The callout for a search for a missing hiker in the Mt. Baldy area came in around 1900, just as we were beginning classroom training on Map & Compass.  Everyone packed up and left the station, most to head home for their equipment and return for the rigs.  All three vehicles departed the station around 2000 with 5 members.  Other members were in route from Station 12, and several were responding POV.  Staging was established at Baldy Fire.

Coroner case 700903045 VN: On Wednesday, May 6, 2009, at about 10:00 AM, 49 year Rancho Cucamonga resident Murray E. Carver left his home ride his motorcycle in the hills north of town. When he did not return that afternoon searches were initiated along the trails he was known to ride. The following day (Thursday, May 7th) at about 11:00 AM, Sheriff Aviation located Carver’s body along a winding trail approximately 3.5 miles north of Chaffey College. An examination will be conducted early next week to attempt to determine the cause of Carver’s death. [05/07/09 1915 VN]

Wednesday started out like any other work day - up at 0500 hours to shower, feed and put the dogs out, grab breakfast, and hit the road for the office. Likewise, the end of my day seemed just like many others - off work at 1600 hours, home to pack up my search dog for a training, and back home about 2045 hours. By then, though, the pager and cell phone were calling me! Deputy Falce was on the phone asking if I was available to join others on the team for a search in the Lytle Creek area. Of course I said “yes”!

From Carver Search

Amber Dubois has been missing for 30 days. San Bernardino County SAR was called to assist in the search of an area in Escondido near Mesa Rock Rd and Woodland Heights Rd. In addition to covering our area, we were also called to check a storm drain without a grating. Members of West Valley SAR helped us pull the manhole cover.

The Cave and Technical Rescue Team as well as West Valley SAR successfully completed their MRA snow and ice re-certification on March 7 in Squaw Valley ski resort in Lake Tahoe, CA. The re-certification consisted of two parts. In the first part teams were required to proceed to a snow slope with a set of coordinates to find their patient. Once the patient was located he/she was packaged and evacuated. Throughout the process the teams are accompanied by two evaluators who score the team's technical rope skills, medical care, communications, and leadership skills.

The second part of the test involved an avalanche beacon search. A team of 3 was taken to a slope and provided a scenario where three people have been overcome by an avalanche. Two were wearing beacons, but a third was not. The team of three is then allowed 15 minutes to locate all three people and scored according to their technique and haste. Placer County Sheriff's SAR organized this year's re-certification, and they did a terrific job. The venue was ideal, and the scenarios were challenging. As always, it is good to see our fellow MRA teams in action, and to be a  part of such an organization.

It all started with a bum shoulder. Ironically the shoulder was injured during a grueling litter carry in January when a hiker fell and injured his ankle above the Sierra Hut on Baldy. My injured shoulder, and the voice of my physical therapist telling me to lay off carrying a pack for a while, kept me out of the field on Saturday and in the command post. My compatriots in West Valley SAR are excellent search managers, so I don't mind command post duty with them, but I do prefer to be in the field. If you've ever worked in the command post, and I mean work, not just sitting around drinking coffee and jawing about whatever, then you know that the work load is completely out of phase with work in the field. The operational period begins with a frantic assembly of team assignments and filling out the appropriate paperwork all while coordinating team transportation with the intent of getting people in the field quickly. For those going into the field, the wait can be maddening, but it does provide a bit of time to sort gear and prepare for the assignment at hand.