I am opening this topic to remind everyone that not all SAR Missions result in unhappy endings.

To the contrary... The vast majority of Rescue Missions have happy endings. With the 2010 hiking season not even in full swing yet. The following (Two) successful rescue missions have already been recorded for the Month of October. These two examples are also a reminder that cell phones do work in some parts of the mountains, and should always taken along when hiking in remote areas. The following update comes from an email from A PCSO SAR Member.

Sent: Tue, October 12, 2010 7:31:28 PM
Subject: PCSO rescues


Hey Jim, just got back from Disneyland with my g-kids. I will take the hottest day in Labarge rather than the best day in Disney, but that is another story. PCSO SAR Posse had 2 rescues on the weekend, both ill prepared for the heat. I will send you these to post rather than post them if that works for you.

10-8-10
911 call-1840 hrs. 2 hikers out of water and can't find trail in Peralta Canyon. Attempting the Cave Trail/Peralta loop. No light source, out for a day hike. Subjects were met on trail on the way down, hydrated and assisted back to trailhead.

10-11-10
911 call-1537hrs. 75 yr. old male, out of water and off trail. Attempting the Cave Trail/Peralta loop and off trail.
Subject realized that he was out of water and lost, set down and called 911. Team went up Peralta and found subject, hydrated him, and assisted him down to trailhead. Team out of the field 1858 hrs.

It is getting to be that time of year. I believe these puts our team, Pinal County SAR Posse, into the 40's on rescues this year and the busy time has yet to begin. With what our deputies have done down south we are in the 70's.

Hi, Jim,

Thanks for that reminder that SAR news is generally good news. If anyone has ever been involved in a SAR situation, you just can't thank these guys enough.

HJ

by Natalie Rivers
azfamily.com

October 18, 2010 at 6:34 AM

CAVE CREEK, Ariz. - Maricopa County search crews are looking for a missing mountain biker in a mountainous area north of Cave Creek.

Apparently the 40-year-old female biker was out with a group of friends on Sunday when she decided to go off on her own.

The group of bicyclists were out doing some training for an upcoming competition.

The missing woman was supposed to meet back up with the group at a bike shop in Cave Creek but never returned.

MCSO was out throughout the night searching for her and search and rescue hopes sunlight will help them in the search today.

The MCSO command post is set-up at the Spur Cross Trail Head.


Link to Video
http://www.azfamily.com/news/local/MCSO ... 71234.html


Updated today at 7:32 AM

by Natalie Rivers
azfamily.com
Posted on October 18, 2010 at 6:34 AM


CAVE CREEK, Ariz. - Just after sunrise Maricopa County search crews found a missing mountain biker in a wash in the mountainous area north of Cave Creek.

Apparently the 40-year-old female biker was out with a group of friends on Sunday when she decided to go off on her own.

The group of bicyclists were out doing some training for an upcoming competition.

The woman was supposed to meet back up with the group at a bike shop in Cave Creek but never returned.

MCSO was out throughout the night searching for her.

According to MCSO she was found in good condition.

Link to Video:
http://www.azfamily.com/news/local/MCSO ... 71234.html

More info at:
http://www.kpho.com/news/25426472/detail.html

911 call received 1730 10-23-10. 2 missing hikers from Peralta TH. 38 and 37 yr. old males called RP at 0830 advising of hiking a different trail. Will return home by 1130.
Teams in the field by 1830. Hikers at trailhead report the pair seen near Black Mesa trail around 1100, found out they were not sure of their location and advised them to backtrack and hit Terrapin trail. Another group of hikers reported seeing pair headed south on Terrapin around 1630. Dehydration and cramping, the pair decided to stop and spend the night in upper Bark's Canyon.
It appears that the subjects were planning to do the Bluff Springs Loop. Upon arrival at the Crystal Spring intersection they decided to take the Dutchman east towards La Barge. They missed the Terrapin and Peralta signs and ended up near the Black Mesa Trail where they were turned around by a hiker. They found the Terrapin trail and proceeded south until they were unable to hike further. They then went off trail and bivvied for the evening in Bark's.
PCSO SAR crews cleared Bluff Loop, Terrapin,and Peralta trails during the night. Subjects were located around 1030 on Sunday 10-24-10. Crews out of the field at 1130.

November 25, Thanksgiving night, 911 call 2030. Team called out to Peralta TH, tow overdue hikers doing the Dacite Loop. They got off trail and were located near West Boulder Saddle. Team out of field at 2230.

November 26, page out at 0930, lost hunter south of Florence near Freeman Road. Subject walked out to Hwy 79 and received a ride. Call canceled at 1030.

December 4, team paged out at 2039, 60+ yr. old man involved in a vehicle rollover near FS 650 north of Superior. DPS medic on scene and Phoenix Ranger on the ground. Due to the remoteness of the scene an the extent of the injuries, Tucson Ranger called in to transport teams to site. Team established an LZ, hiked to the scene, packaged the patient and transported back to Tucson Ranger. Ranger flew patient back to base camp and transferred to Native Air. Team out of the field at 0630, December 5.

December 6, page out at 0730, broken leg near Peralta TH. Ranger located patient and transported. Team out of field at 0900.

Thanks for the post.

HJ

Ditto HJ!

Thanks for the updates Sardude!

That must have been a tough hike after eating a big Thanksgiving dinner. I'm not sure I would have been up to it. Frightfully inconsiderate of those guys to get themselves into trouble on that particular evening.

I hope the guy involved in the roll-over accident comes through it OK.

Best,

Jim

December 26. Callout 2145, 3 hikers on the Superstition Ridgeline Trail. This "trail" is confusing in places. 40+ yr. old hiker split from 2-20ish yr. old hikers after losing trail. 2 hikers continued on to West Boulder Saddle and made their way back to the Carney TH while the other followed a "trail" down into the canyon approximately 1 mile east of 5057 (Superstition Peak). Deputy in field made contact via FRS radio with subject and was informed that help was not needed. He had hunkered down for the night and would walk out in the morning. Teams out of the field at 2330. Deputy made contact the next morning and subject was in good condition.

December 28. Callout at 1850, 2 women in Siphon Draw without light. Teams dispatched and encountered the subjects 1/4 mile above the waterfall basin.
Team supplied headlamps and additional clothing and walked subjects out to the trailhead. Both ladies were in good condition considering temperatures in the canyon were in the high 30's and their clothing was not adequate.
Teams out of field at 2320.

Thanks for the updates Sardude,

One question...

What is an FRS Radio?

Jim

FRS is the acronym for Family Radio Service. It is the common 2 way radio that you can buy and operate without any special license. The Garmin Rino series GPS are equipped with them. It is a line of sight communication device for shorter distances. As we have all seen in the Supes, regardless of line of sight or cell phone reception bars, when the man upstairs wants you to get reception, you get reception. Sometimes it doesn't make any sense HOW you can be communicating with someone you shouldn't be able to. That is just how it is.