e a a r o u n d t h e t o p e d g e . Soon a f t e r t h e y d e p a r t e d , a n o t h e r team h i k e d i n t o t h e m i s t t o s e a r c h T a h q u i t z Rock t h e same way. On t h e b a s i s o f t h e m e a g e r i n f o x - m a t i o n we h a d , t h i s s e e m e d l i k e a

g o o d p l a n . A f t e r a l l , w e h e a r d t h a t P e t e h a d r e c e n t l y s h a v e d h i s h e a d a n d was p r o b a b l y b a r e f o o t e d , w e a r i n g s c a n t y c l o t h i n g . B o t h r o c k s w e r e " s o c k e d i n " b y d e n s e c l o u d s a n d when d a r k n e s s f e l l s e a r - c h e r s r e p o r t e d t h e w h i t e n e s s t h r e w t h e i r f l a s h l i g h t ' s beams b a c k a t them. A s t h e t e a m s n e a r e d c o m p l e t - i o n o f t h e i r a s s i g n m e n t s w i t h n e g a - t i v e r e s u l t s , r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s o f t h e S h e r i f f ' s D e p t . , H o l l i s a n d H e a r r i n g , a l o n g w i t h W a l t a n d I , r e c a l l e d numerous o p e r a t i o n s i n t h e p a s t w h e r e w e w e n t a f t e r p e o p l e who j u s t w e r e n ' t t h e r e . When t h e t e a m s r e t u r n e d we t e r m i n a t e d t h e s e a r c h , a t l e a s t f o r t h a t n i g h t . The n e x t m o r n i n g P e t e c a l l e d t h e S h e r i f f ' s D e p t . i n R i v e r s i d e t o s a y h e h a d r e a d t h e n e w s p a p e r a r t i c l e a b o u t h i s m i s s i n g s t a t u s . He was w i t h a c q u a i n t e n c e s i n R i v e r s i d e .

- J i m F a i r c h i l d

4 A P R I L 1 9 7 1 - E V A C U A T I O N - #7108 San J a c i n t o M o u n t a i n s

J u s t a f t e r l u n c h RMRU r e c e i v e d a c a l l f rom t h e B a n n i n g o f f i c e o f t h e R i v e r s i d e Coun ty S h e r i f f ' s D e p a r t - m e n t t h a t a n i n j u r e d y o u t h n e e d e d t o b e e v a c u a t e d f rom Wi l low C r e e k Camp. H e h a d s t r u c k h i s f o o t w i t h an axe t h e e v e n i n g b e f o r e a n d c o u l d n o t w a l k .

D i c k C a f f r o y , Bob N e l s o n a n d I a l l a r r i v e d a t t h e l o w e r t e r m i n a l o f t h e Palm S p r i n g s A e r i a l Tramway a b o u t t h e same t i m e . I t was d e c i d - e d t h a t Dick a n d 1 w o u l d s t a r t up and h i k e i n t o t h e a r e a w i t h a r a d i o . Bob w o u l d w a i t f o r P e t e C a r l s o n (who was d r i v i n g t h e r e s c u e t r u c k ) and t h e y w o u l d come i n w i t h t h e w h e e l e d l i t t e r . Dave C r i m i who li- v e s i n I d y l l w i l d , was a l r e a d y h i k - i n g i n f rom t h a t s i d e .

Dick and I s t o p p e d t o t a l k t o t h e S t a t e P a r k r a n g e r i n Long V a l l e y a s h e h a d o r i g i n a l l y r e c e i v e d t h e c a l l f o r h e l p . He h a d sent two s e a s o n a l r a n g e r s i n w i t h a f i r s t a i d k i t a n d i n s t r u c t i o n s e i t h e r t o w a i t f o r u s , o r i f t h e y c o u l d , b r i n g t h e v i c t i m b a c k t o Long V a l l e y .

P a p € 5 - Vo lume V I I , I s s u e 5 , May 7 9 7 1

J u s t b e f o r e Dick a n d I r e a c h e d Des- e r t D i v i d e Dave C r i m i came r u n n i n g i n t o v i e w . He r e l a t e d t h a t t h e r a n g e r s h a d c a r r i e d t h e v i c t i m t o Skunk Cabbage Meadow and t h a t o n e o f them was h i k i n g o u t t o I d y l l w i l d t o g e t a h e l i c o p t e r . We r a d i o e d t h i s i n f o r m a t i o n t o P e t e , Bob and Hank Schmel (who h a d j o i n e d then; ) who w e r e b r i n g i n g t h e w h e e l e d lit- t e r . They r a d i o e d b a c k t h a t t h e y w o u l d w a i t f o r u s a s we s t a r t e d h i k i n g b a c k t o Long V a l l e y .

When w e a l l a r r i v e d b a c k a t Long V a l l e y t h e r a n g e r s t a t e d t h a t h i s men h a d e r r e d a.nd t h a t t h e s t a t e p a r k h a d n o way o f s e c u r i n g a h e l i - c o p t e r . I t was now a l m o s t 1 6 3 0 , s o we p h o n e d t h e s h e r i f f ' s o f f i c e i n B a n n i n g a n d r e l a t e d t h e p r o b l e m . I t was d e c i d e d t o c a l l Don L a n d e l l o f Palm S p r i n g s A v i a t i o n a n d a s k h im t o f l y u s i n .

We a l l h i k e d up t o t h e u p p e r t e r m - i n a l o f t h e t r a m a n d w a i t e d w i t h t h e Sunday a f t e r n o o n c rowd t o r i d e down. A t t h e b o t t o m w e g o t i n t o o u r v e h i c l e s a n d d r o v e t o t h e low- e s t o f a l l t h e p a r k i n g l o t s t o w a i t f o r Don.

Our w a i t w a s n ' t l o n g , a s D o n ' s t i e down i s n o t v e r y f a r f r o m t h e t r a m . When t h e b i r d s a t down w e q u i c k l y i n s t a l l e d a n RMRU r a d i o a n d Don a n d I w e r e o f f a n d on o u r way t o Skunk Cabbage Meadow. The s u n h a d a l - r e a d y s e t on t h e e a s t e r n s i d e o f t h e S a n J a c i n t o m a s s i f a s we c l i m b - e d up t o D e s e r t D i v i d e . Don knows t h e m o u n t a i n a n d was t a k i n g a d v a n t - a g e o f a l l t h e t h e r m a l s t o s p e e d o u r a s c e n t . S h o r t l y we w e r e o v e r Skunk Cabbage Meadow a n d a s w e c i r c l e d p e o p l e b e - g a n t o w a l k o u t i n t o t h e open o f t h e n o r t h e r n e n d . Don q u i c k l y de- c e n d e d i n t o t h e shadows a n d l a n d e d n e a r t h e u p p e r e n d o f the meadow. A r a n g e r was c a r r y i n g t h e v i c t i m on h i s b a c k a n d I jumped o u t t o g i v e h im a h a n d . W e s l i d t h e i n j u r e d y o u t h i n t o t h e b i r d .

A s I s t a r t e d t o g e t i n t o t h e b i r d I n o t i c e d t h a t Don was p u t t i n g h i s s h o u l d e r h a r n e s s on . A s h e b u c k l e d t h e v i c t i m i n 1 s e c u r e d my s h o u l d e r

h a r n e s s a n d w o n d e r e d i f I o u g h t t o h i k e o u t . B e f o r e I c o u l d g i v e i t a s e c o n d t h o u g h t Don h a d t h e b i r d w h i r r i n g a t r e d l i n e R P M s ' and we w e r e o f f a n d f l y i n g . We s p e d down t h e meadow and b e g a n t o r i s e up. A s we g a i n e d s p e e d , we a l s o w e r e h e a d i n g t o w a r d s t h r e e l a r g e t r e e s and I b e g a n t o wonder i f I w o u l d o n c e a g a i n e n d up i n t h e t r e e s ,

However, Don h a d p l a n n e d h i s e x i t , h e b a n k e d t h e s u p e r c h a r g e d B e l l and we s l i p p e d o u t o v e r some s m a l l e r t r e e s a n d w e r e on o u r way b a c k . W e l a n d e d b a c k a t t h e p a r k i n g l o t , un- l o a d e d t h e b o y , removed o u r r a d i o a n d t h a n k e d Don f o r a n o t h e x g r e a t j o b o f f l y i n g . - W a l t W a l k e r

e Road Runner sez-

Do y o u know t h a t an e x c e p t i o n a l l y e f f e c t i v e a i d t o h e a l i n g g rows on t r e e s ? A c t u a l l y , i t ' s t h e s a p o f c o n i f e r s . When y o u ' v e s u s t a i n e d a s k i n wound o f some k i n d , s m e a r a l i b e r a l amount o f t h e s a p f rom a c o n i f e r l i k e t h e d e s e r t n u t p i n e , p o n d e r o s a , o r w h i t e - b a r k p i n e on t h e a r e a . Y o u ' l l b e amazed a t how r a p i d l y a n d how w e l l t h e wound h e a l s . N a t u r a l l y , w e ' v e s e e n i t work on o u r s e l v e s a n d f e l l o w o u t - doorsmen . F a t h e r - i n - l a w e v e n t r i e d i t l a s t summer up a t Mammoth on a s t u b b o r n s p l i t thumb, w o r k e d f a s t . The stuff i s a b i t s t i c k y , b u t s m e l l s good .

An a s i d e t o a few f e l l o w new RMRU members: i t c a n g e t c o l d b i v o u a c k - i n g a t 7 5 0 0 ' e l . on snow, c a n ' t i t ? C o n d i t i o n s up t h e r e a r e n ' t a l w a y s e a s i l y a n d a c c u r a t e l y d e t e r m i n e d f rom down h e r e i n ba lmy R i v e r s i d e .

Through t h e y e a r s w e ' v e come t o ex - p e c t a i r c r a f t c r a s h e s i n t h e San G o r g o n i o P a s s a r e a d u r i n g t h e s e s p r i n g s t o r m s . S u r e e n o u g h , o n e i s now m i s s i n g . T h i s Monday a P i p e r 140 w i t h f o u r p e o p l e a b o a r d t o o k o f f f rom Palm S p r i n g s b o u n d f o r S a n t a M a r i a ( c o a s t a l c e n t r a l C a l i f )

P a g e 6 - V o l u m e V I I , I s s u e 5 , May 1 9 7 1

I t ' s n o t b e e n h e a r d f rom s i n c e t a k e o f f . C A P a i r c r a f t a n d g r o u n d u n i t s a r e s e a r c h i n g . They e v e n f o u n d a s a m l l p l a n e i n t h e b r u s h a few m i - l e s e a s t of W a l t ' s h o u s e . I t h a d c r a s h e d and k i l l e d two p e o p l e t w o a n d a h a l f y e a r s a g o . I n c o n v e r - s a t i o n w i t h B i l l L o r i n o f r a d i o s t a t i o n KPRO a t 1700 h o u r s we l e a r n e d t h a t no t r a c e h a s b e e n f o u n d of t h e p l a n e w i t h f o u r p e o - p l e . We o f RMRU s o r t o f wonder w h e t h e r a n d when we w i l l b e c a l l e d i f t h e p l a n e i s f o u n d i n d i f f i c u l t t e r r a i n . We w o n d e r t o o , i f t h e p a s s e n g e r s may b e s t i l l a l i v e , p r a y i n g w e ' l l g e t t h e r e i n t i m e . One o f t h e s e d a y s , h o p e f u l l y , we w i l l a r r i v e a t a w r e c k w i t h l i v e o n e s . W e h a v e h a d t o o many o f t h e o t h e r k i n d .

2 4 A P R I L - T R A I N I N G , T E C H N I C A L

T h i s m o n t h , t h e t e a m r e v i e w e d v a r - i o u s p h a s e s o f t e c h n i c a l r e s c u e t o g e t r e a d y f o r t h e summex c l i m b i n g s e a s o n . E a r l y i n t h e m o r n i n g , we d r o v e up t o Mt. ~~~Rub- l -d ' a" i~r , - - - a - l o c a l c l i m b i n g a r e a among o t h e r t h i n g s , a n d d i v i d e d i n t o two g r o u p s . Some o f t h e o l d e r members w e r e t o work o n a s o l u t i o n t o t h e s m a l l l e d g e p r o b l e m . T h i s p r o b l e m i s how t o g e t a n i n j u r e d c l i m b e r o f f o f a l e d g e t h a t i s t o s m a l l f o r t h e r e s - c u e r s t o p l a c e a l i t t e r on o r a n i n j u r e d c l i m b e r o n a s t e e p f a c e , w i t h o u t c a u s i n g u n n e c c e s s a r y p a i n t o t h e i n j u r e d c l i m b e r . The s e c o n d g r o u p r e v i e w e d o u r s k - i l l s and t a u g h t t h e new members. W e d r o p p e d f i v e r o p e s o v e r t h e c l i f f a n d p r a c t i c e d r a p e l l i n g down, s t o p p i n g h a l f w a y down t h e c l i f f , a n d t y i n g o u r s e l v e s o f f s o t h a t o u r h a n d s w o u l d b e f r e e t o d o s o m e t h i n g e l s e , s u c h a s g i v e f i r s t a i d t o an i n j u r e d c l i m b e r .

B e r n i e M c I l v o y i n h i s new c l i m b i n g ' h o t p a n t s ' ( E d . n o t e : Would you b e l i e v e p i n k , w i t h b l u e f l o w e r s ? ) showed u s how t o u s e j u m a r s i n c l i m b i n g a f i x e d r o p e . W e a l s o p r a c t i c e d c l i m b i n g a r o p e u s i n g p r u s i k k n o t s a n d H i e b l e r a s c e n d e r s W e a g r e e d t h a t j u m a r s w e r e t h e e a s i e s t a n d f a s t e s t t o u s e .

A f t e r e v e r y o n e f e l t p r e t t y g o o d a b o u t c l i m b i n g t h e r o p e , w e t i e d k n o t s i n t h e r o p e and p r a c t i c e d g e t - t i n g a r o u n d t h e k n o t . T h i s i s i m - p o r t a n t b e c a u s e i n a r e a l t e c h n i c a l m i s s i o n , t h e l e a d e r w i l l h a v e c l i p - p e d t h e rope i n t o p i t o n s a n d s l i n g s , a n d we m u s t g o a r o u n d them. One man d i s c o v e r e d t h e h a r d way why y o u t i e o f f c l o s e t o t h e k n o t . H e d i d n o t a n d d i s c o v e r e d a f t e r h e h a d ti- e d i n b e l o w t h e k n o t t h a t h e c o u l d - n ' t r e a c h o n e of h i s j u m a r s . T h e n e x t man down t h e r o p e h a d t o re- t r e i v e i t f o r him.

Midmorning Bud W h i t e w i t h h i s f o o t i n a c a s t h o b b l e d o v e r a n d became a w i l l i n g v i c t i m i n t h e s m a l l l e d g e p r o b l e m . Bud w a s t i e d o f f t o a r o p e h a l f w a y down a s m a l l c l i f f w h i l e t h e t e a m w o r k e d o u t a way t o g e t a n y l o n hammock a r o u n d him b e - f o r e p u t t i n g him i n t o t h e l i t t e r . Once i n t h e hammock, we w e r e a b l e t o l o w e r h im i n t o t h e l i t t e r . T h i s p r o c e d u r e s e e m s t o work w e l l a n d d o e s n o t r e q u i r e a l e d g e t o work f rorn.

A f t e r l u n c h we t a c k l e d m e c h a n i c a l a d v a n t a g e s a n d s e l f e q u a l i z i n g an- c h o r s . Each member h a d t o r i g o n e a n d k e e p w o r k i n g a t i t u n t i l h e h a d i t r i g h t . A f t e r e a c h member h a d r i g g e d o n e o f e a c h , t h e o l d e r mem- b e r s c a l l e d u s o v e r f o r a demon- s t r a t i o n o f t h e i r s y s t e m . W h i l e t h e y w e r e s h o w i n g i t , t h e w i n d c a u g h t t h e hammock, a n d it l o o k e d a s i f o n e o f t h e r e s c u e r s was g o i n g t o b e b lown o v e r s i d e w a y s . However,

Page 7 - Volume VII , I s s u e 5 , May 1 9 7 1

I n t h e f i r s t p h o t o Mike D a u g h e r t y a n d B e r n i e ' H o t P a n t s ' M c I l v o y a r e s l i p p i n g t h e n y l o n hammock u n d e r t h e v i c t i m , team member Bud W h i t e . I n t h e n e x t p h o t o t h e y a r e l o w e r i n g Bud i n t o t h e l i t t e r a f t e r h a v i n g t i g h t e n e d t h e hammock up a r o u n d h im. The v i c t i m i s t h e n s e c u r e d i n t o t h e l i t t e r w i t h w e b b i n g , t h e hammock d i s c o n n e c t e d and t h e l i t t e r low- e r e d i n t h e u s u a l m a n n e r .

h e g o t t h e b i l l o w i n g hammock u n d e r 1 c o n t r o l , a n d t h e d e m o n s t r a t i o n con- t i n u e d s m o o t h l y .

The f i n a l e x e r c i s e was t o p r a c t i c e v e r t i c a l a n d h o r i z o n t a l l i t t e r l o w - e r i n g ~ . I n a v e r t i c a l l o w e r , t h e v i c t i m i s l o w e r e d f e e t f i r s t , w h i l e i n a h o r i z o n t a l l o w e r , t h e v i c t i m i s l o w e r e d h o r i z o n t a l l y . A p r o b l e m o c c u r e d i n t h a n c h o r o f t h e f i r s t t o p r a c t i c e a v e r t i c a l l o w e r . P h i l Moedt t o o k up t h e s l a c k a n d h e l d t h e t h r e e man t e a m w h i l e t h e a n c h o r was b e i n g f i x e d . A f t e r w e f i x e d t h e a n c h o r , h e r e l a x e d a n d a y e l p w a s h e a r d from b e l o w a s t h e t e a m was d r o p p e d a b o u t t h r e e f e e t b e f o r e t h e i r o r i g i n a l a n c h o r t o o k up t h e s l a c k . L a t e r on t h e y t o l d u s t h a t t h e y h a d r e a l l y h a d t o move when t h e l i t t e r z i p p e d down.

The w i n d a n d u n s e a s o n a b l e c o l d f i n - a l l y g o t t o us a t 1600 h o u r s , s o we r e t i r e d t o Mike D a u g h e r t y ' s h o u s e f o r a c r i t i q u e o f t h e s e s s i o n a n d o u r u s u a l m a l t e d b e v e r a g e . - Ed H i l l

A f t e r w o r k i n g m o s t o f t h e m o r n i n g o n t h e RMRU N e w s l e t t e r I h a d j u s t s t a r t e d my l u n c h when t h e p h o n e r a n g . I t was t h e B a n n i n g s u b - s t a t i o n o f t h e R i v e r s i d e Coun ty

S h e r i f f ' s Dep t . I t h a d b e e n r e p o r - t e d t o them a p i l o t h a d s p o t t e d t h e b l u e a n d w h i t e w r e c k a g e o f an a i r - p l a n e . The m i s s i n g 140 m e n t i o n e d p r e v i o u s l y was a l s o b l u e and w h i t e . A s s o o n a s t h e c a l l was c o m p l e t e d I g o t o u t my c a l l l i s t and s t a r t e d t h e c a l l - o u t s y s t e m .

A f t e r a r r i v i n g a t B a n n i n g a n d l i s - t e n i n g t o w h e r e it w a s s p o t t e d i t s o u n d e d t o m e l i k e t h e w r e c k a g e o f t h e C e s s n a 337 t h a t w e h a d worked t h e y e a r b e f o r e . A b i r d f rom W e s - t e r n H e l i c o p t e r s o f R i a l t o a r r i v e d a n d t h e p i l o t a n d I f l e w o u t t o t h e a r e a . A s s u s p e c t e d , i t was t h e o l d w r e c k a g e .

w e r e a l l y a r e n ' t s u r e a s how t o re- c o r d t h e m i s s i o n , but t h e b e s t s u g - g e s t i o n s o f a r i s "Abort p l u s " #lo. S o f a r t h i s y e a r we h a v e p a r t i c i p a - t e d i n 1 0 m i s s i o n s and r o l l e d on 1 0 a b o r t s . I f we t a k e t h e s e f i g u r e s a n d t h e 36 m i s s i o n t o t a l f rom 1970 a n d p r o j e c t b y r a t i o we s h o u l d h a v e 9 0 m i s s i o n s i n 1 9 7 1 . I n 1 9 6 9 we

P a g e 8 - Vo lume V I I , I s s u e 5 , May 1 9 7 1

h a d 2 8 m i s s i o n s a n d t h e 36 i n 1 9 7 0 a c c o u n t e d f o r an i n c r e a s e o f 2 8 % . I f we o n l y h a v e a 2 8 % i n c r e a s e t h i s y e a r , t h e t o t a l w i l l b e 4 6 .

A t o u r a n n u a l m e e t i n g t h e f o l l o w i n g w e r e e l e c t e d t o t h e RMRU B o a r d o f D i r e c t o r s f o r 1971-72 : P e t e C a r l - s o n , t r e a s u r e r ; Mike D a u g h e r t y ; J i m F a i r c h i l d , v i c e - p r e s i d e n t ; P h i l Moed t , s e c r e t a r y ; Don R i c k e r ; Jaryk S c h n u r r ; W a l t Walker, p r e s i - d e n t . The newly e l e c t - e d b o a r d t h e n a p p o i n t e d t h e f o l l o w i n g c o m m i t t e e c h a i r m a n : A 1 Andrews , Communicat- i o n s and S u s t a i n i n g Membersh ip ; B e r n i e McI lvoy , E q u i p m e n t Deve lop- m e n t ; P e t e C a r l s o n , F i n a n c e ; Mike D a u g h e r t y , Membersh ip ; Tom Dadson , P u b l i c R e l a t i o n s ; J i m F a i r c h i l d , R e s c u e a?td T r a i n i n g ; Don R i c k e r , T r u c k ; W a l t W a l k e r , N e w s l e t t e r E d ,

RMRU i s l o o k i n g f o r w a r d t o i t s 1 0 t h y e a r a s b e i n g t h e o n e w h e r e we t i e a l l t h e l o o s e e n d s t o g e t h e r . Mike D a u g h e r t y has a l r e a d y g o t t h e Mem- b e r s h i p c o m m i t t e e g o i n g f u l l s t e a m a n d t r a i n i n g h a s made g r e a t s t r i d e s . B u t w e a r e s t i l l n o t s a t i s f i e d w i t h RMRU. We b e l i e v e t h a t we c a n d o b e t t e r a n d t h e e n t i r e b o a r d h a s p l e d g e d i t s e l f t o t h a t g o a l .

- P r e s . W a l t

S U S T A I N I N G M E M B E R S -

we o f RMRU a r e v e r y happy t o w e l - come b a c k t h e f o l l o w i n g p e o p l e t o o u r s u s t a i n i n g m e m b e r s h i p : Mrs. Ramona B . F l i n c h p a u g h , R o t a r y C l u b o f S a n J a c i n t o , M r . & M r s . R . 0 . R i d e n o u r , M r . & M r s . Ray L a v e n d e r , Dr. & M r s . N o e l K i s k b y , M r . & M r s .

w i l f o r d K e i t h , M r . & M r s . D . L . M i l l e r , M r . Sam J o h n s o n , R o t a r y C l u b o f P e r r i s , M r . & M r s . Wayne Brown, M r . & M r s . M i l t o n L e v y , Boy S c o u t T r o o p #1, R i v e r s i d e , a n d M r . a n d M r s . H a r o l d E. C a r l s o n . W e s i n c e r e l y a p p r e c i a t e y o u r s h a r i n g " y o u r s h a r e o f t h e Load" . T h i s month w e a r e a l s o a d d i n g M r . A . P . C r i s t a n d Church 0 5 R e l i g i o u s S c i e n c e - Alumni Group t o o u r s u s - t a i n i n g membersh ip . - A l Andrews

"WHAT DO I DO N O W , BOSS!"

Bernie seems t o b e e n j o y i n g com- m e n t s f rom f e l l o w team members a s Mike a p p e a r s t o be h a v i n g p r o b l e m s t h a t e v e n h i s newly e a r n e d D o c t o r - a t e o f P h y s i c s c a n ' t s o l v e .